Global Data Center Design & Deployment Lead

Socket.dev; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 157,000 - 196,000; Full time

Job summary

DigitalOcean is seeking a Senior Manager of Design & Deployment to lead a specialized team responsible for turning approved data center designs into installed, commissioned infrastructure worldwide.

You will own the path from floor layout through go-live, ensuring compliance with electrical, mechanical, and safety standards, while coordinating with Engineering, Network, Construction, Supply Chain, and Site Operations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in data center design, deployment, or infrastructure program management.
• 5+ years leading design or deployment teams, including managing other managers.
• Deep familiarity with GPU rack/cluster topologies and structured cabling standards (copper, fiber, MPO/MTP).
• Hands-on with design and documentation tooling (AutoCAD, Visio, DCIM/NetBox) and PM tooling for multi-site deployments.
• Experience negotiating and managing third-party contractor relationships, including SOWs and performance accountability.
• Track record of building repeatable deployment processes across multiple sites or regions.
• Strong cross-functional partnership across Engineering, Network, Construction, Supply Chain and Site Operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow a team of Design Engineers and Deployment Engineers/Managers across multiple global deployment programs.
• Own floor layouts, rack elevations, BOMs, and installation packages for new builds, expansions, and hardware refreshes.
• Develop and maintain cabling standards, labeling conventions, and deployment documentation used across all sites.
• Build and manage the master deployment schedule across concurrent projects to hit go-live dates.
• Own the deployment budget for programs and report variances to leadership.
• Source, qualify, and manage relationships with contractors and staffing vendors, including SOWs.
• Partner with Data Center Engineering to ensure compliance with electrical, mechanical, and safety standards.
• Partner with Network, Supply Chain, Construction, and Site Operations to align deployment timing with hardware delivery and site readiness.
• Own commissioning and handoff criteria and enforce them across sites.
• Run root-cause reviews on deployment defects and drive improvements.
• Establish and improve global deployment methodology with playbooks, checklists, and training.
• Develop engineers with mentorship and succession planning.
• Represent Design & Deployment in capacity planning and site scoping discussions.
• Ensure designs are future-proof from rack layout to network topology.
• Investigate and develop faster deployment methodologies.

Skills

Data center design

Deployment leadership

AI/GPU deployments

Team leadership

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Scheduling and program management

Tools

AutoCAD

Visio

DCIM/NetBox

PM tooling

Job description

DigitalOcean is seeking a Senior Manager of Design & Deployment to lead a specialized team responsible for turning approved data center designs into installed, commissioned infrastructure worldwide.

You will own the path from floor layout through go-live, ensuring compliance with electrical, mechanical, and safety standards, while coordinating with Engineering, Network, Construction, Supply Chain, and Site Operations.