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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to maintain and optimise data centre operations and network support.
- Company: EMBL-EBI, a leader in biological data management and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and health insurance.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent career growth and mentoring opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global research while developing your technical skills.
- Qualifications: Must have relevant technical certifications and a clean UK driving licence.
The predicted salary is between 44340 - 44340 £ per year.
About the Team
The Data Centre (DC) Engineer is part of the Network & DC Team that maintains the physical and logical backbone of our IT services. At EMBL-EBI we manage large data volumes and network traffic across multiple sites and we allow our data to be accessed on a global scale. This role is a hybrid of DC facility operations and active campus-wide network support, requiring a proactive individual who can execute well-defined procedures with precision, maintain impeccable documentation, and escalate appropriately when issues exceed runbooks. The DC Engineer will perform hardware lifecycle tasks, enforce datacentre access and cabling standards, and deliver first-line network configuration and Layer 1-2 troubleshooting across DCs and campus environments. Working closely with senior engineers under ITSM change control, they will ensure asset accuracy in DCIM, support monitoring integrations (e.g., Smart PDUs), and act as reliable remote hands to maintain high availability and operational safety across EMBL-EBI facilities.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Data Centre Operations
- Hardware Lifecycle: Physically install, rack, relocate, and decommission servers, storage, and network switches.
- Hardware Maintenance: Carry out firmware upgrades and supervise or perform hardware repairs, including swapping failed components like drives, motherboards, and power supplies.
- Facility Monitoring: Perform regular physical rounds to check for environmental alerts (temperature/humidity) and infrastructure health (UPS status and PDU loads).
- Asset Compliance: Ensure the Datacentre Information Management (DCIM) system is kept up to date. Conduct regular audits of assets and coordinate with Finance/Purchasing for compliant disposal.
- Security & Policy: Ensure DC access policies are followed correctly by all staff and contractors. Maintain high standards for copper and fibre cable management, including precise labeling and routing.
- Network Configuration: Carry out basic configuration such as applying management IP addresses, basic routing, and VLAN tagging to newly installed devices.
- Campus Edge Support: Manage the physical health and connectivity of network switches in campus wiring closets (IDFs) and assist in the deployment of AV or other network-connected campus infrastructure.
- Connectivity Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve Layer 1 issues, including faulty transceivers, damaged fibre patches, and incorrect patching across the DCs and campus.
- Monitoring Projects: Help integrate and monitor Smart PDUs for power and efficiency tracking.
- Remote Hands: Act as the local technical presence for senior engineers, performing power cycles, hardware inspections, and physical cable audits.
Required Skills and Experience
- Driving License: Must possess a full, clean UK driving license. This is essential for travelling between sites.
- Physical Ability: Able to lift and carry IT equipment up to 20kg, work on raised platforms, and operate in tight spaces.
- Policy Focus: A firm approach to process enforcement and the ability to maintain accurate documentation.
- Relevant technical certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, or Cisco CCNA.
- Experience with ITIL frameworks or ISO 27001 standards.
- Infrastructure: Proven proficiency in working with optical fibre and Cat5e/6/6a copper patch cabling, including MPO terminated fibre.
- Tools: Experience using cable testers, cleaning fibre terminations, and basic console tools (e.g., PuTTY/SSH).
- Networking: A basic understanding of TCP/IP, VLANs, and CLI-based device management.
- Good written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate clearly in a collaborative technical environment.
Team Values
We are an international team who values collaboration, continuous learning, integrity and commitment. You’ll work alongside experienced engineers who actively mentor and share knowledge. We are looking for a new colleague who:
- Is comfortable working autonomously, able to manage their own workload, and take initiative when resolving issues.
- Has a genuine interest in improving systems, not just maintaining them.
- Enjoys solving technical challenges collaboratively.
- Is a clear and confident communicator, able to document work and explain technical concepts effectively.
Other helpful information
This role requires regular travel to our data centre and on-campus presence. A full, clean driving licence and the ability to work on site are essential.
Interviews: We plan to hold introductory virtual meetings with selected candidates in the first week of June. Virtual technical and panel interviews will follow, likely mid to late June 2026.
Contract length: 3 year fixed term contract (renewable up to 9 years)
Salary: Grade 6 monthly salary starting at £3,695 per month after tax but excluding pension and insurance contributions. Plus generous benefits.
Next Steps
This vacancy is open from Friday, 24th April with a scheduled closing date of Wednesday, 20th May and we welcome your application as soon as possible. Please submit an up-to-date CV and cover letter outlining your motivations for applying and your transferable skills and experience. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and in the event that we identify a suitable candidate sooner, reserve the right to close the vacancy ahead of the published closing date.
Why join us
Do something meaningful. At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.
Join a culture of innovation
We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential.
Enjoy lots of benefits:
- Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances.
- Flexible working arrangements - including hybrid working patterns.
- Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover).
- Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition public holidays.
- Relocation package including installation grant (if required).
- Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely).
- Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances.
- Benefits for non-UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.
For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here.
What else you need to know
International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Please take a look at our International Applicants page for further information. EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.
How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.
Closing Date 20/05/2026
Data Centre Network Engineer employer: European Molecular Biology Laboratory
Contact Detail:
European Molecular Biology Laboratory Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Centre Network Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network, network, network! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews like a pro! Research the company, understand their values, and be ready to discuss how your skills align with their needs. Practise common interview questions and have your own questions ready to show your interest.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation and reiterate your enthusiasm for the role. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your professionalism.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at EMBL-EBI.
We think you need these skills to ace Data Centre Network Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Data Centre Network Engineer role. Highlight relevant experience and skills that match the job description, like your knowledge of network configuration and hardware maintenance.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should express your genuine interest in the position and the team. Share specific examples of how your past experiences align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention any relevant certifications or technical skills you possess, such as CompTIA A+, Network+, or Cisco CCNA. This will help us see your qualifications at a glance!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your CV and cover letter, and it ensures you’re considered for the role as soon as possible!
How to prepare for a job interview at European Molecular Biology Laboratory
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your technical knowledge, especially around TCP/IP, VLANs, and the tools mentioned in the job description. Being able to discuss your experience with fibre and copper cabling, as well as your familiarity with console tools like PuTTY or SSH, will show that you're ready for the role.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share specific examples of how you've tackled technical challenges in the past. Think about situations where you had to troubleshoot Layer 1 issues or manage hardware lifecycle tasks. This will help illustrate your proactive approach and ability to work autonomously.
✨Show Off Your Documentation Skills
Since maintaining accurate documentation is key for this role, be ready to discuss how you keep records of your work. Bring examples of how you've documented processes or created runbooks in previous positions. This will highlight your attention to detail and commitment to policy enforcement.
✨Be Ready for a Collaborative Discussion
This role involves working closely with senior engineers and other team members. Prepare to talk about your experiences in collaborative environments and how you communicate technical concepts clearly. Showing that you value teamwork will resonate well with the interviewers.