Senior Data Centre Specialist

at  EirGrid

We are the people behind Ireland’s electricity grid. We operate the power system with world leading levels of variable asynchronous renewable generation, ensuring that everyone has power when they need it. But that’s not all, we are now transforming the power system for future generations.
And that’s just the beginning of our story. We have a critical purpose. That purpose is to transform the power system to enable our society to reduce our carbon emissions and meet our climate change and net zero ambitions.
We’re an IT intensive business, and we operate a state-of-the-art, specialised business-critical systems, 24/7. Our future has never looked more exciting. And this is an incredible opportunity to be part of it. The world is ready for change. If you are too, join us.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• An IT degree or recognised qualification in a relevant technical discipline supported by typically 5+ years’ experience in delivering and/or operating Infrastructure solutions.
• Significant technical knowledge of several of the following technical components:
• Storage Area Networks experience with Dell EMC and HPE SANs
• Experience with Brocade Switch Environments and VXRail
• Strong Microsoft Windows Server Administration background, with experience in AD, DNS Group Policy etc.
• Exposure to Data Centre Operations
• Strong VMWare experience, design, installation and support of Virtual Platforms
• Experience managing and administering 24x7 Windows environments
• Experience of capacity planning, availability planning, performance tuning, metrics, data Centre management: server racking, stacking, cabling, hardware and software monitoring toolsets such as SCOM, configuration management toolsets such as SCCM, Window server security configuration and operation, managing MS Azure AD and O365 cloud technologies
• Excellent customer facing skills

We have an excellent opportunity for a Senor Data Centre Specialist to join our Data Centre and Hosting Team. The role assists in the development and support of EirGrid’s Data Centres, SAN Technology, VMWare estate, Microsoft Operating Systems and Critical Infrastructure.
The focus of the role will be to support major programs of work to upgrade and implement on premise and Co-Location facilities.
The successful applicant will contribute to the overall success of EirGrid by working as part of a team of IT professionals, undertaking Data Centre and Hosting administration duties and driving project delivery and solution optimisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Installation of Hardware technologies to on premise and Co/Lo environments
• Support the Data Centre and Hosting Team Lead in delivering on project targets and operational KPIs.
• Configuration and Management of Storage Area Networks within Critical National Infrastructure which is 24x7
• Design, development, testing and implementation of operational on-premises physical and virtual Windows server based infrastructure within defined time scales
• Design, development, testing and implementation of VMWare environments
• Design and implement Disaster Recovery process
• Coordinate complex technical assignments and work with project teams and business users to analyze business and technical infrastructure requirements
• Act as an escalation point for issues that arise on I.T. Systems that manage Critical National Infrastructure & Control Rooms
• Act as a key team member within projects and with operations
• Log support requests with 3rd party vendors
• Identify, prioritize and resolve incidents and problems
• Work with Cyber Security and internal I.T. Teams, support critical security patch deployment across varied I.T. Systems
• Windows Server Infrastructure, Active Directory, DNS, DHCP and Sites and Services
• Azure Administration and familiarity with IasS, PasS and SasS
• Support the asset management of Data Centre infrastructure including inventory maintenance, warranty management, vendor support and configuration backups.
• Document Runbooks and processes to support On-Call Team
• Liaise with the EirGrid’s Governance & Planning team and business representatives to understand business needs and the wider context of developing and delivering IT solutions.
• Provide effective stakeholder management of both internal and external stakeholders including strategic vendors and service providers.
• Provide training and mentoring to junior staff.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• An IT degree or recognised qualification in a relevant technical discipline supported by typically 5+ years’ experience in delivering and/or operating Infrastructure solutions.
• Significant technical knowledge of several of the following technical components:
• Storage Area Networks experience with Dell EMC and HPE SANs
• Experience with Brocade Switch Environments and VXRail
• Strong Microsoft Windows Server Administration background, with experience in AD, DNS Group Policy etc.
• Exposure to Data Centre Operations
• Strong VMWare experience, design, installation and support of Virtual Platforms
• Experience managing and administering 24x7 Windows environments
• Experience of capacity planning, availability planning, performance tuning, metrics, data Centre management: server racking, stacking, cabling, hardware and software monitoring toolsets such as SCOM, configuration management toolsets such as SCCM, Window server security configuration and operation, managing MS Azure AD and O365 cloud technologies
• Excellent customer facing skills.