Critical Facilities Chief Engineer, Data Center Operations

Summary

Do you want to help build some of the largest and most consequential enterprise and customer technology systems in the world? Join Apple’s Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) organisation. IS&T is the engine behind everything Apple does for customers and for the people who build for them. It’s Apple’s central nervous system. Supporting 2.5 billion active Apple devices, processing billions of secure transactions, and keeping the technology that defines modern life running flawlessly, IS&T makes the impossible feel effortless.

Do you love building solutions to handle global complexity and immense scale? Imagine what you could do here.

Infrastructure Services is part of IS&T and the foundation of Apple's global network operations — managing data center equipment and systems to deliver compute, storage, and networking services for teams across Apple, including its internal developer community. From individual facilities to a worldwide network, Infrastructure Services ensures the technology underneath everything works without question.

Apple’s Data Center Operations team thrives with individuals like you that take pride of ownership for the services provided in our critical environments, excel at actively managing and maintaining systems that expand our customer support capabilities, and assist the world with their daily lives.

We are actively seeking a Data Center Critical Facilities Chief Engineer who is committed to working in a critical environment that values continuous improvement and embraces change.

Description

The Chief Engineer serves as a pivotal liaison between the Data Center Critical Facility Operations Manager (CFOM) and the supervisors tasked with the intricate responsibilities of installing, repairing, and maintaining critical facility systems. These systems encompass a wide range of essential infrastructures, including electrical, mechanical, fire and life safety, environmental controls, and landscaping. In this capacity, the Chief Engineer ensures that all systems operate at peak efficiency, reliability, and compliance with industry standards.

In managing a diverse team comprising both exempt and non-exempt personnel, the Chief Engineer is responsible for encouraging a dynamic and high-performing workforce. This includes forging collaborative relationships, providing ongoing mentorship, and delivering targeted training programs to improve skills and capabilities.

The ideal candidate possesses outstanding communication skills, enabling them to distill complex analytical and trend data into actionable insights. These insights are then communicated effectively to site leadership to aid in risk mitigation strategies.

Moreover, the Chief Engineer plays a crucial role in identifying and proposing innovative ideas sought at growing operational efficiency and reducing expenditures across facilities operations. This strategic approach not only supports the organisation's cost-effectiveness but also aligns with sustainability and operational excellence goals. The Chief Engineer is encouraged to lead by example, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and proactive problem-solving within the department.

Responsibilities

• Collaboration with Data Center Critical FacilityOperations Managers (CFOM) and senior leaders to develop and pursue continual improvement initiatives to decrease operational expenditure while increasing service quality.
• Collaboration with managers across the data center portfolio to include, but not limited too, Logistics, Site Services, Break Fix, Integration Center, Network Operations, Construction and Security.
• Direct day-to-day team operations, allocate resources and manage workflows, implement training programs to meet technical requirements, and monitor performance against operational standards.
• Track and maintain facility uptime and power and water efficiency (PUE & WUE) targets, manage maintenance cost controls, report performance metrics to stakeholders.
• Respond to facility emergencies and resolve issues rapidly. In cooperation with CFOM, conduct root cause analysis, document incidents, and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, code requirements, safety regulations, and data center protocols and policies.
• Test and implement new technologies and systems, measure improvements in efficiency, sustainability, and operational performance.
• Execute risk assessments for facilities and hazards, optimise power consumption and cooling performance, and deploy mitigation controls.
• Manage vendor and contractor relationships, establish and maintain SOPs and documentation, monitor SLA compliance, and report facility performance and operational initiatives to CFOM and senior leadership.
• Oversee the installation, repair, and maintenance of all critical facility systems including electrical, mechanical, fire safety, and environmental controls.
• Oversee preventive maintenance programs and schedules to ensure optimal performance and extend equipment lifecycle.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent experience or vocational training in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering Technology, Facilities Management, or a related field.
• 5+ years in a leadership or supervisory role within a data center or similar critical operations environment.
• Strong understanding of data center infrastructure, including power systems, cooling systems, and backup power solutions.
• Ability to provide on-call support, responding rapidly and effectively to emergency situations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of data center leadership experience or similar critical operations environment.
• Skilled in coordinating with critical facilities professionals to perform corrective actions, complete incident reporting, and conduct root cause analysis.
• Outstanding leadership and team development skills.
• Excellent negotiation and vendor management skills, with experience optimising service agreements and contractual terms.
• Ability to interpret complex data and trends.
• Proficiency in the use of Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).