Data Center Operations Specialist Principal in Newington, Virginia at General Dynamics Information Technology

USA VA Newington - Customer Proprietary (VAC395)
Full time
RQ222665
Type of Requisition:
Regular

Clearance Level Must Currently Possess:
Top Secret/SCI

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain:
Top Secret/SCI

Public Trust/Other Required:
None

Job Family:
IT Infrastructure and Operations

Job Qualifications:

Skills:
Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM), Data Center Operations, Enterprise IT
Certifications:
None
Experience:
5 + years of related experience
US Citizenship Required:
Yes

Job Description:

Data Center Operations Technician is responsible for the installation, configuration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and decommissioning of data center infrastructure, including bare-metal servers, storage systems, and network switches. This role ensures the reliability, availability, and operational readiness of critical infrastructure while providing technical expertise, proactive problem-solving, and clear communication to internal stakeholders.

The ideal candidate combines strong hands-on technical skills with the ability to identify risks, remove roadblocks, recommend solutions, and act as a trusted advisor for infrastructure-related initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Infrastructure Deployment & Installation

• Rack, stack, cable, and deploy servers, storage arrays, network switches, and supporting infrastructure.
• Install and configure bare-metal systems according to documented hardware and networking requirements and documenting anything new in the environment.
• Perform hardware validation, burn-in testing, and deployment verification.
• Configure network connectivity, VLAN assignments, IP addressing, and port mappings as directed by engineering standards.
• Maintain accurate asset inventory and rack elevation documentation.

Hardware Lifecycle Management

• Execute hardware refreshes, upgrades, migrations, and decommissioning activities.
• Ensure proper sanitization, removal, disposal, or return of retired equipment according to cyber, organization, and company policy.
• Track asset movement and maintain accurate inventory records throughout the hardware lifecycle.
• Coordinate equipment receiving, staging, deployment, and retirement processes.

Troubleshooting & Incident Response

• Diagnose and resolve server, storage, networking, and cable issues.
• Perform root cause analysis for hardware failures and operational incidents.
• Replace failed components including drives, memory, CPUs, power supplies, NICs, and other field-replaceable units.
• Escalate complex issues appropriately while maintaining ownership through resolution.
• Participate in incident response and maintenance activities to minimize service disruption.

Operation Excellence

• Follow and improve standard operating procedures (SOPs), installation guides, and operation runbooks.
• Ensure all work is performed according to quality, safety, and change management processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve deployment efficiency, operational reliability, and documentation accuracy.
• Support capacity planning, hardware audits, and infrastructure optimization initiatives.

Technical Advisory & Continuous Improvement

• Serve as a subject matter expert for data center hardware deployment and operational best practices.
• Provide recommendations regarding infrastructure design, deployment methodologies, hardware standards, and operational processes.
• Advise leadership and engineering teams on potential risks, dependencies, and infrastructure readiness.
• Communicate project status, risks, roadblocks, and mitigation plan clearly and professionally.
• Collaborate with engineering, network, systems, facilities, and project management teams.
• Provide timely updates during deployment, incidents, and maintenance activities.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED

Bring your technology expertise and drive for innovation to GDIT. The IT Operations Manager must have:
• Education: Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
• Experience: 5+ years of related experience
• Technical skills: Experience installing, configuring, and decommissioning bare-metal servers, storage systems, and network devices. Strong understanding of data center cabling standards and rack layout best practices. Familiarity with TCP/IP networking, VLANs, DNS, DHCP, routing fundaments, and switch connectivity.
• Security clearance level: TS/SCI
• US citizenship required
• Role requirements: Security+ certification required, CDCMP, CCNA, and ITIL certifications preferred

• Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift and move equipment up to 50lbs
• Ability to work in raised floor data center environments
• Ability to install equipment in racks and perform cable management
• Ability to stand, bend, climb ladders, and work in confined spaces for extended periods

GDIT IS YOUR PLACE

At GDIT, the mission is our purpose, and our people are at the center of everything we do.
• Growth: AI-powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities
• Support: An internal mobility team focused on helping you achieve your career goals
• Rewards: Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages, 401K with company match, and competitive pay and paid time off
• Community: Award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace

OWN YOUR OPPORTUNITY

Explore an enterprise IT career at GDIT and you'll find endless opportunities to grow alongside colleagues who share your desire to drive operations forward.

#armajobs

#gditpriority

The likely salary range for this position is $136,000 - $184,000. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40

Travel Required:
Less than 10%

Telecommuting Options:
Onsite

Work Location:
USA VA Newington

Additional Work Locations:

Total Rewards at GDIT:
Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

Our Identity Verification Process:
As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.

About Our Work:
We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers consulting, technology and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 26,000 experts extract the power of technology to create immediate value and deliver solutions at the edge of innovation. We operate across 50 countries worldwide, offering leading capabilities in digital modernization, AI/ML, Cloud, Cyber and application development. Together with our clients, we strive to create a safer, smarter world by harnessing the power of deep expertise and advanced technology.

Join our Talent Community to stay up to date on our career opportunities and events at
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Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans

About Us

Join our 30,000 everyday heroes. We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers consulting, technology and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 30,000 experts extract the power of technology to create immediate value and deliver solutions at the edge of innovation. We operate across 30 countries worldwide, offering leading capabilities in digital modernization, AI/ML, Cloud, Cyber and application development. Together with our clients, we strive to create a safer, smarter world by harnessing the power of deep expertise and advanced technology. For more information about GDIT's Privacy Policy, click here: