Principal Data Center Forensic Engineer

Switch; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote opportunities

Generous benefits package

Career growth

Job summary

Switch is seeking a Principal Data Center Forensic Engineer to lead high-severity investigations across data center fleets. You will reconstruct event sequences, produce evidence-based reports, and drive systemic containment actions with Operations, Controls, Engineering, Reliability, and OEM partners.

You will guide multi-site investigations, interpret telemetry data, and ensure adherence to design intent while mentoring other engineers to strengthen investigative capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Controls Engineering.
• 12+ years of experience in hyperscale or mission-critical environments.
• Deep expertise in electrical and mechanical system behavior, protection schemes, and failure mechanisms.
• Mastery of structured root cause analysis and forensic investigation techniques.
• Strong ability to interpret large operational datasets and telemetry.
• Experience investigating multi-site or fleet-wide incidents preferred.
• Experience working with OEM engineering teams or third-party forensic specialists preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead forensic investigations into major incidents, equipment failures, and operational anomalies across all data center regions.
• Reconstruct event timelines and failure sequences using physical evidence, telemetry, protection trip data, logs, and sequence-of-events records.
• Produce clear, evidence-based forensic reports for executive and technical leadership.
• Identify recurring patterns across sites, equipment classes, vendors, or configurations and define systemic risk statements.
• Drive containment and corrective actions to ensure systemic issues are permanently resolved fleet-wide.
• Apply structured root cause methodologies to determine underlying failure mechanisms.
• Conduct on-site inspections, component evaluations, and condition assessments when required.
• Validate findings against system design intent, operating constraints, and expected behavior.
• Establish and maintain forensic investigation standards, templates, and documentation frameworks.
• Partner with Operations, Controls, Engineering, Reliability, and OEM partners to implement durable corrective actions.
• Mentor engineers and strengthen investigative capability across the organization.

Skills

Forensic engineering

Root cause analysis

Telemetry interpretation

Systems thinking

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Controls Engineering

Job description

At Switch, we don’t just design, build and operate data centers—we are enabling the technology of the future. Led by Founder & CEO, Rob Roy, we believe in revolutionary innovation, operational excellence and the principle of karma. Switch is where talented people come together to EVOLVE the digital world.

We believe that innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about the people, culture, and purpose that make it happen. Every Switch team member contributes to a mission greater than themselves: to create the world’s most advanced digital infrastructure that powers the progress of humanity.

The Role: Principal Data Center Forensic Engineer

This role serves as Switch’s technical authority for forensic investigation of mission-critical infrastructure events. You lead high-severity investigations across electrical, mechanical, cooling, and controls systems, determine true root causes, and ensure systemic risks are permanently eliminated across the fleet. The role operates at enterprise scope and influences standards, containment strategy, and long-term reliability improvements without direct people management responsibility.

What You’ll Do

• Lead forensic investigations into major incidents, equipment failures, and operational anomalies across all data center regions.
• Reconstruct event timelines and failure sequences using physical evidence, telemetry, protection trip data, logs, and sequence-of-events records.
• Produce clear, evidence-based forensic reports for executive and technical leadership.
• Identify recurring patterns across sites, equipment classes, vendors, or configurations and define systemic risk statements.
• Drive containment and corrective actions to ensure systemic issues are permanently resolved fleet-wide.
• Apply structured root cause methodologies to determine underlying failure mechanisms.
• Conduct on-site inspections, component evaluations, and condition assessments when required.
• Validate findings against system design intent, operating constraints, and expected behavior.
• Establish and maintain forensic investigation standards, templates, and documentation frameworks.
• Partner with Operations, Controls, Engineering, Reliability, and OEM partners to implement durable corrective actions.
• Mentor engineers and strengthen investigative capability across the organization.

What We’re Looking For

• Enterprise-level authority in forensic engineering and mission-critical failure analysis.
• Ability to remain objective and disciplined during high-visibility investigations.
• Strong systems thinking across electrical, mechanical, and controls domains.
• Clear, direct communication of complex technical findings.
• Commitment to eliminating systemic risk, not just resolving isolated events.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Controls Engineering required.
• 12 or more years of experience in hyperscale or mission-critical environments.
• Deep expertise in electrical and mechanical system behavior, protection schemes, and failure mechanisms.
• Mastery of structured root cause analysis and forensic investigation techniques.
• Strong ability to interpret large operational datasets and telemetry.
• Experience investigating multi-site or fleet-wide incidents preferred.
• Experience working with OEM engineering teams or third-party forensic specialists preferred.

Why Switch?

• A Culture of Karma – We are self-motivated by karma, ensuring our actions contribute to a positive, supportive and forward-thinking environment.
• Industry Leading Designs – Work with the most advanced data center technology on the planet and be a part of emerging technology development.
• Flexibility & Remote Opportunities – Whether in-office, hybrid, or fully remote, we offer the technology and support to keep teams connected and productive.
• Career Stability & Growth – In this expanding industry, we invest in our people, providing opportunities & advancement in a stable, growing company.
• Generous Benefits Package - Switch provides medical plan options of comprehensive coverage for you and your family that can be tailored to fit your personal needs, and more!

Join Us & Make a Difference

This is more than a job—it’s a mission. If you’re ready to lead rigorous investigations that protect uptime and eliminate systemic risk across mission-critical infrastructure, we want to hear from you.

*Remote applicants must reside in one of our registered states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, GA, IL, LA, MA, MI, MO, NC, NV, NY, OR, TX, UT, VA, WA.

Switch provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants. Switch is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. In accordance with applicable law and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), Switch prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee based on any legally recognized basis, including, but not limited to: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), age (40 and over), national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service member status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local laws. Switch’s commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in Switch’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee or agent of Switch, including supervisors and coworkers. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Note to Recruiters and Third Party Placement Agencies: Switch will not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward unsolicited agency resumes to our website or to any Switch employee. Switch will not be responsible for any agency fees associated with unsolicited resumes. Any unsolicited resumes received will be considered property of Switch and will be processed accordingly.

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