What are the responsibilities and job description for the Data Center Engineer position at Sharp Brains?
Job Description – Data Centre Hands and Feet Engineer
Position: Data Centre Hands and Feet Engineer
Location: Vancouver, WA
Employment Type: Full-Time / Contract
Job Summary
We are seeking a skilled Data Centre Hands and Feet Engineer to provide on-site technical support for enterprise data center operations. The ideal candidate will perform hardware installations, rack and stack activities, structured cabling, equipment troubleshooting, and Smart Hands support for remote engineering teams. This role requires experience working in data center environments with networking and server infrastructure.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform Rack & Stack installation of servers, network switches, routers, firewalls, and storage devices.
- Install, cable, label, and decommission IT equipment in data center racks.
- Perform power, fiber optic, and Ethernet cross-connects.
- Install and replace transceivers (SFP/SFP /QSFP modules) and patch cables.
- Support Cisco, Juniper, Arista, HP, Dell, and other networking equipment installations.
- Provide Hands & Feet (Smart Hands) support for remote infrastructure and network engineers.
- Connect console cables and assist with device configuration during implementation.
- Verify switch port availability, physical connectivity, and cable management.
- Perform hardware replacement including HDDs, SSDs, memory, power supplies, fans, and network cards.
- Assist with server staging, deployment, relocation, and decommissioning activities.
- Troubleshoot basic network and hardware connectivity issues.
- Capture installation photos and provide status updates to project teams.
- Maintain accurate asset records, rack elevations, and cable documentation.
- Follow data center operational procedures, safety standards, and change management processes.
Required Skills
- Experience with Rack & Stack activities.
- Data center hardware installation and deployment.
- Smart Hands / Remote Hands support.
- Fiber optic and Ethernet cabling.
- Copper and fiber patching.
- Basic TCP/IP networking knowledge.
- Experience with Cisco switches, routers, Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs), and enterprise network infrastructure.
- Hardware installation of Dell, HP, Lenovo, Cisco, or similar enterprise equipment.
- Basic troubleshooting of network, server, and hardware issues.
- Knowledge of structured cabling standards and cable management.
Required Tools
- Standard technician toolkit.
- Laptop with PuTTY and terminal emulation software.
- Console cable (USB-to-RJ45).
- Ethernet patch cables and crossover cables.
- Fiber cleaning kit and patch cords.
- USB flash drive.
- Internet hotspot/Wi-Fi access.
- Label maker or label printer.
- 6-foot ladder.
- Cable tester (preferred).
Preferred Qualifications
- 2–5 years of experience in a Data Centre or Enterprise IT environment.
- Experience supporting Cisco networking equipment.
- Familiarity with ITIL change management processes.
- Knowledge of data center best practices and structured cabling.
- Ability to work independently and support after-hours maintenance windows.
- Strong communication and documentation skills.
Preferred Certifications
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- CompTIA Network
- BICSI Installer (Preferred)
- Dell, HPE, or Cisco Hardware Certifications (Preferred)
Key Competencies
- Rack & Stack
- Smart Hands / Remote Hands
- Data Centre Operations
- Network Cabling
- Fiber Optics
- Cisco Networking
- Hardware Installation
- Troubleshooting
- Asset Management
- Cable Management
- Network Deployment
- Enterprise Infrastructure
This job description is suitable for sourcing Data Centre Hands and Feet, Smart Hands Engineer, Network Field Engineer, and Data Centre Technician candidates supporting enterprise networking and infrastructure projects.