"Data Center Engineer"

Data Center Engineer

Company: The University of Arizona

Job Location: Tucson, 85724

Category: Database Administrator

Type: Full-Time

Posting Number: req23898

Department: Infrastructure Services

Location: Main Campus

Address: Tucson, AZ USA

Position Highlights

The University Information Technology Services (UITS) Data Center Engineer is responsible for the comprehensive management and operational oversight of the UITS data center facilities.

This role encompasses planning, coordinating, and maintaining critical infrastructure, including power, cooling, and security systems, while ensuring seamless collaboration with campus units such as public safety, facilities management, networking, systems administration and building operations.

The engineer also oversees co-location services, building systems, and inventory within the data center environment. This role is essential for ensuring the reliability, security, and efficiency of the university's data center operations and supporting the institution's academic and research missions.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Design and plan data center layouts, including rack placement, structured cabling, airflow management, and space utilization.
• Develop and implement strategies for power distribution, cooling, and redundancy to maximize uptime and energy efficiency.
• Collaborate with network engineering teams on physical network topology and structured cabling design.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, industry standards, and best practices for data center operations.
• Specify and manage power requirements, UPS systems, generators, and cooling capacity for current and future growth.
• Ensure compliance with electrical, mechanical, safety, and environmental standards.
• Coordinate with the building manager and facilities staff for preventive maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to building systems.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of data center design, infrastructure diagrams, and as-built layouts.
• Ensure physical security and environmental controls are in place and functioning properly.
• Oversee vendor relationships and service contracts for facility and IT infrastructure.
• Oversee inventory of all data center assets, including IT equipment, spare parts, and facility supplies.
• Oversee daily operations of the data center, ensuring optimal performance, security, and availability of all systems and infrastructure.
• Maintain and monitor building systems critical to data center operations, including Amer-X, security cameras, building air handlers, and mechanical room equipment.
• Coordinate with systems administrators regarding installation (including racking), and maintenance of co-location equipment for UITS staff and campus partners.
• Execute and monitor Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for co-location clients, ensuring service commitments are met.
• Coordinate with UITS change advisory board, networking, facilities management, and other university units for scheduled maintenance, upgrades, and emergency response.
• Support audits and risk assessments related to physical and environmental controls.
• Lead and coordinate facility upgrades, new data center builds, or migrations.
• Provide technical leadership on cross-functional projects involving datacenter infrastructure and facilities.
• Oversee inventory of all data center assets, including IT equipment, spare parts, and facility supplies.
• Additional Duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools.
• Knowledge of co-location service models and SLA management.
• Knowledge of building access systems and security protocols.
• Ability to respond to emergencies and participate in incident response processes.
• Strong project management, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities for cross-departmental coordination.
• Knowledge of data center infrastructure (power, cooling, security), IT systems, and facility management tools.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.

Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

FLSA: Exempt

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week: 40

Job FTE: 1.0

Work Calendar: Fiscal

Job Category: Information Technology

Benefits Eligible: Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay: $86,870 - $112,932

Compensation Type: salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Grade 11

Career Stream and Level PC4

Job Family Computer Operations

Job Function Information Technology

Type of criminal background check required: Fingerprint criminal background check (security sensitive due to title or department)

Number of Vacancies: 1

Contact Information for Candidates uits-jobs@arizona.edu

Open Until Filled: Yes

Documents Needed to Apply: Resume and Cover Letter