STEM OPT Senior Data Center Engineer Jobs
Senior Data Center Engineer roles qualify for STEM OPT when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and the 24-month extension gives you up to 36 months total to build experience in infrastructure, systems reliability, and data center operations.
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INTRODUCTION
We have an opportunity in our Global Data Center Operations team for an intelligent and motivated Data Center Engineer who is enthusiastic about data center deployment and site reliability/management. As a member of our team, you will be managing existing and new Qualcomm data centers in Atlanta, Georgia. You will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of our data center and assume a critical role in maintaining overall uptime, performance, and capacity. Your responsibilities will include site management, Moves/Adds/Changes of systems within the site, and installations/configurations of server, networking, and storage equipment in preparation for administrator tasks. You will also collaborate with our current Atlanta data center lead and San Diego teams for site management, including cabling and site growth planning. Bring your solid experience and take on mission-critical projects as part of a fast-paced, highly collaborative team. We hold ourselves to high standards and take pride in our work. You should be dedicated to excellence, have a strong sense of personal responsibility, and be self-driven. This position requires on-site work primarily at our facilities in Atlanta, Georgia.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO):
- Rack and install servers, storage, networking gear, data center gear, and serial consoles.
- Perform initial configuration and provisioning for deployment (Console/ILO).
- Conduct site management and planning for production deployments and growth.
- Troubleshoot hardware issues and provide detailed reports to management/administrators.
- Manage local vendors for procurement, installations, and remediation.
- Oversee RMA/EOL/disposal processes.
- Maintain accurate inventory of all hardware equipment.
- Assist with co-location capacity planning and rack/server layouts.
- Implement best practices for power, cooling, and cabling in data center environments.
- Track issues and tasks via ticketing system.
- Participate in 24x7x365 on-call support rotation.
- Work in structured cabling central patch environments.
- Apply 10/40/100g patching knowledge.
- Perform basic fiber troubleshooting and VFL testing.
- Clean fiber end-faces properly.
- Utilize Commscope iMvision Database (preferred).
- Add copper cabling, punch down, and run cables.
- Read and interpret cabling scopes of work.
- Manage cable integrators and audit work against SOW.
- Apply quality assurance fundamentals.
- Understand fiber MPO and TX/RX principles.
- Troubleshoot fiber and copper connectivity.
- Perform basic testing of fiber and copper.
- Travel as needed.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as escalation point from service desk for advanced system/application issues.
- Troubleshoot and debug network, system, and application issues; escalate as needed.
- Network with colleagues to gain insight and share ideas.
- Prioritize tasks and manage setbacks under guidance from senior personnel.
- Adapt to changes and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Value contributions from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
- Communicate project status and obstacles to project lead.
- Complete moderate technical tasks assigned by senior personnel.
- Maintain open communication within and outside project teams.
- Contribute to technical discussions with tech leads and managers.
IT CORE COMPETENCIES
- Accountability: Deliver quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
- Adaptability: Adjust behavior to changing environments and information.
- Collaboration: Promote teamwork through shared values and goals.
- Communication: Effectively exchange information and understand others.
- Financial Acumen: Use financial insights to drive safe and transparent growth.
- Influence: Achieve goals through collaboration and leadership.
- People Development: Foster career growth and development.
- Strategic Focus: Solve complex challenges using business acumen and research.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (All competencies below are required upon entry)
- Analytical Skills: Identify patterns and trends in moderately complex data.
- Documentation: Record solutions using standard procedures.
- Escalation Management: Understand and apply incident escalation protocols.
- IT Expertise: Basic knowledge of operating systems, enterprise software, hardware, and middleware.
- IT Support: Respond to end-user requests using IT support tools.
- Monitoring: Interpret log data to maintain performance and security.
- Technical Troubleshooting: Apply systematic approaches to resolve technical issues.
- Workstation Software: Proficient in Windows, OSX, and Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel).
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in a technical field (e.g., Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems) OR
- Bachelor’s degree in a non-technical field (e.g., Business, Humanities, Marketing) and 1+ years IT-relevant experience OR
- High School diploma or equivalent and 3+ years IT-relevant experience
Physical Requirements
- Frequent travel between offices/buildings (up to ½ mile).
- Transport and install equipment up to 50 lbs.
- Perform tasks at various heights (standing/sitting).
- Use computers and test equipment for more than 6 hours/day.
- Continuous communication with colleagues, customers, and vendors (in-person and remote).
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- 3+ years of IT-related work experience with a Bachelor's degree. OR 5+ years of IT-related work experience without a Bachelor’s degree.
APPLICANTS: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able to participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
TO ALL STAFFING AND RECRUITING AGENCIES: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO EMPLOYER: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification. Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
PAY RANGE AND OTHER COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
- $41.19 - $61.79
The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link. If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Senior Data Center Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Cross-reference your degree's CIP code against the DHS STEM OPT designated degree list before targeting roles. Computer Engineering (14.09), Computer Science (11.07), and Electrical Engineering (14.10) are common qualifying fields for data center engineering work.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Ask hiring managers directly whether their company is enrolled in E-Verify before you spend time on technical rounds. Public companies and federal contractors are often enrolled, but smaller colocation operators or managed service providers may not be, which disqualifies them as STEM OPT employers.
Target infrastructure-heavy employers with USCIS filing history
Cloud hyperscalers, telecom carriers, and large financial institutions run physical data center operations at scale and have established STEM OPT hiring processes. Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers with verified E-Verify enrollment and active infrastructure job postings.
Build your I-983 training plan around specific competencies
Your I-983 must connect your STEM degree to your day-to-day role. For Senior Data Center Engineer positions, map your coursework in networking, power systems, or hardware architecture to job duties like capacity planning, cooling optimization, or redundancy design before your DSO signs off.
Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark your prevailing wage tier
Senior Data Center Engineer roles are typically classified under SOC code 17-2061 or 15-1244 depending on the employer's focus. Pull the relevant prevailing wage level from the OFLC Wage Search so you can identify whether an offer meets the wage floor your employer will need to certify.
Start your extension paperwork 90 days before OPT expires
USCIS requires you to apply for the STEM OPT extension before your initial OPT EAD expires. File Form I-765 with your DSO-endorsed I-20 no later than 90 days out. A late filing voids your cap-gap protection and can create a gap in work authorization mid-employment.
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Find Senior Data Center Engineer JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a Senior Data Center Engineer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your employer's job classification and your degree's CIP code. If the role is classified under a STEM SOC code such as 17-2061 (Computer Hardware Engineers) or 15-1244 (Computer Network Architects), and your degree appears on the DHS STEM designated degree list, you qualify. Your DSO confirms eligibility when endorsing your I-20 for the extension application.
What E-Verify requirement applies to STEM OPT employers for this role?
Any employer hiring you on STEM OPT must be enrolled in E-Verify at the specific worksite where you'll work. E-Verify enrollment at the corporate headquarters doesn't automatically cover subsidiary locations or separate worksites. Confirm your hiring site's enrollment status directly with HR before signing an offer, since a non-enrolled worksite disqualifies the position.
What should the I-983 training plan include for a Senior Data Center Engineer?
Your I-983 must describe learning objectives that connect to your STEM degree. For this role, include specific technical goals such as mastering power distribution unit configuration, improving network redundancy protocols, or leading capacity planning projects. USCIS expects the training plan to show a direct relationship between your academic background in engineering or computer science and your on-the-job responsibilities.
How does cap-gap protection work if I transition from STEM OPT to H-1B?
If your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf before your STEM OPT EAD expires and you're selected in the lottery, your work authorization automatically extends through September 30 of that fiscal year under cap-gap rules. You can continue working as a Senior Data Center Engineer during this period without an updated EAD. USCIS confirmation of your timely filed petition is what triggers the protection.
Where can I find Senior Data Center Engineer jobs with verified E-Verify employers?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for STEM OPT-eligible students, surfacing Senior Data Center Engineer roles at employers enrolled in E-Verify. You can search by role type and work authorization status so you're not wasting time on applications at companies that can't legally hire you on STEM OPT authorization.
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