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Senior Data Center Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

As a Senior Data Center Technician, you will act as a point of escalation for L1 associate data center engineers and L2 data center engineers. This position will work directly with our contracted L2 ...

Data Center Engineer Employment Location: On-site, 5 days a week * Ashburn, VA Employment Type ... Experience raising issues to Sr. onsite staff and management as needed. Click here to view how ...

Title: Data Center Engineer Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! KBR's National Security Solutions team provides high-end engineering and advanced technology solutions to our customers in the ...

Data Center Engineer

Lanham, MD · On-site

$129K - $194K/yr

Title: Data Center Engineer Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR! KBR's National Security Solutions team provides high-end engineering and advanced technology solutions to our customers in the ...

Data Center Engineer

MD · On-site

$110K - $122K/yr

Job Summary JCS Solutions is seeking a Data Center Engineer to support mission-critical enterprise infrastructure operations at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The successful candidate will be ...

Data Center Engineer

Andrews, MD · On-site

$110K - $122K/yr

Job Summary JCS Solutions is seeking a Data Center Engineer to support mission-critical enterprise infrastructure operations at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The successful candidate will be ...

Data Center Engineer

Lorton, VA · On-site

$77K - $176K/yr

Data Center Engineer The Opportunity: Designs, installs, configures, and maintains the organization's IT infrastructure to meet the business needs; monitors and troubleshoots problems. Applies ...

Senior VMware & Data Center Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$55.50 - $69.25/hr

Senior VMware & Data Center Engineer Location: Washington, DC Type: Direct Hire Contractor Work Model: Onsite Hours: 40.0 hours per week Security Clearance: TS/SCI Overview Leave placeholder text ...

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Showing results 1-20

Senior Data Center Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$91.7K

$143.1K

$198.2K

How much do senior data center engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior data center engineer in Washington is $143,079.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,100.00 and $163,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior data center engineer do?

A Senior Data Center Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining the critical infrastructure that supports a data center, including servers, networking equipment, power, and cooling systems. They oversee the performance, security, and reliability of data center operations, often managing large-scale hardware deployments and troubleshooting complex technical issues. Additionally, they may lead teams, develop best practices, and ensure compliance with industry standards to optimize data center efficiency and uptime.

What is the difference between Senior Data Center Engineer vs Data Center Technician?

AspectSenior Data Center EngineerData Center Technician
CertificationsCCNA, CCNP, Data Center certificationsCompTIA A+, Data Center certifications
Work EnvironmentDesign, planning, troubleshooting complex systemsHardware installation, maintenance, basic troubleshooting
ResponsibilitiesSystem architecture, network design, performance optimizationEquipment setup, cable management, routine repairs

The Senior Data Center Engineer typically handles advanced design, planning, and troubleshooting of data center infrastructure, requiring higher certifications and experience. In contrast, Data Center Technicians focus on hardware installation and maintenance tasks. While both roles work within data centers and may share certifications, the engineer's role is more strategic and technical, whereas technicians perform operational support.

What are some common challenges faced by senior data center engineers, and how can they be addressed?

Senior Data Center Engineers often encounter challenges such as maintaining high system uptime, managing rapid technology changes, and ensuring robust security protocols. Addressing these involves proactive monitoring, regular system updates, and collaborating closely with IT security teams to implement best practices. Additionally, effective communication with project managers and other engineers is key to quickly resolving issues and supporting business continuity. Continuous learning and adaptability are essential for staying ahead of emerging technologies and evolving data center standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior data center engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Data Center Engineer, you need deep expertise in networking, server hardware, data center infrastructure, and typically a bachelor's degree in IT or a related field. Familiarity with virtualization platforms (like VMware), data center management tools, and certifications such as Cisco CCNP or CompTIA Server+ are commonly required. Strong problem-solving, project management, and communication skills help you excel in managing complex environments and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills and qualifications are crucial for ensuring high availability, efficiency, and reliability in mission-critical data center operations.
What cities in Washington are hiring for Senior Data Center Engineer jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Senior Data Center Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Data Center Engineer job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,079 per year, or $68.8 per hour.

Senior Data Center Engineer II with Security Clearance

Eliassen Group

Washington, DC • On-site

$170K - $230K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

Sr. Data Center Engineer II
As a Sr. Data Center Engineer II, you’ll design and sustain mission-critical data center environments with the goal to make an impact across the federal government. Our team is responsible for delivering secure, high-availability infrastructure operations, and you’ll contribute hands-on expertise that strengthens reliability, resilience, and the organization’s ability to support critical missions. Location: Onsite – Washington, DC
Type: Salaried
Compensation: $170,000 - $230,000
Clearance: Active Top Secret security clearance Due to federal security clearance requirements, applicant must be a United States Citizen with an active TS clearance. This is a full-time, permanent opportunity, offering a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Qualified applicants must be willing and able to work on a w2 basis. What you’ll do:
• Use enterprise data center technologies to manage and operate servers, storage, networking, and power systems supporting mission-critical environments within the federal government.
• Support and sustain high-availability operations by monitoring infrastructure health, responding to incidents, and troubleshooting complex hardware and facility issues.
• Design, implement, and improve data center infrastructure solutions that increase reliability, performance, and resiliency.
• Participate actively in Agile execution, planning, and technical discussions, contributing immediately with hands-on expertise.
• Identify risks, constraints, and capacity concerns, and communicate them clearly along with mitigation strategies and recommendations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure infrastructure changes are executed safely and with minimal operational impact.
• Apply best practices for security, availability, and operational excellence in secure, high-visibility environments.
• Establish and maintain a high level of customer trust and confidence through disciplined execution, ownership, and technical excellence.
What you’ll need to succeed:
• Active Top Secret security clearance.
• Possess DoD 8140 certification aligned to the 451 System Administrator work role, such as Security+, Cloud+, SSCP, CASP+, or CISSP.
• 8+ years of direct experience designing, implementing, and managing geographically dispersed data center infrastructure in enterprise or mission-critical environments.
• Demonstrated experience ensuring the reliability, scalability, and efficiency of data center operations, including servers, storage, networking, power, and environmental resource requirements.
• Hands-on experience administering virtualized data center platforms, including VMware or equivalent enterprise virtualization technologies.
• Operational experience managing compute, storage, and network infrastructure, including capacity planning, performance optimization, and lifecycle management.
• Hands-on experience supporting high-availability data center operations, including monitoring, fault isolation, and incident response.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related engineering field is required. Relevant experience may substitute where appropriate.
• Ability to contribute immediately with minimal ramp-up in a mission-critical operational environment.
• Required technical certifications include VMware VCP-DCV or equivalent data center platform certification and Security+.
This position is designated as essential personnel supporting continuity of operations and may require work during government shutdowns, emergencies, or other critical situations.
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled; candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible for full consideration.
Additional Compensation: This role may also be eligible for bonuses and/or additional incentives based on individual and company performance.
Benefits: All full-time employees are eligible to participate in our benefits programs:
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Parental Leave and dependent care
• Flexible work arrangements
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee assistance and wellness programs

Eliassen Group logo

About Eliassen Group

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Eliassen Group provides strategic consulting and talent solutions to drive our clients' innovation and business results. Our purpose is to positively impact the lives of our employees, clients, consultants, and the communities in which we operate. Leveraging over 30 years of success, our expertise in talent solutions, life sciences consulting, Agile consulting, cloud services, risk management, business optimization, and managed services enables us to partner with our clients to execute their business strategy and scale effectively. Headquartered in Reading, MA, and with offices from coast to coast, Eliassen Group offers local community presence and deep networks, as well as national reach.

Industry

It services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Reading, MA, US

Year founded

1989