Senior Data Center Facilities Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 105,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory seeks a Senior Data Center Facilities Engineer to operate, maintain, design, and modernize our enterprise data centers, including classified computing environments. You will collaborate with a multi-discipline team to ensure reliable operation, resolve complex issues, and plan long-term modernization.

The role emphasizes planning, infrastructure upgrades, and coordination of critical power, cooling, and cabling projects, with an active Secret clearance or

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 7+ years of experience in enterprise data centers or mission-critical facilities.
• Experience with data center power, cooling, and supporting infrastructure.
• Experience coordinating technical maintenance, infrastructure changes, or facility operations.
• Experience contributing to data center design, expansion, modernization, or long-term infrastructure planning.
• Experience with critical power and cooling systems, preventive maintenance programs, and infrastructure reliability.
• Familiarity with data center industry standards, structured cabling, and infrastructure management tools.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Hold an active Secret security clearance and can obtain Top Secret level clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support daily operations, maintenance, and continuous improvement of enterprise data centers, including classified computing facilities.
• Coordinate maintenance and troubleshooting of critical infrastructure, including power distribution, UPS systems, generators, and cooling systems.
• Contribute to the design and evolution of APL's data center facilities, including infrastructure architecture, physical layouts, power and cooling strategies, capacity planning, and long-term modernization.
• Plan and coordinate equipment installations, relocations, structured cabling, and other data center infrastructure changes.
• Collaborate with facilities personnel, technical teams, and external service providers to execute maintenance, engineering, and infrastructure projects.
• Maintain accurate infrastructure documentation, inventory, and data center management records.
• Troubleshoot infrastructure failures and operational issues to maintain service availability and minimize disruptions.
• Coordinate work within controlled-access facilities in accordance with applicable security and operational requirements.

Skills

Data center operations

Maintenance coordination

Infrastructure design

Security clearance

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Structured cabling

Infrastructure management tools

Job description

Description

Do you enjoy solving complex infrastructure challenges and keeping mission-critical data centers running reliably?

Are you passionate about data center power, cooling, and physical infrastructure, and interested in supporting some of the nation's most important research and national security missions?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Data Center Facilities Engineer to help operate, maintain, design, and modernize our enterprise data centers, including facilities supporting classified computing environments. You'll work with a collaborative team of facilities, network, server, and infrastructure engineers to ensure reliable operations, resolve technical challenges, and shape the future of our data center infrastructure.

We particularly value experience supporting classified or other security-sensitive data centers, but welcome candidates with strong commercial enterprise data center backgrounds who are interested in applying their expertise to national security missions.

As a Senior Data Center Facilities Engineer, You Will

• Support daily operations, maintenance, and continuous improvement of enterprise data centers, including classified computing facilities.
• Coordinate maintenance and troubleshooting of critical infrastructure, including power distribution, UPS systems, generators, and cooling systems.
• Contribute to the design and evolution of APL's data center facilities, including infrastructure architecture, physical layouts, power and cooling strategies, capacity planning, and long-term modernization.
• Participate in planning and implementing new data center capabilities, facility expansions, technology upgrades, and infrastructure improvements to meet evolving computing requirements.
• Plan and coordinate equipment installations, relocations, structured cabling, and other data center infrastructure changes.
• Collaborate with facilities personnel, technical teams, and external service providers to execute maintenance, engineering, and infrastructure projects.
• Maintain accurate infrastructure documentation, inventory, and data center management records.
• Troubleshoot infrastructure failures and operational issues to maintain service availability and minimize disruptions.
• Coordinate work within controlled-access facilities in accordance with applicable security and operational requirements.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you have:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• 7+ years of experience supporting enterprise data centers or comparable mission-critical facilities.
• Experience with data center power, cooling, and supporting infrastructure.
• Experience coordinating technical maintenance, infrastructure changes, or facility operations.
• Experience contributing to data center design, expansion, modernization, or long-term infrastructure planning.
• Experience with critical power and cooling systems, preventive maintenance programs, and infrastructure reliability.
• Familiarity with data center industry standards, structured cabling, and infrastructure management tools.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Hold an active Secret security clearance and can ultimately obtain Top Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have:

• Experience operating or supporting classified data centers, secure government facilities, or defense and intelligence community environments.
• An active Top Secret security clearance.

About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [e-mail].

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$290,000 Annually