Connectivity Engineer

Job Title: Lease Connectivity Engineer

Duration: 12 Months

Locations: Buffalo, NY OR Lockhart, TX OR Fort Worth, TX OR Central Ohio (ColumbHilliard area)

Job Summary:

Client is seeking a Connectivity Engineer to join the Design Engineering and Construction (DEC) team. This role is pivotal in supporting the physical infrastructure of Client''''''''''''''''s global data centers, ensuring seamless connectivity for the delivery of Client''''''''''''''''s innovative services. The Connectivity Engineer will manage the full project lifecycle, from initiation to production turnover, ensuring projects are executed on schedule, within budget, and meet quality standards.

Top 3 Must-Have HARD Skills

1. ISP/OSP deployment and structured cabling expertise – Deep technical knowledge of inside/outside plant cabling, fiber optic testing, gear and network components, and industry installation standards. This is the core of the role.
2. Project management in data center construction – 5+ years managing full project lifecycles (scope, schedule, milestones, budgets) in telecom/networking environments. Proficiency with scheduling tools (MS Project, Primavera P6).
3. Vendor management & QA/QC – Hands-on experience managing vendor field activities, performing physical inspections, ensuring compliance with quality standards, and driving a right first time culture with installation partners.

Good-to-Have Skills

• Experience with Client or hyperscale data center construction environments
• Familiarity with design-build project delivery and constructability reviews
• Strong documentation skills (SOPs, SIPs, RFI process management)
• Scheduling & risk mitigation expertise – ability to forecast and de-risk project timelines
• Self-driven with the ability to make independent decisions in the field without constant oversight

Roles and Responsibilities

Project Planning & Control

• Develop and maintain project scope, schedules, and milestones.
• Collaborate with site construction management teams throughout the project lifecycle.

Learnings & Best Practices

• Review ongoing projects for efficiencies and document data points to assist with field coordination.
• Support the development of project management best practices and coordinate SOPs/SIPs with vendors.

Forecasting & Budgeting

• Assist the project controls team with forecasting and budget efforts.
• Ensure clear communication of project status with all stakeholders.

Technical Reviews & Vendor Management

• Establish milestones for equipment purchase and track progress.
• Manage vendor field activities and ensure compliance with DEC quality standards.

Quality Assurance & Technical Leadership

• Perform inspections to ensure vendor work meets quality standards.
• Lead product evaluation, design, and installation methods in the field.

Cross-functional Coordination

• Liaise with construction partners and coordinate with logistics partners to ensure smooth material flow.
• Communicate progress and risks to key stakeholders.

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to safety obligations and lead a ''''''''''''''''safety first'''''''''''''''' culture.

Travel

• Position requires a minimum of 50% travel.
• Buffalo, NY OR Lockhart, TX OR Fort Worth, TX (must be willing to travel and support all three locations)

Site Responsibilities

Quality Assurance

• Perform physical inspections to ensure vendor work meets DEC quality standards throughout the lifecycle of the data center.
• Validate physical installs, test reports, build accuracy, material and local code compliance including constructability reviews on multiple design phases.

Technical Field Lead

• Technical lead for industry and Client standards, responsible to lead product evaluation, design, and installation methods in the field including scope clarification, design and installation details as the owner of the Request for Information process.

Vendor Field Management

• Responsible for all connectivity activities (OSP/ISP) within construction, projects on site including tracking and reporting actual progress related to schedule expectations.
• Set and communicate clear expectations together with the immediate site team, build key relationships with our installation partners and drive a culture of best practice, safe working environment and execute to a vision of ‘right first time.’

Site Assessment

• Conduct thorough assessments of existing sites to identify areas for improvement.

Modification Planning

• Develop plans and proposals for modifications, including cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage with stakeholders, including site managers, vendors, and contractors, to ensure alignment and support for modifications.

Implementation

• Oversee the implementation of modifications, ensuring timely completion and minimal disruption to operations.

Post-Modification Review

• Conduct reviews of modifications to assess effectiveness and identify areas for further improvement.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in project management.
• 5+ years of experience in data center telecommunications and networking.
• Experience engaging and guiding stakeholders and providing solutions to construction-related problems.
• Proficiency in Google Docs, MS Office and MS Project.
• Experience with Quality Assurance and Quality Control.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in data center development or construction management.
• Experience with Primavera 6 and managing IT or IP Network deployment projects.
• Experience with fiber optic testing and outside plant cabling deployments.

Comments for Suppliers

• Needs to be able to travel as needed.
• Experience supporting multiple projects simultaneously ranging from 600k to $100M.
• Past experience working in leased facilities is preferred but not mandatory.
• 50% Travel to sites across North America as needed.

Story Behind the Need – Business Group & Key Projects

This role sits within Client''''''''''''''''s Design, Engineering & Construction (DEC) – Lease Delivery team. The Lease team is experiencing unprecedented growth with 100+ active lease projects in the pipeline across global locations. The Connectivity Engineer provides critical site-level support for DEC telecommunication projects — managing everything from fiber optic infrastructure and structured cabling to equipment installation and network deployment. The team needs experienced professionals who can independently manage connectivity delivery across multiple sites while maintaining Client''''''''''''''''s quality standards and aggressive timelines.

Compelling Story & Candidate Value Proposition

• Client''''''''''''''''s lease data center portfolio is scaling rapidly to support AI infrastructure buildout — this is one of the fastest-growing programs in the company with high visibility across leadership
• You''''''''''''''''ll be working at the cutting edge of hyperscale data center connectivity, delivering infrastructure that directly powers Client''''''''''''''''s AI and core services
• Opportunity to influence standards and best practices across a massive, globally distributed portfolio (100+ sites)
• Exposure to diverse project types, vendors, and geographies — no two sites are the same
• The Lease team operates with startup-like agility within one of the world''''''''''''''''s largest infrastructure organizations

Typical Day in the Role

• Morning project sync/coordination meetings with site construction management teams
• Travel to job site to perform physical inspections of ISP/OSP installations (fiber, cabling, equipment)
• Vendor coordination — managing field activities, setting expectations, reviewing progress against schedule
• Technical reviews — constructability reviews, RFI resolution, validating test reports and material compliance
• Afternoon stakeholder communication — updating project status, flagging risks, coordinating with logistics on material flow
• Documentation — updating schedules/milestones, capturing learnings and best practices, reviewing SOPs
• Cross-functional coordination with construction partners, project controls, and design teams

How Will Performance Be Measured:

• Schedule adherence – Projects delivered on time against committed milestones and RFS dates
• Quality standards – Vendor work consistently meets DEC quality standards; minimal rework or punch list items
• Budget compliance – Projects executed within forecasted budgets; accurate forecasting and cost communication
• Stakeholder communication – Clear, proactive updates on progress and risks; no surprises
• Safety record – Zero safety incidents; consistent demonstration of safety first culture
• Vendor performance – Installation partners meeting expectations; right first time execution rates improving over time