Senior Data Center Engineer

Department: Technical

Location: Africa

Description

Allied Talent Partners is a talent marketplace, connecting experienced professionals with climate-related projects and businesses in Africa.

High-Level Overview

Client:
The client is a leading pan-African data infrastructure provider offering neutral and secure colocation, cloud connectivity, and edge computing services. With more than a decade of experience, the company serves enterprise and government clients across Africa by managing mission-critical IT infrastructure. Their facilities are Tier III-certified and uphold high standards in operational reliability, security, and sustainability.

Project:
The client is undertaking a strategic infrastructure upgrade at its Morocco-based data center. The initiative focuses on optimizing core systems across power, cooling, networking, and virtualization, with the goal of enhancing operational efficiency and building capacity for future growth.

To lead this effort, the client is seeking a Senior Data Center Engineer for a 6-month engagement. The consultant will conduct a comprehensive infrastructure audit, resolve critical issues, implement system upgrades, and help the team align with international standards including ISO and Uptime Tier III.

The consultant will also mentor junior engineers, improve documentation practices, and support hybrid cloud performance. This is a technical leadership role requiring deep expertise in mission-critical environments, hands-on experience with data center systems, and the ability to work cross-functionally with internal teams.

Role and Responsibilities

Role: Senior Data Center Engineer
Direct Report: SVP Data Center
Candidates Required: 1

Key Deliverables:

• Lead the deployment and optimization of core infrastructure including servers, networking, storage, and virtualization platforms (VMware, Hyper-V).
• Oversee physical infrastructure including PDUs, UPS systems, and HVAC, ensuring uptime and efficiency.
• Conduct performance monitoring, preventive maintenance, and systems audits to mitigate risk and reduce downtime.
• Troubleshoot complex incidents in real-time, driving root cause analysis and permanent corrective actions.
• Collaborate with internal teams and vendors on infrastructure projects and system upgrades.
• Maintain detailed documentation for systems, procedures, and configurations to support business continuity.
• Guide resource planning to align capacity with forecasted demand.
• Support integration of hybrid cloud infrastructure and manage virtual environments.
• Ensure adherence to standards such as ISO 27001 and Uptime Institute Tier III, assisting with compliance and audit readiness.
  
  

Requirements

Experience Required:

• 5+ years of experience in senior-level data center operations or infrastructure engineering.
• Strong understanding of data center electrical systems, thermal management, rack layout optimization, and structured cabling.
• Expertise in enterprise-grade hardware, network infrastructure, storage systems, and virtualization.
• Familiarity with environmental monitoring tools and infrastructure automation.
• Hands-on experience with disaster recovery planning and high-availability system design.
• Proficiency in documentation tools, system diagrams, and asset tracking systems.
• Experience scripting with tools like PowerShell or Python is an asset.

Soft skills:

• Bi-lingual English and French
• Highly autonomous and self-directed with exceptional troubleshooting instincts.
• Capable of making critical infrastructure decisions independently.
• Effective communicator able to clearly convey technical findings and solutions to stakeholders.
• Strong sense of urgency, accountability, and adaptability in dynamic environments.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to lead temporary initiatives and leave behind sustainable processes.
  
  

Work arrangement
Location: | Morocco (can be remote, on-site presence required as needed)
Travel requirements: | Occasional local site visits

Terms of agreement:
Required start date: | ASAP
Contracting period: | 6 months
Budget: | TBD