Network Administrator 1 [Data Center Operations Technician] at Sunrise Systems, Inc. in Austin, TX

Job description

• The Data Center Operations Technician will provide hands-on support for the installation, movement, maintenance, and inventory of servers, network equipment, storage systems, racks, and related data center hardware. The role focuses on rack and stack activities, copper and fiber cabling, equipment labeling, asset tracking, hardware troubleshooting, and remote-hands support for infrastructure teams.

Responsibilities

• Rack, stack, de-rack, and relocate servers, switches, routers, storage systems, console servers, PDUs, and other data center equipment.
• Install rack rails, cable-management hardware, power supplies, optics, network interface cards, drives, memory, and other field-replaceable components.
• Connect and verify redundant power, network, management, console, and storage cabling based on approved rack elevations and installation documents.
• Install, route, dress, label, trace, test, and document copper and fiber-optic cabling.
• Validate link lights, power status, console access, management connectivity, and basic device reachability after installation.
• Maintain accurate inventory records for servers, network devices, storage hardware, optics, cables, spare parts, rack locations, serial numbers, and asset tags.
• Receive, inspect, stage, document, and store incoming hardware and replacement parts.
• Support equipment shipping, returns, warranty replacements, RMAs, and secure disposal processes.
• Perform basic hardware diagnostics and break/fix work on servers and infrastructure equipment, including replacement of drives, memory, power supplies, fans, CPUs, NICs, and other supported components.
• Open and track vendor support cases, coordinate replacement parts, and provide on-site assistance to remote engineers and vendors.
• Perform remote-hands tasks such as controlled power cycles, cable moves, console connections, visual inspections, and collection of hardware status information.
• Update data center documentation, rack elevations, port maps, cable records, inventory systems, diagrams, ticket notes, and installation checklists.
• Follow change-management, maintenance-window, safety, security, access-control, and escalation procedures.
• Maintain clean racks, organized cabling, clear work areas, and proper handling of equipment and packaging materials.
• Support project work involving new data center builds, server deployments, migrations, hardware refreshes, and equipment moves.

Requirements

• Hands-on experience with data center rack and stack, hardware installation, equipment moves, and cable management.
• Experience installing and supporting enterprise servers, network switches, routers, storage systems, console servers, and PDUs.
• Experience with copper and fiber-optic cabling, patch panels, optics, transceivers, labeling, tracing, and basic cable testing.
• Working knowledge of server hardware components such as CPU, memory, storage drives, power supplies, fans, NICs, and motherboards.
• Ability to read rack elevations, cable schedules, port maps, installation guides, work orders, and equipment diagrams.
• Experience maintaining inventories, serial numbers, asset tags, rack locations, spare parts, shipping records, and receiving documentation.
• Basic understanding of IP addressing, network ports, link status, console connections, and out-of-band management such as iDRAC, iLO, or equivalent tools.
• Experience using ticketing, inventory, data center infrastructure management, or asset-management systems.
• Ability to troubleshoot basic Layer 1 connectivity, power, hardware, cabling, and device-access issues.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to follow documented procedures and escalation paths.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate degree or technical training in information technology, electronics, networking, or a related field preferred.
• 2 or more years of hands-on experience in a data center, server room, lab, field-services, or hardware-deployment environment.
• Ability to safely lift and move equipment using approved tools and team-lift procedures, and to work in racks at different heights.
• Ability to work scheduled maintenance windows and provide occasional after-hours support when required.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, reliability, and commitment to safety and accurate documentation.
• Experience with Cisco, Arista, HPE, Dell, Lenovo, Supermicro, APC, Raritan, Server Technology, or similar data center platforms.
• Experience supporting GPU or high-density compute servers, virtualization hosts, storage systems, and enterprise network hardware.
• Experience with hardware validation, firmware upgrades, operating-system installation, or VMware ESXi deployment support.
• Familiarity with structured cabling standards, fiber types, connector types, optics, power distribution, and redundant A-side and B-side power.
• Experience coordinating with hardware vendors, carriers, cabling contractors, logistics teams, and remote engineering groups.
• Relevant certification such as CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, BICSI, CCNA, or equivalent hands-on experience.

Skills

Required

• Hardware installation
• Equipment moves
• Cable management
• Copper and fiber-optic cabling
• Patch panels
• Optics
• Transceivers
• Labeling
• Tracing
• Basic cable testing
• Strong attention to detail
• Organization