Your role:

This position provides technical support of Global Relay’s mission critical data center facilities, server environments and related infrastructure. This includes specification, installation, and testing of server and storage systems and peripherals within established standards, as well as development and maintenance of data center support systems such as automated system provisioning, asset tracking, space planning, cable management, equipment monitoring and maintenance. Activities require timely troubleshooting of hardware including servers, storage, use of monitoring application software and operating systems to monitor, diagnose and resolve unique, non-recurring problems.  These responsibilities require independent and team-based analyses, initiative and good judgment, communication and problem solving while working with little supervision. Basic system administration skills would be a benefit. This position is intended as a long-term position supporting Data Center equipment, not a transitionary roll into network administration or server administration. While this role is a primarily onsite role physical hands-on position, based in Tukwila Washington, candidate must be able to travel for multiple days to other sites such as Seattle, Denver, New York and Canada.

Your job:

• Assist operations staff with the installation, configuration and ongoing usability of servers, storage systems, peripheral equipment and software
• Work with vendor support contacts to resolve technical problems with computer, equipment and related software
• Maintain a well-organized list of inventory of all equipment and parts
• Receiving, unpacking, assembling, racking and cabling of servers, storage systems, network devices and related components
• Installation of cabling between servers, racks and network devices
• Ensure facility is maintained to highest standards possible to ensure 100% uptime is achieved
• Escort and supervise mechanical and electrical contractors when performing maintenance and repair work to ensure work does not jeopardize system availability
• Perform rotating shift coverage to meet all support needs as required
• Willing to do shift work, including night shifts and emergency coverage as required
• Liaise with facilities staff to ensure system availability
• Continuously fine tune and improve monitoring systems configurations and alerts
• Work closely with the Operations team to ensure high availability of monitoring systems and supporting infrastructure
• Assist in 3rd party technical audits as needed
• Monitor alerts and triage hardware specific problems
• Do periodic red-light audits to monitor hardware health
• Destruction and disposal of retired and decommissioned equipment
• Perform firmware and software updates to servers
• Assisting system administrators with basic server configuration tasks

About you:

• Ideally a post-secondary degree or diploma in Computer Science or Engineering related disciplines or applicable experience.
• Experience in supporting servers and data center needs within a mission critical environment, or have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
• Excellent judgement skills in making critical decisions
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in both verbal and written English
• Strong organization skill and initiatives
• Strong documentation skills
• Comfortable working under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Resourcefulness in problem solving abilities
• Demonstrated knowledge of a large variety of server hardware configurations, able to assemble and repair server equipment
• Excellent cable management skills required; pictures of previous cabling jobs would be an asset
• Demonstrated ability to work both collaboratively in a team environment as well as independently in an effective and organized manner in a complex and challenging environment
• Ability to do repetitive tasks consistently and in a timely manner
• Ability to work in a team environment as well as independently as needed
• Ability to learn on the fly and take on additional roles and responsibilities
• Ability to lift and move large and awkward equipment safely
• Familiarity with configuration of hardware raid controllers, local and attached storage systems
• Working knowledge of RHEL compatible Linux operating systems with the ability to troubleshoot common problems
• Familiarity with the following also an asset:
  • Experience working in a mission critical data center facility
  • Good understanding of network architecture, design, and implementation
  • Previous experience working in an environment with formally structured change management process would be considered
  • Knowledge of electrical power distribution systems and how they are used in a data center
  • Familiarity with HP monitoring tools and server support
  • Familiarity with mechanical equipment systems (CRAC, CRAH, evaporative cooling)
  • Some experience with Linux scripting languages (Bash, Python, Ansible, Perl)

Working conditions / physical requirements:

• Able to travel to other Data Center locations for extended periods (7-10 days)
• Extended periods of work in Data Center spaces, which can be noisy and have temperature extremes
• Extended periods of standing and lifting
• Working on ladders and overhead
• This position requires the ability to lift and carry 50Lbs and has prolonged periods of standing