Senior Data Center Operations Engineer at Colovore — Chicago, Illinois | Racks & Rows
Senior Data Center Operations Engineer
Colovore·Chicago, Illinois
Full-time
Free account to apply · application completed on Colovore
About This Role
About the Organization
Colovore is the leader in ultra-high-density, liquid-cooled AI colocation data centers for the deployment of AI inference, SuperPod, and AI factory applications and solutions. With facilities featuring power densities of 17-500+ kilowatts per cabinet, we are expanding quickly and building a national footprint of modern, hyper-efficient, high-density data centers to serve F500 enterprises and startups. The company was acquired by King Street in 2024, who provides real estate development expertise and secured $925 million funding to accelerate its national expansion. Join our team and play a critical role as we scale for rapid growth. You can be a game-changer at Colovore.
Role Overview
We’re seeking a Senior Engineer, Data Center Operations to lead site-level operations in a high-density, mission-critical environment. This role blends hands-on technical work with leadership in preventative maintenance, customer service, and systems optimization. The Senior Engineer ensures uptime, efficiency, and compliance while mentoring junior staff and driving continuous improvements across facilities and IT operations.
Key Responsibilities
Lead day-to-day operational support, including equipment installation, cabling, and facility rounds.
Oversee preventative maintenance cycles and ensure compliance with operational standards and audit requirements.
Manage and resolve escalations during incidents; act as decision-maker in high-pressure situations.
Operate and optimize Building Management Systems (BMS), Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), and ticketing systems.
Configure, monitor, and tune infrastructure systems to improve reliability and efficiency.
Mentor and train junior operations staff; ensure proper documentation and SOP adherence.
Interface with strategic customers, providing remote hands support, escalation management, and service recovery.
Partner with facilities, engineering, and customer success teams to align on operational needs and improvements.
Maintain accurate records, logs, and reports for compliance, audits, and performance reviews.
Support capacity planning and operational readiness for new deployments.
Key Skills
Technical Mastery of Mission-Critical Infrastructure
Deep understanding of electrical, mechanical, and IT infrastructure systems (power distribution, cooling, cabling, server hardware)
Ability to diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve complex infrastructure issues under time-sensitive conditions
Skilled in operating and interpreting data from BMS, CMMS, ticketing, and monitoring tools
Operational Excellence & Preventative Maintenance
Strong command of SOPs, MOPs, and EOPs with a disciplined approach to execution
Expertise in designing, managing, and improving preventative maintenance programs
Detail-oriented mindset for inspections, documentation, compliance, and audit readiness
Incident Leadership & Decision-Making
Ability to remain calm, clear-thinking, and decisive during outages or operational escalations
Strong situational awareness and risk assessment capabilities to drive safe, effective resolutions
Experience coordinating stakeholders and communicating clearly during high-pressure events
Systems Optimization & Continuous Improvement
Analytical approach to tuning and optimizing power, cooling, and monitoring systems for high-density environments
Ability to identify inefficiencies, propose improvements, and drive implementation across teams
Comfortable working with data to inform operational decisions and capacity planning
Customer Service & Communication
Professional, customer-oriented approach when supporting remote hands, escalations, or service recovery
Clear written and verbal communication skills, able to translate technical updates for both technical and non-technical audiences
Skilled at balancing customer needs with site-level operational priorities
Leadership & Team Development
Experience training and mentoring junior technicians, with an emphasis on safety, accuracy, and professional growth
Ability to model operational discipline, set expectations, and ensure adherence to processes
Strong collaborator who works well across facilities, engineering, and customer-facing teams
Required Experience
5+ years of data center or mission-critical facility operations experience, with a strong focus on hands-on field work.
Proven expertise with power, cooling, and IT infrastructure systems in high-density environments.
Hands-on experience with BMS, CMMS, ticketing, and monitoring tools.
Demonstrated ability to lead incident resolution and high-pressure operational decisions.
Prior experience mentoring or leading junior technicians preferred.
What Success Looks Like
Zero downtime achieved through proactive monitoring, preventative maintenance, and effective incident management.
Smooth customer experience with quick, accurate, and professional handling of remote hands requests and escalations.
High-performing systems with optimized power, cooling, and monitoring configurations that support dense AI/HPC workloads.
Well-trained team of operations staff that follows SOPs, executes work efficiently, and grows under mentorship.
Accurate, compliant documentation that meets audit requirements and provides transparency for leadership and customers.
Continuous improvements implemented in workflows, safety, and operational efficiency to scale with business growth.
Why You’ll Love Working at Colovore
At Colovore, we believe great work happens when people feel supported, trusted, and empowered. We offer a competitive and thoughtful benefits package designed to support your health, growth, and life outside of work, including:
Competitive compensation with opportunities for growth and advancement
Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) to support flexibility, rest, and work-life balance
10 paid company holidays and paid sick leave
401(k) plan with company participation
Professional development opportunities and learning support
Collaborative, inclusive culture where your work makes a real impact
If you’re excited to build meaningful infrastructure, solve complex challenges, and grow with a team that values both performance and people, we’d love to hear from you.
