Senior Data Center Engineer

Dive in and do the best work of your career at DigitalOcean. Journey alongside a strong community of top talent who are relentless in their drive to build the simplest scalable cloud. If you have a growth mindset, naturally like to think big and bold, and are energized by the fast-paced environment of a true industry disruptor, you’ll find your place here. We value winning together—while learning, having fun, and making a profound difference for the dreamers and builders in the world. We are looking for a Senior Data Center Engineer who is passionate about building and scaling reliable data center infrastructure for the DigitalOcean cloud and AI platform. As a Senior Data Center Engineer at DigitalOcean, you will join a dynamic team dedicated to revolutionizing cloud computing and AI. Reporting to the Data Center Manager, you will own complex deployments and repairs with little instruction, serve as an escalation point for difficult and recurring issues, and improve how the team operates. You will mentor technicians and engineers, lead smaller projects, and help shape the standards that keep our sites running reliably. Location: Richmond, VA. This is an onsite role. Shift schedule to be confirmed per posting. What You’ll Do: - Own complex deployments from start to finish, including GPU and AI infrastructure, servers, network, and storage hardware - Serve as an escalation point for troubleshooting complex and recurring hardware, network, GPU, and Linux OS issues - Lead reviews of data center events and incidents, using data to find root causes and drive fixes to timely resolution and closure - Review new data center spaces, cages, and suites against power, cooling, and cabling standards - Write, review, and approve operational documentation, runbooks, and procedures, and improve and standardize site procedures - Track and report on operational metrics and recommend improvements - Provide input on hardware, materials, and staffing needs for upcoming projects - Lead site wide projects and mentor Data Center Technicians and Engineers - Partner with peers and leaders across teams, sharing knowledge through documentation, demos, and team learning sessions - Ensure RMA, inventory, and asset management processes are followed consistently at your site What You’ll Add to DigitalOcean: - Bachelor’s degree or 4 years of equivalent work experience, and 3 years of experience troubleshooting IT systems - Experience deploying and troubleshooting GPU hardware at scale for AI workloads - Strong understanding of infrastructure hardware deployment and troubleshooting across networking, hardware, and Linux OS - Strong understanding of Linux operating systems; proficient with bash scripting - Working knowledge of data center power and cooling, and a strong understanding of cabling plans and best practices - Strong problem-solving skills and comfort performing deep technical dives to resolve issues quickly and efficiently - Ability to operate and navigate effectively through ambiguity - Experience mentoring or training junior engineers and technicians - Willingness to participate in an on-call rotation - Traveling up to 10% typically domestically to and from multiple locations during the workday, and occasionally domestically to other sites for overnight stays. - May work 12-hour shifts, including shift assignments during non-standard business hours such as evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. - Ability to be on your feet all day and lift objects up to 50 lbs Compensation Range: - $106,000 - $130,000 - Non-sales roles: In addition to base salary, this role is eligible to participate in DigitalOcean’s annual bonus plan and may be eligible for a new hire equity grant, subject to plan terms and local eligibility. Bonus amounts depend on company and individual performance. - Sales roles (sales compensation eligible): In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible to earn incentive compensation under the applicable sales compensation plan and may be eligible for a new hire equity grant, subject to plan terms and local eligibility. *This is an onsite role JR: 2026-8396 #LI-Onsite Why You’ll Like Working for DigitalOcean - We innovate with purpose. You’ll be a part of a cutting-edge technology company with a high-growth trajectory, who are proud to simplify cloud and AI so builders can spend more time creating software that changes the world. As part of our team, you’ll embody our "Shark" mindset: bold, ambitious, and scrappy. You'll lead with a bias for action and take true ownership of our products, customer success, and team culture. - We prioritize career development. At DigitalOcean, you’ll do the best work of your career. You will join a community of exceptional talent, collaborating closely with some of the brightest and most interesting people in the industry. We are a high-performance and fast-paced organization that will always challenge you to think big. Our talent development team prioritizes your professional development and provides resources to support your growth. We provide employees with reimbursement for relevant conferences, training, and education, subject to company policy. - We care about your well-being. We take a comprehensive approach to our total rewards packages because we know different things drive different people. Our benefits are designed to support you and may include flexible time off, local team meetups, and mental health and well being support. Our benefits philosophy is consistent globally, but specific benefits and eligibility vary by location to reflect local needs and regulations. - We reward our employees. The salary range for this position is based on market data, relevant years of experience, and skills. Eligible employees may also receive equity compensation, which may include a new hire equity grant and, in participating countries, the opportunity to participate in our Employee Stock Purchase Program. Equity awards are subject to approval and the terms of the applicable plan. - Non-sales roles: In addition to base salary, this role is eligible to participate in DigitalOcean’s annual bonus plan and may be eligible for a new hire equity grant, subject to plan terms and local eligibility. Bonus amounts depend on company and individual performance. - Sales roles (sales compensation eligible): In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible to earn incentive compensation under the applicable sales compensation plan and may be eligible for a new hire equity grant, subject to plan terms and local eligibility. - DigitalOcean is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Application Limit: You may apply to a maximum of 3 positions within any 180-day period. This policy promotes better role-candidate matching and encourages thoughtful applications where your qualifications align most strongly.