Freelance Data Center Infrastructure Engineer Jobs in Tennessee

Job Summary
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Hybrid PM/Foreman to manage and coordinate data center infrastructure projects from planning through completion. The ideal candidate will bring a strong combination of project management expertise and hands-on technical knowledge of data center infrastructure, structured cabling, networking, and deployment environments.
This is a hybrid project management/technical coordination role. The successful candidate should understand how data center infrastructure projects are executed and be comfortable working with cabling, network, hardware, and infrastructure teams. The role focuses on planning, coordination, project execution, vendor management, documentation, and ensuring technical work is completed according to project requirements.
Key Responsibilities

• Plan, manage, and coordinate data center infrastructure projects, including new builds, expansions, migrations, relocations, upgrades, and decommissions.
• Develop project scope, objectives, deliverables, schedules, milestones, and resource plans in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Coordinate cabling, networking, hardware deployment, and other infrastructure activities across project teams.
• Serve as the primary point of coordination between clients, project stakeholders, data center operations, vendors, contractors, and technical teams.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, tracking dependencies, milestones, deliverables, and overall project progress.
• Coordinate internal resources, third-party vendors, contractors, and field teams to ensure projects remain on schedule.
• Monitor project status, identify risks or potential delays, and develop mitigation plans.
• Conduct regular project status meetings and provide clear progress updates to management and stakeholders.
• Review technical requirements, cabling plans, rack layouts, deployment plans, MOPs/SOPs, and other project documentation to ensure alignment with project objectives.
• Coordinate the scheduling and sequencing of physical infrastructure work without being responsible for performing the physical installation.
• Track material requirements, equipment availability, site readiness, and resource allocation.
• Manage project issues, change requests, scope changes, and escalations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure work is completed in accordance with data center standards, customer requirements, safety policies, and quality expectations.
• Coordinate site readiness and project handoffs between construction, cabling, infrastructure, networking, and operations teams.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, status reports, schedules, action items, and closeout documentation.
• Facilitate project completion, acceptance, and transition to operations or support teams.
• Travel to data center sites as required to support project execution, coordination, and stakeholder meetings.

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor s degree in Information Technology, Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience in data center infrastructure, structured cabling, networking, telecommunications, IT infrastructure, or related technical environments.
• 2+ years of project management, project coordination, technical project lead, or infrastructure deployment management experience.
• Strong understanding and previous experience with data center environments and infrastructure deployment, including structured cabling, racks, servers, network equipment, fiber/copper infrastructure, power, and related infrastructure.
• Ability to understand technical drawings, rack elevations, floor plans, cable schedules, port maps, deployment plans, and infrastructure documentation.
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple teams, vendors, contractors, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Experience managing project schedules, milestones, deliverables, risks, issues, and dependencies.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Project, Excel, Jira, Smartsheet, Asana, or similar platforms.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced data center environment and manage multiple projects or priorities.

Preferred:

• PMP, CAPM, PRINCE2, or similar project management certification.
• Experience managing data center buildouts, cabling deployments, network deployments, migrations, or infrastructure refresh projects.
• Background as a Data Center Technician, Cabling Lead, Network Technician, Infrastructure Engineer, Deployment Lead, or similar technical role.
• Knowledge of structured cabling standards and practices, including fiber and copper cabling.
• Familiarity with data center standards such as TIA-942 and BICSI.
• Experience working with hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, or large-scale data center environments.
• Familiarity with ITIL, Agile, or other project delivery methodologies.
• Experience coordinating multi-site infrastructure projects.
• Exposure to cloud or hybrid infrastructure environments is a plus.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong project planning, coordination, and organizational skills.
• Solid technical understanding of data center infrastructure and cabling.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong vendor and contractor management skills.
• Ability to identify project risks, dependencies, and potential schedule impacts.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.
• Comfortable working with field technicians and technical teams while operating primarily in a project management and coordination capacity.
• Ability to translate technical requirements into actionable project plans.
• Strong ownership, accountability, and follow-through.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Hybrid role combining project management, technical coordination, and data center infrastructure knowledge.
• This is not a physical labor or hands-on installation position. The individual will coordinate and oversee technical teams rather than routinely performing cabling, equipment installation, or other physical deployment work.
• May require periodic visits to data center facilities throughout the U.S., primarily east of the Mississippi.
• During site visits, the individual may work in active data center environments and must follow applicable site access, safety, and PPE requirements.
• Occasional walking through data center facilities, raised-floor areas, equipment rooms, and construction/deployment areas may be required.
• Travel requirements will vary based on project needs.