Lead System Engineering

Job Description:

This position requires office presence of a minimum of 5 days per week and is only located in the location(s) posted. No relocation is offered.

AT&T will not hire any applicants for this position who require employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Join AT&T and help shape the future of communications and technology that connect the world. We value innovators who seek to explore the unknown and challenge the status quo. Bring your bold ideas and fearless spirit to redefine connectivity and transform how people share stories and experiences. At AT&T, you won't just imagine the future-you'll build it.

What you'll bring:

As a Lead System Engineering Manager, you will serve as a strategic leader responsible for the end-to-end performance, reliability, and scalability of AT&T's mission-critical data center infrastructure. This role combines operational excellence, engineering leadership, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure 24x7x365 availability, support business continuity, and enable future growth. You will drive innovation, lead high-impact initiatives, and ensure our facilities meet the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and resiliency.

What you'll do:

• Operational Leadership:
  
  • Lead the daily operations of multiple geographically distributed, mission critical data centers with a focus on up-time, safety, and performance.
  • Ensure 24x7x364 operational readiness through robust incident response, preventive maintenance, and continuous monitoring of critical systems.

• Infrastructure Strategy & Project Delivery:
  
  • Lifecycle of capital infrastructure projects, from requirements gathering and design through commissioning and handover.
  • Manage large-scale upgrades and retrofits to support capacity growth, energy efficiency, and evolving technology needs.
  • Oversee critical systems including electrical distribution, UPS, diesel generators, HVAC, fire/life safety, BMS, and fuel systems.

• Cross-Functional & Vendor Leadership:
  
  • Partners with internal stakeholders (Engineering, IT, Real Estate, Finance) and external vendors to deliver prospects on-time, within budget, and with zero distribution to live environments.
  • Lead performance management of third-party facility management providers, ensuring adherence to SLAs, KPIs, and compliance standards.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement:
  
  • Drive operational excellence through automation, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Identify and implement energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives aligned with corporate goals.

• Risk Management & Compliance:
  
  • Lead root cause analysis and post-incident reviews for infrastructure related events.
  • Ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, health, and safety standards (e.g. NFPA, ASHRAE, OSHA).

What you'll need:

• Required Experience:
  
  • 5-8 years of related experience in mission critical data center operations, engineering or construction management.
  • Technical Career Pathway (TCP) role.

• Required Qualifications:
  
  • Provide technical support for on-site engineering operations 24x7x365 by phone for emergencies.

• Desired Qualifications:
  
  • 7+ years of experience in mission-critical data center operations, engineering, or construction management.
  • Experience managing large-scale, high-availability environments in telecom, cloud, or hyperscale data center settings.
  • Familiarity with IT infrastructure, networking, and cloud service delivery models is a plus.
  • Aligns infrastructure planning with long-term business and technology goals.
  • Delivers consistent, high-quality results in high-pressure environments.
  • Deep understanding of critical infrastructure systems and emerging technologies.
  • Build strong relationships and drives accountability across external teams.
  • Leads teams through transformation, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  • Effectively communicates with technical and non-technical stakeholders, from field engineers to senior executives.
  • Prioritizes service availability and end-user impact in every decision.

• Desired Education:
  
  • Bachelor's of Science degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience preferred.
  • PMP, IFMA, BOMI, Uptime Institute ATD/ATS, or Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.

• Supervisor: No

Our Lead System Engineering earns between $141,300 - $211,900 annually. Not to mention all the other amazing rewards that working at AT&T offers. Individual starting salary within this range may depend on geography, experience, expertise, and education/training.

Joining our team comes with amazing perks and benefits:

• Medical/Dental/Vision coverage
• 401(k) plan
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Paid Time Off and Holidays (based on date of hire, at least 23 days of vacation each year and 9 company-designated holidays)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Caregiver Leave
• Additional sick leave beyond what state and local law require may be available but is unprotected
• Adoption Reimbursement
• Disability Benefits (short term and long term)
• Life and Accidental Death Insurance
• Supplemental benefit programs: critical illness/accident hospital indemnity/group legal
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• Extensive employee wellness programs
• Employee discounts up to 50% off on eligible AT&T mobility plans and accessories, AT&T internet (and fiber where available) and AT&T phone

Ready to join our team? Apply today

#LI-Onsite - Full-time office role

Weekly Hours:
40

Time Type:
Regular

Location:
Saint Louis, Missouri

Salary Range:
$141,300.00 - $211,900.00

It is the policy of AT&T to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, AT&T will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. AT&T is a fair chance employer and does not initiate a background check until an offer is made.