Data Center Architect/Engineer
Data Center Architect/Engineer
Location: Washington, DC
US citizenship required
Public Trust clearance
The Britton Group is a premier provider of intelligence and national security solutions, specializing in mission-critical IT services, digital transformation, AI/ML, cybersecurity, and specialized intelligence.
With over 25 years of experience delivering innovative, secure, and agile solutions to the federal government, The Britton Group stands as a trusted partner in the Intelligence Community. Founded in 2013, we are proud to be an SBA certified WOSB and EDWOSB with our headquarters in the Washington, DC Metro area.
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Data Center Architect/Engineer to lead the design, strategic planning, and optimization of our data center infrastructure. This role requires a forward-thinking individual who can balance technical excellence with business requirements to create scalable, reliable, and efficient data center solutions while ensuring integration with cloud environments.
Key Responsibilities
Infrastructure Design
• Design and architect comprehensive data center infrastructure solutions including power, cooling, network, storage, and compute resources
• Develop detailed technical specifications for data center builds and expansions
• Evaluate and select appropriate hardware and software solutions based on business requirements, performance needs, and total cost of ownership
• Create redundancy and disaster recovery architectures to ensure business continuity
• Design network topologies that support current and future bandwidth requirements
Strategic Planning
• Develop long-term roadmaps for data center capacity expansion aligned with business growth projections
• Create and execute cloud integration strategies, including hybrid and multi-cloud architectures
• Evaluate emerging technologies and provide recommendations for adoption
• Establish standardization protocols for infrastructure deployment
• Conduct feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses for infrastructure investments
• Lead technology refresh cycles and platform modernization initiatives
System Optimization
• Continuously analyze and optimize data center performance, utilization, and efficiency metrics
• Implement power optimization solutions to reduce PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness)
• Design and optimize cooling systems to maximize energy efficiency
• Establish monitoring systems and thresholds to ensure optimal performance
• Conduct capacity planning to prevent resource constraints while minimizing overprovisioning
Compliance and Safety
• Ensure data center designs meet applicable industry standards (ANSI/TIA-942, BICSI, Uptime Institute)
• Maintain compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOX)
• Develop and enforce physical security protocols for data center facilities
• Create and maintain documentation for audit and compliance purposes
• Establish environmental safety protocols and disaster recovery procedures
Collaboration
• Partner with IT teams, facilities management, and business stakeholders to align solutions with organizational needs
• Work closely with vendors and service providers to implement new technologies
• Coordinate with project managers during implementation phases
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members
• Present complex technical concepts to executive leadership in business terms
• Collaborate with procurement to optimize vendor relationships and contracts
Required Skills and Experience
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in data center infrastructure design and management
• Strong understanding of data center systems including power, cooling, cabling, and rack infrastructure
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid cloud architectures
• Knowledge of virtualization technologies and container platforms
• Understanding of networking principles including SDN, load balancing, and security
• Experience with capacity planning and performance optimization
• Familiarity with compliance standards relevant to data centers
• Project management experience for large-scale infrastructure initiatives
Preferred Qualifications
• Professional certifications such as CDCDP, CDCE, CDCS, or CDCP
• Cloud certifications (AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect, etc.)
• Experience with data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools
• Knowledge of automation and infrastructure-as-code principles
• Experience with energy-efficient data center design
• Understanding of financial aspects of data center operations
This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of our critical infrastructure while balancing innovation, efficiency, and reliability in a dynamic technology environment.