Information Technology Specialist III - Data Center and Cloud Engineering Leader

Description

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.

Best Fit

• 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.

Minimum Qualifications

• 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. 

Your Team 
The Mission of the Employees of the City of Irvine is to create and maintain a community where people can live, work, and play in an environment that is safe, vibrant, and aesthetically pleasing. We are one team that exists to serve our community in the continual pursuit of a City that offers an exceptional quality of life. The City of Irvine’s five values of Humility, Innovation, Empathy, Passion, and Integrity reflect the interests and needs of the community, and the level of service they expect and desire. We are One Irvine through embrace of a team-oriented approach by living our values every day.

Administrative Services is committed to sound fiscal stewardship in maximizing the City’s ability to deliver high-quality services to the community. The department consists of six areas: Administration, Fiscal Services, Budget and Strategic Planning, Purchasing, Information Technology, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).

The Process 
 The selection process will include an examination and conduct a background investigation prior to appointment. This recruitment may establish an eligibility list to fill future positions in similar and/or lower classifications within the organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer
 The City of Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. We encourage you to inform Human Resources at least two business days prior to the first phase of the selection process if you have a disability that may require an accommodation.