Data Center Specialist

Rentec; Setauket (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Rentec in Setauket, NY is seeking an experienced Data Center Facilities Engineer to lead engineering analysis, design and maintenance of data center infrastructure, including cooling, electrical distribution and power systems. You will install and document racks, cabling, servers and PDUs; coordinate vendor maintenance; manage inventory; and respond to emergencies as part of a 24/7 on-call rotation.

Strong communication and project leadership required.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in high-availability or large colocation environments.
• Comprehensive understanding of data center HVAC systems and redundancy.
• Proven experience with rack-level cooling and airflow management.
• Visionary who optimizes for efficiencies and never stops seeking improvements.
• Clear communicator who collaborates across teams and communicates to executives.
• Proactive problem solver with a passion for learning and evolving with new technologies.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and vendor relationships.
• Experience monitoring Building Management Systems (BMS) and EPMS for power and environmental metrics, including UPS/PDUs/generators.
• Knowledge of scripting or automation (Python, Bash, PowerShell) for hardware health monitoring preferred.
• Expertise in electrical distribution, reading one-line diagrams and circuit schedules.
• Strong verbal and written communication to coordinate with remote engineering teams.
• Experience leading small-scale projects and hardware refreshes.
• Skilled with tools for liquid systems and understanding fluid mechanics affecting cooling.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data to identify efficiency gaps and improve PUE.

Responsibilities

• Conduct engineering analysis and research designs and methods of data center equipment and facilities.
• Ensure designs and installations meet requirements, including predicted cooling, structural, and operational concerns.
• Plan, execute, and document data center installations, upgrades, and maintenance projects.
• Install and document racks, structured cabling, servers, switches, and PDUs.
• Manage equipment inventory, spare parts, and coordinate logistics.
• Respond to facility-wide emergencies (power outages, cooling failures) and participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation.
• Liaise with and oversee external vendors for scheduled preventive maintenance on specialized infrastructure.
• Create and maintain detailed operational records and compliance documentation.

Job description

Responsibilities

• conduct engineering analysis and research designs and methods of data center equipment and facilities
• ensure designs and installations meet requirements, including predicted cooling, structural, and operational concerns
• plan, execute, and document data center installations, upgrades, and maintenance projects
• install and document racks, structured cabling, servers, switches, and PDUs
• manage equipment inventory, spare parts, and coordinate logistics
• respond to facility-wide emergencies (power outages, cooling failures) and participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation
• liaise with and oversee external vendors for scheduled preventive maintenance on specialized infrastructure
• create and maintain detailed operational records and compliance documentation

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

• 3+ years of hands-on experience in high-availability or large colocation environments
• comprehensive understanding of data center HVAC systems and redundancy protocols
• proven experience with rack-level cooling and airflow management
• visionary who optimizes for efficiencies and never stops seeking improvements
• clear communicator who enjoys cross-team collaboration, generates ideas, communicates recommendations to senior-level executives, and drives implementation alongside technicians
• proactive problem solver with a passion for learning and evolving alongside new technologies
• highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities under minimal supervision, including high-priority tickets and numerous vendor relationships
• experience monitoring Building Management Systems (BMS) and EPMS for tracking real-time power usage and environmental metrics, and critical power systems, including UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), PDUs, and backup generators
• knowledge of scripting or automation (Python, Bash, or PowerShell) for hardware health monitoring preferred
• expertise in electrical distribution, including the ability to read one-line diagrams and circuit schedules
• strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively coordinate and align operations with remote engineering teams
• experience leading small-scale projects, such as row-level expansions or major hardware refreshes
• skilled in using specialized tools for liquid systems, with an understanding of fluid mechanics, including the impact of flow rate, pressure drops, and air entrapment on cooling performance
• demonstrated ability to analyze data to identify efficiency gaps and implement strategies for optimizing PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness)
• bachelor's degree in IT, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
• proficient with hand tools, able to lift up to 30 lbs., and comfortable working on ladders or in confined spaces
• flexibility to work non-traditional shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, within a 24/7/365 operational environment