Lead Engineer, OT & Network Infrastructure

Aligned Data Centers; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Aligned Data Centers in the United States is seeking a Lead Engineer for Operational Technology and Network Infrastructure to serve as the technical authority for the data center's critical backbone. You’ll bridge Site Operations, Platform Delivery, and Corporate SecOps, using advanced network forensics to prevent loss of visibility in the data halls.

You will translate latency, protocol, and switch metrics into binding engineering mandates, drive architecture reviews, and champion cybersecurity

Qualifications

• 8+ years of OT network engineering experience in ICS or telemetry networks.
• Hands-on knowledge of industrial protocols and high-availability network designs.
• Strong ability to translate complex telemetry data into actionable engineering guidance.

Responsibilities

• Lead forensic analyses during telemetry outages and translate findings into corrective actions.
• Review network topology and specs for new capital projects and issue ECOs.
• Audit OT networks for VLAN segmentation, air-gapping, firmware lifecycle, and DR backups.
• Evaluate next-gen hardware and transport protocols to support AI factories and smart cooling.
• Serve as Tier-3 escalation for critical network incidents and brief executives.

Skills

OT network engineering

Industrial Control Systems (ICS)

telemetry networks

executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Network Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent

CCNP, CCIE, CISSP, or GICSP certifications

Tools

Modbus TCP

BACnet/IP

OPC UA

Network forensics

Job description

It’s fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they’re doing!
We’re committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

Role Summary: Unlike traditional IT roles focused on corporate networks, the Lead Engineer for Operational Technology (OT) & Network Infrastructure serves as the supreme technical authority for the critical network backbone that supports Aligned’s Building Management Systems (BMS), Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS), and enterprise telemetry fleet-wide. Acting as the strategic bridge between Site Operations, Platform Delivery, and Corporate SecOps, this role utilizes advanced network forensics to prevent catastrophic “loss of visibility” events in the data halls. The Lead Engineer translates complex data transport, latency, and switch configuration metrics into binding engineering mandates, ensuring the digital nervous system of the data center is as resilient as the physical infrastructure.

Core Responsibilities:

• Advanced Forensic Investigations (RCA Governance): Lead deep-dive forensic analyses during critical “loss of visibility” or telemetry blackout incidents. Investigate complex network failures such as broadcast storms, routing loops, packet loss, and switch configuration errors, translating findings into immediate, binding corrective actions.
• Engineering Design Mandates & Network Topology: Review network architecture single-line diagrams, hardware specifications, and failover protocols for all new capital projects. Issue Engineering Change Orders to correct architectural vulnerabilities prior to site deployment.
• Proactive Fleet Auditing & Cybersecurity Hygiene: Conduct rigorous, programmatic audits of active OT networks across the fleet. Ensure strict site compliance with VLAN segregation, OT/IT air-gapping, firmware lifecycle management, and disaster recovery backups for critical infrastructure switches and servers.
• Innovation & Next-Gen Validation (AI Integration): Evaluate next-generation network hardware and transport protocols required to support high-density “AI Factories.” Partner with the Advanced Cooling Lab to validate the telemetry transport requirements for automated AI cooling controls and high-frequency liquid cooling sensor networks.
• Executive Advisement & Incident Response: Serve as the definitive Tier-3 technical escalation point for severe operational network anomalies. Translate highly technical bandwidth, latency, and cybersecurity risk data into clear, executive-level assessments for senior leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience: 8+ years of advanced network engineering experience specifically focused on Operational Technology (OT), Industrial Control Systems (ICS), or hyperscale data center telemetry networks.
• Education & Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in Network Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent highly specialized training. Advanced industry certifications (e.g., CCNP, CCIE, CISSP, GICSP) are strongly preferred.
• Technical Expertise: Expert-level knowledge of industrial communication protocols (Modbus TCP, BACnet/IP, OPC UA), high-availability switch architecture, firewall configurations, and physical fiber/copper transport layers. Deep understanding of the unique latency and uptime requirements of mechanical and electrical control loops.
• Strategic Leadership: Proven ability to transition localized network faults into fleet-wide engineering policy, combined with the executive acumen to communicate critical telemetry vulnerabilities to C-suite leadership and cross-departmental stakeholders.