Deployment Pod Lead Data Center

Role: Deployment Pod Lead – Data CenterLocation: San Jose CA ( remote is an option- Travel required )1 st Preference – FTE – Max Salary: $135K/annum2 nd Preference – Contract – Max Rate: $80/hrJob Description:The Deployment Pod Lead – Data Center is responsible for leading a cross functional deployment pod and delivering end to end data center deployment activities. The role owns planning, coordination, execution, and handover of data center builds, expansions, upgrades, or migrations, ensuring delivery meets defined scope, timelines, quality standards, and security requirements.Key ResponsibilitiesLead a deployment pod comprising Network, Compute, Storage, Security, and Platform engineers.Own delivery planning, task breakdown, dependency management, and execution tracking.Execute physical and logical deployment of data center infrastructure including servers, networking, storage, cabling, and platform layers.Coordinate build, configuration, validation, and commissioning activities.Translate architecture designs into deployment plans, runbooks, and cutover strategies.Coordinate with internal teams, vendors, and OEMs for hardware readiness and deployments.Manage change windows, maintenance activities, and rollback plans.Ensure deployments comply with security baselines, hardening standards, and compliance requirements.Identify delivery risks, resolve issues, and manage escalations as required.Ensure complete documentation including as built diagrams, deployment checklists, and SOPs.Lead structured handover to operations and support early life stabilization.Required Skills & ExperienceTechnical SkillsStrong experience in data center infrastructure deploymentsGood understanding of networking (L2/L3, firewall integration, load balancers)Hands on exposure to compute and virtualization (Linux/Windows, VMware/KVM)Familiarity with storage platforms (SAN, NAS, HCI preferred)Understanding of data center security and operational best practices