Telecommunications Engineer, Data Centers
Job description
SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEER, DATA CENTERS
The IT Network Infrastructure Engineering team designs and builds critical infrastructure that supports the functionality, growth, and reliability of AI training and inference for our mission to understand the universe and make life multiplanetary. The team plans, designs, and constructs new data centers, capacity expansions, and technology refreshes in existing regions, and manages operation of the existing fleet to ensure system reliability and efficiency. The team includes electrical, mechanical, and telecommunications engineers with cross-disciplinary experience. We strive for timely delivery of efficient data centers that support the latest technologies and hardware architectures while maintaining uptime. As a IT Network Infrastructure Engineer focused on Data Centers, you will design large cable plants and low-voltage systems for the latest network architectures at scale. You will ensure scalability while future-proofing data center cabling plants for changes in network architectures and data transmission speeds beyond 800G. You will work collaboratively and cross-functionally with capacity planning, network engineering, hardware reliability, construction, and operations.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design and plan scalable, future-proof data center connectivity for network clusters, including structured cabling plants that support evolving architectures and speeds beyond 800G.
- Procure fiber, copper, and other connectivity materials for new builds, expansions, and technology refreshes.
- Provide project management and construction oversight for connectivity scope on new data center builds and expansions.
- Plan and implement network upgrades and overhauls for technology refreshes in live data center environments.
- Develop Methods of Procedure (MOPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for connectivity deployments in live environments.
- Audit existing and new connectivity installations and hold vendors accountable for troubleshooting and repairs prior to network deployment turnover.
- Develop and maintain as-built documentation for all data center connectivity.
- Release and troubleshoot ISP circuits across multiple regions; interface with data center providers to drive circuit and cross-connect deployments.
- Collaborate with capacity planning, network engineering, hardware reliability, and construction teams on cluster design and delivery.
- Apply knowledge of applicable building codes and industry standards to connectivity design and installation.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, or other STEM discipline and 5+ years of experience working in and designing data center connectivity; OR 7+ years of experience working in and designing data center connectivity in lieu of a degree.
- Experience with multimode fiber, single-mode fiber, copper, and other low-voltage telecommunication systems.
- Experience designing, installing, and documenting ultra-high fiber count (UHFC) plants.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution Designer) certification.
- Familiarity with designing, installing, and documenting Data Center interconnects measuring in the thousands of strands.
- Experience performing budget loss, insertion loss, and return loss calculations for structured cable systems.
- Experience deploying network elements such as routing switches, aggregation switches, optical transceivers, and DWDM.
- Ability to interpret fiber test results.
- Experience with network connectivity testing (single-mode duplex, multimode duplex, MPO8, MPO12, MPO16, AOC, DAC, and copper) and troubleshooting using OTDR, light meters, VFLs, loopbacks, and BERT across vendors.
- Experience building and designing scalable fiber and connectivity plants for large-scale data centers across Ethernet, InfiniBand, and RoCE networks.
- Experience designing and deploying connectivity for high-speed / high-bandwidth HPC and ML applications.
- Experience troubleshooting optical transceivers, network switches, fiber, and other Layer 1 hardware.
- Knowledge of basic programming languages such as Python and SQL.
- Experience deploying monitoring and alerting systems for environmental, mechanical, and electrical data center systems.
- Ability to manage multiple projects across different time zones simultaneously.
- Knowledge of relevant building codes and industry cabling standards (TIA, BICSI, NEC).
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Willingness to participate in an after-hours on-call rotation and work extended hours or weekends as necessary.
- Willingness to travel (up to 20%, including flying to other sites worldwide) and potential time at sea supporting marine systems.
- Ability to lift 30 lbs.
- Ability to work at heights.
- Ability to drive (active valid driver's license).
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected].