Data Center Cable Manager

Hourly Rate: $45-50/hr (firm, dependent on experience)
Location: Abilene, TX (must be local or willing to travel to Abilene for 2 weeks at a time)

Smartlink is dedicated to empowering those who are competitive and aim for the win. The company’s core values— Creating Customer Fanatics, Innovate and Create, One Team, We Are All In, and Safety Leads to Success—serves as a guide to our teams and sets the expectations for every member.
These values are the cornerstone that brings us together, consistently reminding us of our mission and guiding all our efforts. We are unabashedly competitive and driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence. Every project, every challenge, and every opportunity is met with discipline, focus, and an uncompromising commitment to succeed.
Our path to excellence begins with it, commitment, and our team’s goal of achieving customer fanatics. At Smartlink, you are empowered to make the right decisions, do your job well and bring something to the table no matter your position. This involves autonomy, responsibility, contribution, support, and growth.
This approach ensures that every team member feels valued and motivated to contribute their best, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.

We look forward to having you join our TEAM if this opportunity is a great fit for you!

Job Summary:
The Data Center Cable Manager is responsible for operationally leading teams in the deployment of high-count backbone fiber (3456F–6912F) and 288F distribution within a hyperscale data center environment. Duties include hands on team leadership, fiber-optic trunk installation, overhead pathway construction, cabinet/ODF placement and installation, and managing conduit transitions from overhead cable management systems to underground building-to-building conduit systems, all while ensuring structural integrity, proper grounding, and bend-radius compliance.
The Data Center Cable Manager oversees all structured cabling and high-fiber-count infrastructure installation within hyperscale data centers. This role ensures all cabling, pathways, cabinets, and supporting infrastructure are installed safely, neatly, and in accordance with project specifications and industry standards.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Team Leadership & Work Coordination
• Lead, mentor, and applied development of cable installation team members.
• Assign daily tasks, monitor progress, and ensure high-quality workmanship.
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas within active data halls.
• Enforce safety protocols and comply with all data center operational policies.

Pathway Construction & Grounding
• Build and align overhead ladder-rack and basket-tray systems, maintaining 50% pathway fill for future expansion.
• Bond and ground racks, cabinets, and metallic pathways in accordance with TIA-607 standards.
• Install firestopping and water-sealing at penetrations and building entries as required.
• Manage conduit transitions using innerduct/MaxCell for high-density backbone routing.

Cabinet & ODF Installation
• Install, anchor, plumb, and level OSE cabinets and ODFs.
• Coordinate placement and alignment based on engineering drawings and cabling plans.

High-Fiber-Count Cable Installation
• Install and route high-fiber-count (HFC) trunk cables, including 3456F and 6912F.
• Provide safe handling, staging, and reel management for large fiber reels.
• Verify that pulling tensions do not exceed manufacturer or project specifications.
• Maintain proper bend radius and ensure adequate cable protection to prevent damage or performance degradation.
• Ensure cable labeling meets project requirements and aligns with customer design standards.
• Confirm all cables are routed, placed, and terminated exactly per approved designs.

Splicing Support & Fiber Preparation
• Support mass-fusion splicing preparation, including cable prep and SWR ribbon breakout kit installation.
• Coordinate routing and staging with splicing teams to maintain quality and efficiency.

Quality Assurance & Documentation
• Conduct routine inspections to verify compliance with technical standards, safety practices, and customer requirements.
• Document installation progress and report material needs, risks, or delays to project leadership.
• Maintain accurate labeling and as-built documentation throughout installation phases.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements: To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Required
• Proven experience working with high-fiber-count (HFC) fiber optic cable, including 3456F–6912F.
• Strong knowledge of in-building (data hall-to-data hall) and building-to-building fiber placement practices.
• Expertise in pathway systems, including ladder rack, basket tray, and conduit installations.
• Hands-on experience installing, anchoring, and aligning OSE racks, ODFs, and cabinets.
• Ability to maintain proper fiber bend-radius requirements during routing and installation.
• Demonstrated experience leading cabling teams in data center, telecom, or structured cabling environments.
• Strong understanding of fiber-optic installation standards, pathway architecture, and high-fiber-count routing methods.
• Ability to interpret construction drawings, rack elevations, and fiber routing diagrams with accuracy.
• Knowledge of TIA-607 grounding and bonding standards.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Valid driver’s license and the ability to pass all required data-center background checks for site access.

Preferred
• Relevant industry certifications such as BICSI Installer 2 Fiber, BICSI Technician, or equivalent.
• Familiarity with ODF architectures, splice panels, and large-scale fiber distribution systems.
• Experience supporting or leading projects in hyperscale or mission-critical data center environments.
• Background in inter-building backbone conduit routing and pathway design.
• Proven experience working in high-density fiber environments involving large-scale backbone or distribution systems.
Physical Demands & Work Environment:
• Lift and carry materials or equipment typically 25–50 lbs.
• Stand, walk, bend, kneel, and climb ladders for extended periods.
• Work in tight or elevated spaces (under raised floors, overhead trays, behind racks).
• Perform repetitive motions such as cable pulling, terminating, labeling, and routing.
• After-hours, weekend, or off-peak work as needed to minimize downtime.
• Frequent travel to diverse environments, climates, and job sites; extended stays may be required.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER