Data Engineer Remote Contract Jobs in Evanston, IL

We are hiring Mid Level Network/Infrastructure Engineer- remote with Travel for a Full Time position in chicago, IL
Network/Infrastructure Engineer
Company Overview
We are a pioneering Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) company, focusing on delivering High-Performance Computing (HPC) solutions. Our cutting-edge data centers form the core of our operations, empowering us to offer unmatched computational resources to our global clientele. In line with our growth and the expansion of our services, we are looking for a motivated Junior Network/Infrastructure Engineer to join and grow with our team.
Position Summary The Network/Infrastructure Engineer plays a hands-on role in deploying the compute and network infrastructure that powers our high-performance computing environments. This role centers on data center deployment work: installing and configuring Proxmox hypervisors and virtual machines, assisting with BGP router deployments, standing up out-of-band (OOB) management fabrics on Unifi or NVIDIA switching, and helping build RDMA compute fabrics (primarily RoCEv2, with potential InfiniBand exposure). You will work under the guidance of senior engineers and travel to US data center sites to support new deployments, troubleshooting, and bring-up activities. This is an ideal role for someone with homelab and/or internship experience who is eager to learn enterprise-scale infrastructure from the ground up.
Work Arrangement & Location:
Remote with required travel
25-50% travel (nationwide)
Travel lasts 2-3 weeks and is typically every 2-3 months
Key Responsibilities
Virtualization & Compute Deployment
Install, configure, and maintain Proxmox hypervisors on bare-metal servers during data center deployments
Provision and manage virtual machines, including resource allocation, templates, and standardized deployment profiles
Perform routine patching, upgrades, and lifecycle maintenance of hypervisor hosts and guest VMs
Assist with server imaging, initial configuration, and validation during site bring-up
Network Deployment & Operations
Assist senior engineers with the deployment and initial configuration of BGP routers at new data center sites
Rack, cable, and configure out-of-band (OOB) management fabrics using Unifi or NVIDIA switches
Assist in building and validating RDMA compute fabrics, primarily RoCEv2, with opportunities to gain InfiniBand experience
Perform basic switch and router configuration tasks (VLANs, IP assignments, port configuration) under senior guidance
Help with cable management, labeling, and physical layer troubleshooting during deployments
Learn and apply IP addressing, subnetting, and IPAM documentation practices
Monitor network and infrastructure health using observability tools and escalate issues appropriately
Participate in a supported on-call rotation after an onboarding/ramp-up period
Automation & Tooling
Assist in developing and maintaining automation using Python and/or Ansible for provisioning, configuration, and routine operational tasks
Contribute to infrastructure-as-code playbooks as skills develop
Identify repetitive manual tasks that are candidates for automation
Collaboration & Documentation
Travel to data center locations within the US to support deployments, troubleshooting, and site bring-up (regular travel expected)
Maintain accurate documentation including runbooks, network diagrams, deployment procedures, and configuration records
Work closely with deployment engineers and operations teams during infrastructure builds
Learn from senior engineers through mentorship, pairing, and hands-on deployment work
Safety & Compliance
Adhere to strict data center safety protocols and operational standards during all on-site activities
Follow security best practices for system and network configuration and access control
Participate in regular safety training and briefings
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field preferred or equivalent hands-on experience, homelab work, or certifications
Experience in IT infrastructure, networking, or systems administration; internship and homelab experience strongly valued
Hands-on exposure to virtualization through work, coursework, or personal projects Proxmox experience is a strong plus (KVM, ESXi, or Hyper-V also relevant)
Foundational networking knowledge: IP addressing, subnetting, VLANs, and routing fundamentals; awareness of BGP concepts is a plus
Familiarity with consumer/prosumer or enterprise network gear (Unifi, Cisco, Arista, NVIDIA/Mellanox, etc.)
Interest in high-speed interconnects (RoCEv2, InfiniBand) prior exposure is a bonus
Working knowledge of Linux fundamentals (file systems, services, basic shell commands)
Some scripting or automation experience with Python, Bash, or Ansible strongly preferred
Willingness and ability to travel regularly to US data center locations for deployments
Comfortable with physical deployment work: racking equipment, cabling, and labeling in a data center environment
Strong desire to learn, take direction, and grow into more advanced networking and HPC work
Good troubleshooting instincts and a methodical approach to problem-solving
Solid written and verbal communication skills with attention to documentation
Availability to participate in an on-call rotation after ramp-up
Preferred Certifications
CompTIA Network+, Linux+, or Server+
CCNA or equivalent entry-level networking certification
Red Hat RHCSA or equivalent Linux certification
Any relevant virtualization or cloud fundamentals certification
What We Offer
A vibrant and stimulating work environment with strong mentorship and clear paths for professional growth
A competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
An inclusive, team-oriented culture that values innovation, efficiency, and collaboration
Hands-on experience deploying cutting-edge HPC infrastructure, including RDMA fabrics and NVIDIA networking
A direct growth path toward senior network and infrastructure engineering roles
Estimated Pay Range: $120-150K