Data Center Operations Engineer

Overview

Serve as the initial on-site operational owner for Vultr's newly launched Chennai data center, planning, coordinating and executing operational readiness during the ramp-up phase before permanent staffing and management are established.

What you'll do

• Serve as the primary on-site operational owner for new data center locations during the launch and ramp-up phase
• Analyze site-specific conditions and determine how Vultr's infrastructure standards, deployment plans, and operational procedures are implemented locally
• Coordinate and sequence deployment activities so systems are brought online in a safe, efficient, and scalable manner
• Identify operational gaps, risks, or constraints and develop recommendations or mitigation plans with remote infrastructure and engineering teams
• Plan and oversee installation and configuration of server and network infrastructure, including rack layouts, power distribution strategy, cabling approaches, and hardware placement
• Diagnose complex infrastructure issues across hardware, power, cooling, networking, and system configurations
• Determine corrective actions for non-standard deployment or operational scenarios and escalate when changes to standards or scope are required
• Evaluate hardware health and performance data to inform readiness decisions and remediation planning
• Act as Vultr's on-site representative with data center facility staff, vendors, and warranty providers, coordinating work activities and validating outcomes
• Determine when vendor or facility issues require escalation, schedule adjustments, or alternative approaches to maintain launch timelines
• Partner with remote Operations, Network Engineering, Security, and Infrastructure teams to align on readiness milestones and risk management
• Establish and maintain authoritative documentation for the site, including infrastructure layouts, inventory controls, deployment records, and operational status reporting
• Manage spare parts strategy and inventory planning for the site, recommending replenishment based on operational analysis
• Provide structured updates, findings, and recommendations to management on site readiness, risks, and next-phase staffing or operational needs
• Support knowledge transfer and handoff as additional technicians or managers are assigned to the site
• Contribute lessons learned and improvement recommendations to inform future data center launches

What you'll need

• 5+ years of experience supporting data center infrastructure in a hands-on technical role with demonstrated responsibility beyond task execution
• Proven ability to analyze infrastructure environments, identify operational risks, and determine appropriate courses of action
• Strong working knowledge of server hardware, network equipment, and data center facility services including power, cooling, and cross-connects
• Experience coordinating vendors, facility providers, and cross-functional technical teams
• Ability to operate independently while exercising judgment within defined authority and escalation frameworks
• Strong organizational and documentation skills, with experience producing operational plans, status updates, and readiness documentation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Nice to have

• Experience supporting GPU-based or high-density infrastructure
• Experience in colocation and cloud/hybrid environments
• Familiarity with sustainability and energy efficiency best practices
• Strong knowledge of ITIL and Agile methodologies
• Familiarity with JIRA and Confluence

Details

• Location: Chennai, India
• Rotational on-call duty may be required
• May need to work outside normal business hours for incident management or critical maintenance