Datacenter Engineer

Datacenter Engineer - London

Global - Infrastructure
· London
· Hybrid

smart

Trade Technologies builds mission‑critical trading and connectivity platforms for global financial markets. Our low‑latency infrastructure supports real‑time services across EMEA, North America, and APAC. We operate our own private cloud infrastructure in Equinix Datacenter with hybridization on IBM Cloud and AWS.

Role Overview

We are seeking a hands‑on Linux Systems & Datacenter Administrator to join our Europe Operations team. You’ll be the on‑the‑ground owner for our Slough (Equinix) environment and a key contributor to our global private cloud. The role blends Linux systems administration (Ubuntu), containerized compute (LXD/LXC, some Docker), networking, and datacenter operations. You will partner with engineering, network, and security teams to ensure reliability, performance, and change control in a 24×7, market‑facing environment.

This is a production‑oriented role: you’ll prepare, review and execute changes, troubleshoot live issues, execute maintenance windows, and continuously improve our platform through automation and rigorous documentation.

• Servers:
  Dell, HPE, Supermicro.

• Storage: LVM, software and hardware RAID (mdadm, MegaRAID, LSI, …).

• Containers: LXD/LXC (primary), some Docker.

• Networking (day‑2 ops): VLANs, LACP, ACLs, routing basics; vendors include Dell, Supermicro, Arista, Juniper, VyOS.

• Applications & Data:
  MySQL, Elasticsearch, Kafka, Java, Apache HTTPD, …

• Automation & IaC:
  Git/Git Lab, Chef, Terraform; scripting with Bash/Python.

• Monitoring/Observability:
  Centreon, Observium (plus logs pipelines).

• Operate and improve Linux fleets (Ubuntu) in production.

• Manage LXD/LXC container platforms (no hypervisors/VM stacks).

• Provide level‑3 incident response for infrastructure issues (systems, containers, network paths, storage), restoring service within SLAs and driving post‑mortems.

• Own datacenter operations in Slough: rack/stack, cabling, optics, power planning, servers installation, console/OOB, manage inventory, RMA logistics, and vendor coordination (Equinix Smart Hands, carriers, OEMs).

• Perform day‑2 network operations on switches and firewalls (ACLs, VLANs, LAGs, routing basics), and collaborate closely with network engineering for changes.

• Automate with Chef for configuration management and Terraform for IaC on AWS where applicable. Build reliable tooling for repeatable ops (config generation, pre‑change checks, deployments, and validation).

• Contribute to change management (runbooks, maintenance windows, rollback plans) and keep documentation current (network diagrams, inventories, SOPs).

• Participate in a Follow‑the‑Sun operations model, coordinating with your EMEA/APAC peers.

• 2‑3+ years operating Linux (Ubuntu, CentOS, Red Hat) in production environments.

• This position requires occasional on‑call availability outside of standard business hours to respond to urgent or critical operational issues. Flexibility to be contacted outside regular working hours is required.

• Previous datacenter work exposure: rack/stack, structured cabling (fiber/copper), PDUs, console/OOB, vendor/Smart Hands coordination, and accurate inventory. If no prior experience, willingness to learn and work in such environments.

• Containers: exposure to LXC or Docker in a production environment and their inner workings.

• Server hardware & storage: LVM, software RAID, MegaRAID tooling, firmware/BIOS/BMC (iDRAC/iLO/IPMI), and hands‑on diagnostics and replacements.

• Networking fundamentals for day‑to‑day ops: VLANs, LACP, trunking, ACLs, static routes, BGP, DNS/DHCP, link/MTU issues; ability to execute well‑scoped changes on Dell/Arista/Juniper/VyOS under peer review.

• Automation & SCM:
  Bash/Python, Git/Git Lab; experience with Chef or Ansible or Puppet in production.

• Clear runbook‑style writing, disciplined change control, and calm, structured troubleshooting under time pressure.

• Familiarity with Equinix processes (cross‑connects, tickets, remote hands) and carrier coordination.

• Ops exposure to MySQL, Elasticsearch, Kafka, Java services, Apache; ability to collaborate with app teams on…