Data Center Operations Manager

About the role

Verda builds a full-stack AI cloud, from data centers and hardware to its own cloud platform used by leading AI teams. It is looking for a hands-on Data Center Operations Manager to lead a shift-based technician team and take ownership of day-to-day site operations and the complete hardware lifecycle. The role is on-site in Riga, Latvia, full-time and permanent, with a salary of 38,000 to 46,000 euros gross per year.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, support and develop a shift-based team of Data Center Technicians, organise shifts, workload, priorities, handovers and daily activities.
• Own the hardware lifecycle: receiving, inventory, deployment, break/fix, replacement, relocation, RMAs and decommissioning.
• Ensure rack-and-stack, component replacement, copper and fibre cabling and link-level troubleshooting are done safely and to a high standard.
• Coordinate cluster deployments, capacity expansions, hardware refreshes and other on-site projects.
• Lead on-site response to hardware and connectivity incidents, with clear documentation, escalation and communication.
• Build and improve operating procedures, runbooks, safety practices and escalation paths.
• Maintain accurate records of assets, inventory, incidents, maintenance and completed work.
• Recruit, onboard, coach and performance-manage technicians as the operation grows.
• Monitor the colocation provider's updates on power, cooling, security and facility events, escalate concerns to the provider and stakeholders, and take part in an on-call rotation.

Required profile

• Hands-on experience in data-center operations or a comparable critical-infrastructure environment.
• Experience leading shift-based technical teams; strong knowledge of server hardware, rack-and-stack, component replacement and structured cabling.
• Strong operational judgement, including knowing when to stop work, document and escalate.
• Comfortable in an ambiguous, fast-evolving environment and able to set up clear processes.
• Strong people-management skills: coaching, performance management, recruitment and team development.
• Clear communication and stakeholder management, with professional English; Latvian fluency is required for work with local parties.

Nice to have

• High-density GPU infrastructure or enterprise GPU platforms (NVIDIA Ampere, Hopper, Blackwell).
• Liquid cooling, including direct-to-chip loops.
• Cluster deployments, data-hall expansions or large hardware refresh projects.
• Colocation service agreements, provider escalation procedures and performance reviews.

Applications are submitted through the company's careers page; applications by email are not accepted.