Job Description & Details
This is a nightshift, hands-on infrastructure role based out of Ashburn, Virginia, designed for someone who likes getting their hands dirty with physical hardware and networking gear. You'll be working a unique 4-day schedule acting as the frontline troubleshooter for complex hardware issues while keeping documentation tight for the rest of the team.
What You'll Actually Be Doing
Expect to spend your nights racking and stacking servers, running and terminating fiber, coax, and ethernet cables, and setting up routers and switches. You won't just be plugging things in blindly; you'll own full-cycle support from triaging alerts and running diagnostics to executing break/fix solutions. Because it's a night shift, you'll need to operate autonomously, executing small local projects independently while serving as the main escalation point for any junior staff on duty.
The Core Tech Stack
You'll need a solid grasp of physical computer hardware, server maintenance, and core networking infrastructure. Knowing your way around copper and fiber cabling standards is non-negotiable since you'll be laying out and installing switches, routers, and modems regularly. Basic system administration skills and the ability to script simple automations will seriously set you apart and make those repetitive operational tasks much less painful.
Interview Expectations
Expect the hiring manager to ask you to walk through a specific scenario where a critical server hardware failure happened during an off-hour shift, focusing on how you diagnosed the issue without immediate senior backup. They want to see your structured troubleshooting methodology and how calmly you handle high-pressure break/fix situations. They might also quiz you on cabling best practices and fiber optics to ensure you actually know the physical layer, rather than just reading about it.
Application Advice
Make sure your resume clearly highlights any hands-on hardware exposure, whether that's from a previous data center stint, desktop support role, or tinkering in a Geek Squad capacity. Explicitly weave in keywords like server maintenance, fiber and ethernet cabling, and hardware troubleshooting so you easily breeze past the automated ATS filters.