# Data Center Engineer

**Company:** [Cloudflare](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/cloudflare)
**Location:** Austin, TX
**Role:** DevOps / SRE
**Experience:** 4+ years
**Skills:** Linux, juniper, cisco, dwdm, network infrastructure, data center operations, dcim, Jira, AI Automation, saltstack, chef, puppet, Ansible, Python, Go
**Posted:** 2026-08-05

> Operates and improves global data center infrastructure, including Linux systems, network equipment, remote contractors, deployments, and operational automation. Requires at least four years of Linux systems administration experience and familiarity with data center operations, networking, and infrastructure projects.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Collaborate with Infrastructure, Network Engineering, and SRE teams.
- Create documentation and manage remote contractors completing data center tasks.
- Work with hardware manufacturers, data center and network providers, logistics partners, and other service providers supporting global infrastructure.
- Maintain data center environment operational availability.
- Leverage AI tools to automate repetitive operational tasks, accelerate documentation, and improve troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.
- Create and maintain documentation, plans, SOPs, and MOPs.
- Support and configure network infrastructure as required.
- Provide feedback to internal teams to improve internal tools and external vendor partnerships.
- Introduce scalable technology and automation solutions to improve global infrastructure deployment and maintenance.
- Define, document, and implement consistent processes across regions.
- Participate in a shared on-call rotation supporting 24/7 operational availability.
- Perform limited travel.

## Requirements
- At least 4 years of experience in Linux systems administration.
- Experience with Juniper, Cisco, and DWDM network equipment.
- Experience managing and instructing remote contractors.
- Familiarity with standing up infrastructure in remote colocation facilities.
- Experience running and improving operational processes, including automation tooling, in a rapidly changing environment.
- Familiarity with data center operations such as deployment, migration, and decommissioning.
- Experience with complex data center or infrastructure projects.
- Experience installing and maintaining data center and IT infrastructure and DCIM tools.
- Comfortable handling basic program management responsibilities, including prioritization, planning, scheduling, and status reporting with tools such as JIRA.
- Strong verbal and written communication, problem-solving, attention to detail, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to learn quickly and execute multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Ability to use Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets.
- Team-oriented and proactive.

## Education
- Bachelor's degree preferred, with a technical background in engineering, computer science, or management information systems.

## Nice-to-Haves
- Multilingual ability and experience working with infrastructure in multiple countries.
- Experience with remote lights-out and out-of-band access to data center resources.
- Linux certifications such as RHCSA.
- Network certifications such as CCNA or JNCIA.
- Configuration management systems such as SaltStack, Chef, Puppet, or Ansible.
- Scripting or software development experience in Bash, Python, or Go.
- Familiarity with load balancing and reverse proxies such as Nginx, Varnish, HAProxy, or Apache.
- Experience working within a large-scale SaaS vendor.

## Similar roles

- [Operational Technology Engineer](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/e57e0434-245d-44a8-b378-1c6ab8bf6c2a) - xAI - Memphis, TN
- [Software Engineer III - Data Platform](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/8ebe115d-a849-434e-a49f-8e5bef3e1f5d) - Idme - Mountain View, CA - $173k – $201k/yr
- [Software Engineer, Networking & Linux Systems](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/1a5721e0-9d7d-4f3a-8a0f-4562fcb2254a) - Avride - Austin, TX
- [Software Engineer-Platform Engineering](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/f2500f05-d10d-462d-a2cf-106316c1f090) - Twilio - Remote - $139k – $204k/yr
- [Software Engineer, Compute Infrastructure](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/e0a3b148-84c9-4527-a285-8b82c6473c63) - Glean - Mountain View, CA - $140k – $220k/yr

**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/d29f9ff6-7237-4b28-a04c-531a9b90c07d
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/d29f9ff6-7237-4b28-a04c-531a9b90c07d