Senior Network Engineer - Data Center & Team Lead

TEKsystems; Schaumburg (IL); On-site; USD 98,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Job summary

TEKsystems is seeking a Lead Network Engineer in Schaumburg, IL to lead deployment and operational activities for Microsoft data center sites. You will provide technical direction, mentor technicians, and coordinate cross-site workstreams to ensure safe, high-quality execution. Strong communication with Microsoft stakeholders is essential.

Required 5+ years in data center deployment/operations, 2+ years leading teams, and ability to travel. Power BI familiarity is a plus.

Qualifications

• ,5+ years of progressive experience in data center deployment, operations, networking, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience leading technical teams, projects, or field operations.
• Ability to travel to other sites or regions.

Responsibilities

• Lead deployment and operational activities across assigned Microsoft data center sites.
• Review and interpret Microsoft cut sheets, cable maps, implementation requirements, and work instructions before field execution.
• Provide technical guidance for structured cabling, network infrastructure, equipment deployment, hardware moves, patching, troubleshooting, and decommissioning.
• Coordinate multiple simultaneous projects and workstreams across different data center sites and physical work areas.
• Monitor project milestones, risks, blockers, contingencies, and customer commitments, escalating early when support or decisions are required.
• Maintain accurate daily and weekly project status reporting for TEKsystems and Microsoft stakeholders.
• Coordinate onboarding and operational readiness activities, including required data center access tickets, special permissions, and customer-system setup.
• Adapt execution plans as Microsoft processes, priorities, and site conditions change.
• Ensure technicians follow applicable Microsoft processes, procedures, SOPs, safety requirements, and site rules.
• Reinforce safe work practices associated with data hall operations, cooling and power awareness, floor loading, containment pathways, and material-handling equipment.
• Address recurring quality or safety concerns through coaching, documented escalation, and process improvement.
• Partner with operational and EHS leaders when incidents, hazards, or systemic risks require additional review.
• Build and maintain professional relationships with Microsoft data center project managers, engineers, and operational stakeholders.
• Participate in project reviews, planning discussions, customer meetings, and delivery-status calls.
• Communicate technical issues, delivery risks, dependencies, mitigation plans, and status updates clearly and promptly.
• Lead, coach, and mentor deployment and operational teams, including technicians and team leads.
• Support interviewing, selection, onboarding, and readiness evaluation for data center technical roles.
• Define or reinforce minimum technical and behavioral attributes required for successful field execution.
• Identify capability gaps and coordinate coaching, training, remediation, or escalation as appropriate.

Skills

Network engineering

Data center deployment

Team leadership

Customer engagement

Tools

Power BI

Job description

TEKsystems is seeking a Lead Network Engineer in Schaumburg, IL to lead deployment and operational activities for Microsoft data center sites. You will provide technical direction, mentor technicians, and coordinate cross-site workstreams to ensure safe, high-quality execution. Strong communication with Microsoft stakeholders is essential.

Required 5+ years in data center deployment/operations, 2+ years leading teams, and ability to travel. Power BI familiarity is a plus.