Data Center Lead - Chennai Operations

Data Center Lead - Chennai Operations

3.0 Desired Candidate Profile

3.1 Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (preferably in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related fields).

3.2 Professional Experience

• Minimum 7+ years in data centre engineering or enterprise IT infrastructure operations, with at least 2–3 years in a team lead or technical manager capacity.

3.3 Technical Skills

Systems & Storage

• Expertise in enterprise hardware (Dell EMC, HPE, Cisco UCS).
• Proficiency in virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware vSphere/ESXi, Nutanix).
• Experience with enterprise storage systems (SAN, NAS).

Facility Knowledge

• Solid understanding of data centre physical facilities, including HVAC, UPS systems, diesel generators, fire suppression, and power distribution units (PDUs).

Networking Core

• Knowledge of data centre networking concepts, including Spine-Leaf architecture, BGP, VLANs, and fibre optic cabling standards.

3.4 Certifications (Preferred)

• Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP) or Certified Data Centre Expert (CDCE).
• VMware Certified Professional (VCP).
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).
• ITIL Foundation v3/v4.

3.5 Soft Skills

• Strong crisis management and analytical problem-solving skills under pressure.
• Clear communication skills for reporting operational status to executive leadership.
• Ability to mentor and guide teams in a dynamic environment.

4.0 Key Deliverables

• Ensure 99.99%+ uptime for critical data centre infrastructure.
• Successfully execute disaster recovery (DR) strategies and conduct regular failover testing.
• Optimize power usage effectiveness (PUE) and ensure high energy efficiency.
• Maintain compliance ISO 27001, ITGC etc.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) for critical incidents and implement post-incident remediation plans.
• Manage vendor relationships and ensure adherence to SLAs and contractual obligations.
• Drive team performance through effective leadership, training, and development.