Data Center Field Operations Technician

Location: New Albany, Ohio (Onsite)
Experience: 5–12 Years
Work Model: Onsite 
Shift: Rotating Day/Night Shifts | 24×7 Operations
Work Schedule: 5 Days On / 2 Days Off | 40 Hours per Week

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Data Center Field Operations Technician to support data center rack deployments, structured cabling, fiber optic installation and testing, network hardware installation, circuit troubleshooting, and break/fix operations. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience working in enterprise or hyperscale data center environments, with strong knowledge of fiber optics, rack and stack, and physical-layer troubleshooting.

Key Responsibilities

1. Data Center Rack Deployment

• Perform rack receiving, unpacking, installation, rack and stack, cabling, and turn-up activities.

• Install and route network cables between compute racks, fabric switches, spine/aggregation switches, and related equipment.

• Perform cable dressing, labeling, and management according to site standards.

• Support rack decommissioning, redeployment, relocation, and pre-integrated rack inspections.

• Install network switches, routers, line cards, and optical transceivers while following ESD procedures.

• Support network cabling for Air Assisted Liquid Cooling (AALC) racks.

2. Fiber Optics and Circuit Testing

• Perform fiber optic splicing, termination, cleaning, connector inspection, and continuity testing.

• Use OTDR, optical power meters, Visual Fault Locators (VFL), loopback adapters, and cable certifiers.

• Execute circuit loopback testing and verify connectivity after installation.

• Perform PON (Passive Optical Network) testing and validation.

• Identify, document, and troubleshoot fiber breaks, connector defects, low optical light levels, and circuit failures.

• Conduct as-built documentation audits and equipment placement verification.

3. Break/Fix and Troubleshooting

• Diagnose and repair copper and fiber network connectivity issues.

• Replace faulty switches, line cards, optics, transceivers, and network cables according to approved Methods of Procedure (MOPs).

• Perform hardware hot-swap and RMA activities in accordance with operational priorities and SLAs.

• Troubleshoot physical-layer issues involving cable damage, connector contamination, link failures, and optical signal levels.

• Document issues, corrective actions, and resolutions in the ticketing system.

4. Operations and Maintenance

• Perform Inside Plant Preventative Maintenance (ISPM) and scheduled fiber-cleaning activities.

• Support cable dressing, redressing, and power QA activities during new data center builds.

• Assist with rack turn-down, equipment decommissioning, and relocation projects.

• Maintain accurate asset records using barcode scanning and asset management workflows.

• Coordinate with vendors and maintain tools and workspaces in accordance with EHS standards.

5. Safety and Compliance

• Follow site-specific EHS policies and Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO) procedures where applicable.

• Use appropriate PPE, including ESD wrist straps, safety glasses, and hard hats as required.

• Follow safe practices when working with energized equipment, personnel lifts, ladders, and optical hardware.

• Report safety concerns and near misses promptly.

6. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate with Network Provisioning Technicians, Facility Operations, site project managers, and supply-chain teams.

• Provide clear shift handoffs and maintenance updates.

• Maintain accurate ticket records, troubleshooting notes, and deployment documentation.

• Manage assigned work independently while meeting quality, safety, and SLA requirements.

Required Qualifications

• 5–12 years of experience in data center cabling, network hardware installation, telecommunications, or related field operations.

• Hands-on experience with fiber optic installation, splicing, termination, cleaning, and testing.

• Strong knowledge of structured copper and fiber cabling, including Cat6A, OM4, OS2, and MPO/MTP.

• Experience with data center rack installation, rack and stack, cable management, and labeling standards.

• Experience installing and replacing network switches, routers, line cards, and optical transceivers.

• Proficiency with OTDR, optical power meters, VFL, loopback adapters, and fiber inspection/cleaning tools.

• Experience troubleshooting Layer 1 connectivity and physical infrastructure issues.

• Familiarity with ticketing systems, work orders, and maintenance documentation.

• Ability to work rotating shifts, including nights, and participate in rotational on-call support.

• Ability to work onsite in New Albany, Ohio.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting large-scale deployments involving 50+ racks.

• Hyperscale, multi-tenant, or campus-scale data center experience.

• Experience with Air Assisted Liquid Cooling (AALC) rack systems.

• BICSI Installer/Technician certification or equivalent.

• OSHA 10/30 certification.

• Familiarity with DCIM platforms, barcode scanning, and asset management systems.

• Experience in telecom carrier operations or large enterprise network repair.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift 50+ lbs repeatedly.

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and work in warm data hall environments.

• Comfortable working at heights, in confined spaces, and around active electrical environments while following safety procedures.

• Ability to wear required PPE for extended periods.

• Good manual dexterity for fiber connector inspection, cleaning, and optical hardware handling.

Important: This is a fully onsite position in New Albany, Ohio. Remote work is not available.