Information Technology Specialist III - Data Center and Cloud Engineering Leader

The Information Technology team at the City of Irvine is seeking a dynamic and experienced Data Center and Cloud Engineering Leader to build and lead a high-performing team responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, and management of data center and cloud infrastructure. This role will be pivotal in driving the execution of both day-to-day operations and strategic projects, ensuring the stability, scalability, and security of hybrid environments. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in cloud technologies, data center management, and team leadership, with a focus on optimizing performance, cost-efficiency, and compliance with industry standards. This position requires excellent communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative infrastructure solutions.

Your Impact

• Lead and supervise a team of data center and cloud engineers with a focus on security, performance, and agility.
• Mentor junior team members and provide technical guidance.
• Conduct performance evaluations and set development goals for team members.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., developers, network engineers, security specialists) on projects and initiatives.
• Lead technical projects, ensuring budgets, milestones, and deliverables are met.
• Lead incident response efforts, including root cause analysis and resolution.
• Develop and refine operating standards and procedures with documentation.
• Lead and participate in on-call rotation and respond to critical incidents promptly.
• Manage relationships with vendors and service providers.
• Evaluate vendor proposals and negotiate contracts for hardware and software purchases.
• Monitor and manage budget allocations for infrastructure projects and operational expenses.
• Design and architect scalable and resilient data center and cloud solutions aligned with business goals.
• Administer and optimize cloud services (e.g., AWS, Azure) and O365 applications (Exchange Online, SharePoint, Teams).
• Implement robust security measures and ensure compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., CLETS, CJIS).
• Lead automation efforts using tools like Saltstack, Terraform, or PowerShell to streamline deployment and management.
• Deploy monitoring tools to enhance system performance, capacity planning, and availability.
• Develop and maintain DR plans for data center and cloud environments, ensuring high availability.
• Plan, direct, and ensure all data center and cloud maintenance processes are completed within specified timelines including patching and backups.
• Find additional information in the Information Technology Specialist III job description.

• Strong leadership skills to inspire and motivate a team of technical professionals.
• Readiness to work different hours as required, including evenings and weekends.
• Ability to foster collaboration, resolve conflicts, and promote a positive work culture.
• Strategic thinking to align data center and cloud strategies with organizational goals and objectives.
• Ability to make informed decisions based on technical analysis, business requirements, and risk assessment.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) to articulate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to engage with executive management, customers, and vendors to convey project status, recommendations, and strategic initiatives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to resolve complex issues in data center and cloud environments.
• Capacity to lead troubleshooting efforts and implement effective solutions to mitigate risks and ensure system availability.
• Experience in managing vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, and evaluating proposals for data center and cloud services.
• Ability to oversee budget planning, forecasting, and cost management for infrastructure projects and operational expenses.
• Comprehensive understanding of data center components, including servers, storage systems, networking equipment, and cooling/power systems.
• Knowledge of data center design principles, capacity planning, and environmental considerations.
• Expertise in multiple cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and their respective services (compute, storage, networking, databases).
• Deep understanding of cloud architecture, including hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Proficiency in virtualization technologies such as VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, or KVM.
• Experience with containerization platforms (e.g., Docker) and container orchestration tools (e.g., Kubernetes).
• Experience in automating infrastructure deployment and management using tools like Terraform, Ansible, or Chef.
• Understanding of DevOps principles and practices to streamline software development, deployment, and operations.
• Proficiency in designing and implementing data backup strategies, including cloud-based backup solutions.
• Knowledge of disaster recovery planning, testing, and implementation to ensure business continuity.
• Strong project management skills to lead and oversee complex projects related to data center expansions, cloud migrations, or technology upgrades.

• Bachelor degree in Computer Science or closely related field.
• Six (6) years of information technology experience, with two of those years performing highly specialized work in a lead or expert capacity on highly complex or specialized information technology systems or services in one or more functional area or in a closely related or emerging information technology field.