Data Center Technical Program Lead

ApplicantPool; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Dental/Vision and LifeInsurance

401(k) matching

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Job summary

ApplicantPool in Milwaukee seeks a Data Center Technical Program Lead to oversee multi-site operations, lead technician teams, and drive program readiness from inception through customer program validation. You will bridge technical execution and program management, manage site bring-up, hardware life cycle, and service delivery while keeping key stakeholders aligned.

This role requires strong leadership, data center networking and compute infrastructure knowledge, plus experience with ITSM

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT/CS or related field with 3+ years data center experience, or 5+ years of data center experience in lieu of a degree.
• Proven experience leading technical teams across multiple locations.
• Strong knowledge of data center networking and compute infrastructure (servers, switches, routing, cabling).
• Hands-on experience managing workflows and tickets in ServiceNow or similar ITSM.
• Willingness to travel 25–50% including overnight stays.

Responsibilities

• Lead data center site bring-up initiatives and validate customer programs for infrastructure readiness.
• Oversee day-to-day operations across multiple sites, directing a distributed team of data center technicians.
• Coordinate exchange and deployment of data center gear and manage buffer stock to avoid delays.
• Manage, track, and prioritize ticket requests in ServiceNow and adjust workloads by volume.
• Identify bottlenecks and communicate risks and solutions to stakeholders.
• Provide regular visibility, data-driven reporting, and status updates to leadership and customer teams.

Skills

Data center networking

Compute infrastructure

Technical leadership

ServiceNow ITSM

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology or Computer Science

5+ years data center experience in lieu of degree

Certifications: CompTIA Network+ or Security+

Certifications: Cisco CCNA

Certifications: PMP or CAPM (preferred)

Tools

ServiceNow

Job description

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly organized and technical Data Center Technical Program Lead to oversee multi-site operations, lead technician teams, and drive program readiness across multiple sites. In this role, you will bridge the gap between technical execution and program management, managing site bring-up from inception through customer program validation. You will lead day-to-day operations across multiple customer data center locations, ensuring smooth deployment, hardware life cycle management, and service delivery while keeping key stakeholders aligned.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead data center site bring-up initiatives and manage rigorous customer program validation processes to ensure infrastructure readiness.

• Oversee day-to-day technical operations across multiple sites, directing a distributed team of data center AEP technicians.

• Facilitate the advanced exchange and deployment of data center gear, maintaining strict control over buffer stock requirements to prevent project delays.

• Manage, track, and prioritize incoming technical ticket requests through ServiceNow, dynamically adjusting team workloads based on ticket volume.

• Identify operational bottlenecks and process pain points during site bring-up, proactively communicating risks and solutions to key stakeholders.

• Provide regular visibility, data-driven reporting, and status updates to cross-functional leadership and external customer teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a closely related field with a minimum of 3 years of relevant data center experience, OR a minimum of 5 years of related technical data center experience in lieu of a degree.

• Proven experience managing, mentoring, and leading technical teams or data center technicians across multiple physical locations.

• Strong working knowledge of data center networking and compute infrastructure (servers, switches, routing, and cabling standards).

• Direct, hands-on experience managing service workflows and ticket queues within ServiceNow (or a similar enterprise ITSM platform).

• Willingness and ability to travel 25-50% of the time, including occasional overnight stays, based on business needs.

Preferred & Recommended Qualifications

• Certifications: CompTIA Network+, Security+, Cisco CCNA, or a foundational Project Management certification (PMP or CAPM).

• Experience with asset management, supply chain tracking, or spare parts logistics for critical infrastructure.

• Familiarity with ITIL frameworks or Agile/Scrum methodologies for managing deployment sprints.

• Exceptional communication skills with a proven track record of handling high-pressure operational environments and translating complex technical issues for non-technical stakeholders.

Benefits & Perks

• Health/Dental/Vision and Life Insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Paid Time Off
• Parental Leave

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.