Data Center Lead at Applied Digital

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Data Center Lead
Company: Applied Digital
Location: Ellendale, ND
Job Type: On-site
Category: Infrastructure & Operations
Date Posted: June 11, 2025
Experience Level: Entry-level to 2 years of experience

🚀 Role Summary

Lead the day-to-day operations and management of the data center, ensuring optimal performance and reliability of systems.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to plan, coordinate, and implement data center strategies.
Manage and mentor data center staff, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Stay updated with emerging data center technologies and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a blend of technical expertise, leadership skills, and a strong understanding of data center infrastructure. Familiarity with data center industry trends and standards is essential for success in this position.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Data Center Operations: Oversee daily data center operations, including power, cooling, and security systems.
Team Management: Lead, mentor, and develop data center staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
Strategic Planning: Collaborate with stakeholders to plan and implement data center strategies, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
Vendor Management: Liaise with vendors and service providers to ensure optimal performance and cost-efficiency.
Incident Management: Respond to and resolve data center incidents and outages, minimizing downtime and impact on business operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a proactive approach to incident management, with a focus on preventing issues before they occur and minimizing the impact of those that do.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Relevant military experience may be considered.

Experience: 0-2 years of experience in data center operations, server administration, or a related role.

Required Skills:

Proven experience in data center operations or a related field.
Strong knowledge of data center infrastructure, including power, cooling, and security systems.
Familiarity with data center industry standards and best practices (e.g., ASHRAE, TIA-942, Uptime Institute).
Proven leadership and team management skills.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to incident management.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools.
Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
Knowledge of IT service management (ITSM) frameworks (e.g., ITIL).
Experience with data center design and construction projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated, familiarity with emerging data center technologies, such as edge computing and AI/ML infrastructure, would be beneficial in this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Detailed documentation of data center infrastructure, including power, cooling, and security systems.
Case studies demonstrating problem-solving and incident management skills.
Evidence of leadership and team management skills, such as team-building initiatives or mentoring programs.

Technical Documentation:

Detailed data center floor plans and system diagrams.
Documentation of data center policies, procedures, and best practices.
Records of data center incidents, outages, and resolutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The salary range for this role is not disclosed. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a Data Center Manager in the United States is approximately $90,000 per year. However, this can vary depending on the company, location, and level of experience.

Benefits: Benefits are not explicitly stated in the job posting. However, typical benefits for this role may include health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Working Hours: The working hours for this role are not specified. However, data center operations typically require 24/7 coverage, which may include on-call rotations and weekend work.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the salary range is not disclosed, research suggests that the average salary for this role in the United States is approximately $90,000 per year. This estimate is based on data from Glassdoor and Indeed, adjusted for the location and experience level.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Applied Digital is a technology company, focusing on data center services and infrastructure solutions. This role will play a critical part in ensuring the reliability and performance of the company's data center infrastructure.

Company Size: Applied Digital is a mid-sized company, with a team of approximately 50-250 employees. This size allows for a more intimate work environment, with opportunities for close collaboration and growth.

Founded: The company was founded in 2010, providing ample time for the company to establish itself in the industry and develop a strong company culture.

Team Structure: The data center team is likely to consist of data center technicians, engineers, and support staff. This role will report directly to the Director of Data Center Operations and may oversee other data center staff.

Development Methodology: The company's development methodology is not specified. However, given the nature of data center operations, a structured, process-driven approach is likely to be employed.

Company Website: Applied Digital

📝 Enhancement Note: While the company's development methodology is not specified, a structured, process-driven approach is likely to be employed in data center operations to ensure consistency, reliability, and optimal performance.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Data Center Career Level: This role is an entry-level to mid-level position in data center operations. It provides an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in data center management and leadership.

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Director of Data Center Operations. The data center team may consist of data center technicians, engineers, and support staff.

Technical Impact: This role has a significant impact on the reliability, performance, and security of the company's data center infrastructure. Decisions made in this role can directly affect business operations and customer experience.

Growth Opportunities:

Data Center Engineer: Transition into a more technical role, focusing on the design, implementation, and maintenance of data center infrastructure.
Data Center Manager: Progress into a more senior role, overseeing multiple data centers and larger teams.
IT Director/VP of IT: Transition into a leadership role, overseeing the entire IT organization, including data center operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role provides an excellent opportunity for career growth in data center operations and IT leadership. With the right skills and experience, candidates can progress into more senior roles, overseeing larger teams and more complex infrastructure.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The office is located in Ellendale, ND, with a hybrid or on-site work arrangement. The data center itself is likely to be a 24/7 operation, requiring on-call rotations and weekend work.

Office Location(s): Ellendale, ND, United States

Workspace Context:

The data center is likely to be a highly controlled environment, with strict access controls and monitoring systems.
The office environment is likely to be collaborative, with close interaction between data center staff and other IT teams.
The company culture is likely to be focused on innovation, with a strong emphasis on staying up-to-date with emerging technologies.

Work Schedule: The work schedule is not specified. However, data center operations typically require 24/7 coverage, which may include on-call rotations and weekend work.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the work schedule is not specified, data center operations typically require 24/7 coverage. This role may include on-call rotations and weekend work, with a focus on maintaining optimal data center performance at all times.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone call to discuss the role, qualifications, and expectations.
Technical Interview: A detailed discussion of data center operations, infrastructure, and incident management strategies.
On-site Visit: A tour of the data center and an opportunity to meet the team and discuss the role further.
Final Interview: A final interview with the Director of Data Center Operations to discuss the role, career growth, and company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Prepare detailed documentation of data center infrastructure, including power, cooling, and security systems.
Highlight incident management strategies and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrate leadership and team management skills, such as team-building initiatives or mentoring programs.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on data center industry standards and best practices (e.g., ASHRAE, TIA-942, Uptime Institute).
Familiarize yourself with data center infrastructure, including power, cooling, and security systems.
Prepare for questions about data center design, implementation, and maintenance.

ATS Keywords: Data center, operations, management, infrastructure, power, cooling, security, incident management, leadership, team management, ASHRAE, TIA-942, Uptime Institute.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is likely to be structured and detailed, with a strong focus on technical skills and industry knowledge. Candidates should be prepared to discuss data center operations, infrastructure, and incident management strategies in depth.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Data Center Infrastructure:

Power: UPS systems, generators, PDUs, and power distribution infrastructure.
Cooling: CRAC units, CRAH units, chillers, and cooling distribution infrastructure.
Security: Biometric access controls, CCTV systems, and physical security infrastructure.
Networking: Switches, routers, and network distribution infrastructure.
Server Infrastructure: Racks, cabinets, and server hardware.

Data Center Management Tools:

Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools (e.g., Nlyte, Sunbird, Schneider Electric).
IT service management (ITSM) tools (e.g., ServiceNow, BMC Remedy, Jira Service Management).
Monitoring and alerting tools (e.g., Nagios, Zabbix, Prometheus).

📝 Enhancement Note: While the specific technology stack is not mentioned, candidates should be familiar with data center infrastructure, including power, cooling, and security systems. Familiarity with data center management tools is also beneficial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Data Center Operations Values:

Reliability: Ensuring optimal data center performance and minimizing downtime.
Proactivity: Preventing incidents before they occur and minimizing the impact of those that do.
Collaboration: Working closely with other IT teams to ensure data center infrastructure meets business needs.
Continuous Improvement: Staying up-to-date with emerging technologies and best practices.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Collaboration: Working closely with other IT teams, such as networking, server administration, and DevOps, to ensure data center infrastructure meets business needs.
Knowledge Sharing: Sharing data center operations knowledge and best practices with other team members and stakeholders.
Mentoring: Providing guidance and support to other data center staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The data center team is likely to be collaborative, with a strong focus on knowledge sharing and continuous learning. Candidates should be prepared to work closely with other IT teams and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Incident Management: Responding to and resolving data center incidents and outages, minimizing downtime and impact on business operations.
Emerging Technologies: Staying up-to-date with emerging data center technologies, such as edge computing and AI/ML infrastructure.
Budget Constraints: Ensuring optimal data center performance within budgetary constraints.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Certifications: Pursuing industry certifications, such as those offered by ASHRAE, Uptime Institute, or Schneider Electric.
Conferences & Events: Attending data center industry conferences and events, such as Data Center World or Data Center Dynamics.
Mentorship: Seeking mentorship opportunities from experienced data center professionals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant technical challenges, with a strong focus on incident management and emerging technologies. Candidates should be prepared to tackle these challenges head-on and contribute to a culture of continuous learning and growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Data Center Infrastructure: Questions about data center power, cooling, and security systems, as well as industry standards and best practices.
Incident Management: Scenarios involving data center incidents and outages, with a focus on problem-solving and resolution strategies.
Leadership & Team Management: Questions about leadership styles, team management strategies, and mentoring techniques.

Company & Culture Questions:

Company Culture: Questions about the company's mission, values, and work environment.
Data Center Strategy: Questions about the company's data center strategy, including plans for expansion, modernization, or consolidation.
Emerging Technologies: Questions about emerging data center technologies and their potential impact on the company's infrastructure.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Data Center Infrastructure: Prepare detailed documentation of data center infrastructure, including power, cooling, and security systems.
Incident Management: Highlight incident management strategies and problem-solving skills, with a focus on real-world examples and case studies.
Leadership & Team Management: Demonstrate leadership and team management skills, with a focus on mentoring, collaboration, and continuous learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role is likely to be structured and detailed, with a strong focus on technical skills, industry knowledge, and leadership potential. Candidates should be prepared to discuss data center operations, infrastructure, and incident management strategies in depth, as well as the company's data center strategy and emerging technologies.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Data Center Lead position:

Submit your application through the Paycom application portal.
Prepare detailed documentation of data center infrastructure, including power, cooling, and security systems.
Highlight incident management strategies and problem-solving skills, with a focus on real-world examples and case studies.
Demonstrate leadership and team management skills, with a focus on mentoring, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Research the company's mission, values, and work environment, as well as its data center strategy and emerging technologies.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and data center industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Data Center Lead