Specialist - Data Center Operations, Core42, Abu Dhabi - UAE 

About Us

Core42, a leader in AI-powered cloud and digital infrastructure, is driving transformative technology solutions globally. Leveraging advanced resources and partnerships, Core42 empowers clients to harness sovereign AI infrastructure, especially in sectors with stringent regulatory needs. With a mission to redefine digital transformation, we combine sovereign capabilities with scalable, high-performance compute infrastructure, positioning itself at the forefront of AI innovation in the Middle East and beyond.

The Opportunity

The Senior Data Center Operations Specialist is a leadership-focused role tasked with overseeing critical data center activities and serving as a subject matter expert (SME) across infrastructure operations. This role requires deep technical competency, operational foresight, mentoring capabilities, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure the highest levels of uptime, reliability, and performance. The Senior Specialist also leads complex incident response, drives process improvement, and provides technical direction to Specialists and Technicians.

Your key responsibilities 

• Lead and coordinate day-to-day operations within the data center, maintaining service excellence and uptime targets
• Serve as the on-site escalation point for high-priority incidents, guiding technical troubleshooting and recovery
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and preventive action implementation for critical failures or repeated faults
• Oversee vendor performance during infrastructure deployments and major maintenance windows
• Own scheduling and oversight of preventive and corrective maintenance for MEP and IT systems
• Support the implementation of strategic initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency, automation, and sustainability
• Perform advanced audits of operations, risk mitigation practices, and compliance protocols
• Maintain authoritative documentation for infrastructure layout, maintenance activities, SOPs, and EOPs
• Mentor and train junior staff on procedures, troubleshooting, and career development
• Monitor, analyze, and report KPIs and system health metrics to management
• Collaborate closely with engineering, NOC, IT, security, and project teams on operational initiatives
• Ensure compliance with Uptime Tier certification requirements and local regulatory mandates

What we're looking for

• Minimum 5+ years of data center operations experience with hands-on expertise in mission-critical infrastructure (MEP + IT)
• Strong leadership presence and ability to guide teams under pressure
• Advanced troubleshooting skills across electrical, mechanical, network, and server environments
• Strong familiarity with ITSM, DCIM, and monitoring platforms
• Excellent communication and documentation skills for internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to lead improvements, create documentation, and drive initiatives
• Uptime Institute – Accredited Operations Specialist certification is required or must be obtained within 6 months (facilitated by Core42)