Senior Data Center Facilities Engineer - Secure Ops

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

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Senior Data Center Facilities Engineer to operate, maintain, design, and modernize enterprise data centers, including classified computing facilities. You will work with a team of facilities, network, server, and infrastructure engineers to ensure reliable operations and address complex challenges.

The role emphasizes security-sensitive environments; candidates with active Secret clearance or the ability to obtain Top Secret are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 7+ years of experience supporting 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 clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

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 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 to maintain service availability and minimize disruptions.
• Coordinate work within controlled-access facilities in accordance with security and operational requirements.

Skills

Power & cooling

Infrastructure planning

Security clearance

Project coordination

Documentation

Facilities operations

Team collaboration

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Facility management software

Job description

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Senior Data Center Facilities Engineer to operate, maintain, design, and modernize enterprise data centers, including classified computing facilities. You will work with a team of facilities, network, server, and infrastructure engineers to ensure reliable operations and address complex challenges.

The role emphasizes security-sensitive environments; candidates with active Secret clearance or the ability to obtain Top Secret are preferred.