Data Center Technician

Vdart - Altoona, IA

Full-time - Entry Level

Altoona, IA

1,001-5,000 employees

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Data Center Technician role is a critical position within the IT network infrastructure, located onsite in Altoona, IA. This position is expected to last for a duration of 12+ months and requires a hands-on approach to troubleshooting and maintaining various network components. The technician will be responsible for physically troubleshooting network infrastructure, which includes routers, switches, console servers, and optical transport equipment. The role demands a proactive approach to providing onsite network support and expertise for all teams within the local data center, acting as a liaison for remote networking teams to ensure seamless operations. In addition to troubleshooting, the technician will be involved in the physical replacement of optics, line cards, supervisor cards, and chassis hardware. They will need to effectively troubleshoot network link, device, and configuration issues, isolating and resolving problems as they arise. The technician will also be responsible for creating new RMA requests through OEM vendors for replacement devices and obtaining technical assistance when necessary. Maintaining an accurate asset inventory of defective and replacement parts is crucial, as is the ability to trace and isolate cables through patch panels. The role includes testing and cleaning fiber optic cables and optical interfaces, scheduling and performing network maintenance, repair, and upgrade tasks while minimizing the impact on the production network. The technician will utilize internal automation software, tools, and scripts to configure, monitor, and repair network equipment. Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including facilities, cabling, and server teams, is essential for successful project execution. The technician will also manage alarms, tasks, and incidents, participating in ongoing deployment projects. A strong working knowledge of Linux OS, CLI navigation, JUNOS, Cisco IOS, and bash is required, along with the ability to conduct physical audits of inventory and update the asset inventory database. The job entails significant physical demands, including standing, walking, bending, and lifting, and may require onsite support after business hours as part of the on-call schedule, as well as travel to various sites as needed.

Responsibilities

• Physically troubleshoot various network components in network infrastructure including routers, switches, console servers, and optical transport equipment.
• Provide onsite network support and expertise for all teams on the local data center, acting as a liaison for remote networking teams.
• Physically replace optics, line cards, supervisor cards, and chassis hardware as needed.
• Troubleshoot network link, device, and configuration issues, isolating and fixing problems.
• Create new RMA requests through OEM vendors for replacement devices and obtain technical assistance when troubleshooting devices.
• Track, maintain, and update asset inventory of defective and replacement parts.
• Trace and isolate cables through patch panels.
• Test and clean fiber optic cables and optical interfaces.
• Schedule and perform network maintenance, repair, and upgrade tasks while minimizing impact on the production network.
• Use internal automation software, tools, and scripts to configure, monitor, and repair network equipment.
• Work with cross-functional teams, including facilities, cabling, and server teams.
• Perform queue management for alarms, tasks, and incidents and participate in ongoing deployment projects.
• Conduct physical audits of inventory and update asset inventory database.

Requirements

• 3-6 years of IT network experience.
• Strong working knowledge of Linux OS, CLI navigation, JUNOS, Cisco IOS, and bash.
• Experience with Juniper Enterprise, Cisco, and Service Provider network hardware platforms and architectures, including data center switching platforms.
• Strong working knowledge of routing and switching technologies and protocols.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex situations and utilize troubleshooting skills, systems, tools, and creative problem-solving abilities under pressure.