Hugo Garay
San Jose
Summary
Seeking a leadership role to drive operational excellence and develop high-performing teams.
Seasoned Data Center Professional with 19+ years of experience, skilled in managing critical infrastructure and team development.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Data Center Operations
Rackspace
San Jose
01.2017 - 01.2025
- Oversaw daily data center operations, optimizing team productivity and safety
- Managed annual budget, implementing cost-saving measures to boost financial health
- Negotiated vendor agreements, securing favorable terms and improving service quality
- Fostered employee growth, enhancing team skills and organizational capacity
- Led cost-saving initiatives through strategic budget management and vendor negotiations, ensuring consistent training for workplace safety and productivity
- Ensured seamless coordination between Data Center Operations and Engineering teams for smooth day-to-day operations and client satisfaction
- Continuously improved data center processes by introducing innovative solutions that significantly reduced costs and boosted efficiency
- Led a team of engineers in daily operations and collaborated with the sales team for new deployments and customer onboarding
- Managed a major data center migration, coordinating with all vendor services
- Coordinated multi-site operations with other directors across all data centers
- Created and implemented Maintenance Operating Procedures (MOP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for all critical facility maintenance tasks
- Developed and maintained a comprehensive Preventive Maintenance (PM) schedule for all critical equipment
- Conducted Data Center tours, providing building knowledge to customers and assisting with sales for space and power allocation
- Maintained the DC electrical and mechanical infrastructure, ensuring redundancy for both power and cooling to each rack
- Created Visio layouts for new or potential customers
- Reported weekly on power capacity and provided RFP support for sales
- Managed budget and capex for the building, along with MRR reports for all customers
- Oversaw badge access review for all customers and updated yearly policies for all infrastructure, including the Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
- Supervised the electrical and mechanical overhauls of UPS/Hitec units
- Collaborated with contractors and internal facilities teams for final space and power
Chief Engineer
AboveNet / DataPipe
San Jose
01.2006 - 01.2017
- Led a team of engineers in daily operations to successfully complete all Data Center tasks
- Maintained and repaired HVAC and plumbing systems for Liebert CRAC units, air distribution, and humidifiers
- Troubleshot and serviced electrical distribution panels, breaker panels, and power distribution units
- Monitored and tested a 1500KW Onan house generator, ATS, and related electrical panels, including load transfers
- Managed five 1.8MW Hitec generators, ensuring proper testing, maintenance, and load transfers
- Completed major breaker replacement for the Q system in the Hitec boards to update the trip units
- Maintained the Trace Tek leak detection system, ETS fire panels, fire pump, pre-action fire suppression system, and wet pipe fire protection system
- Collaborated with data center customers on the design and installation of server racks and cabinets, including electrical service installation between PDUs
- Created and implemented Maintenance Operating Procedures (MOP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for all critical facility maintenance tasks
- Managed, installed, and improved data center physical infrastructure and infrastructure installation procedures
Education
HVAC Certified Level 2 and Level 3, Universal EPA Certification
San Jose City College
San Jose, CATimeline
Director of Data Center Operations
Rackspace
01.2017 - 01.2025
Chief Engineer
AboveNet / DataPipe
01.2006 - 01.2017
HVAC Certified Level 2 and Level 3, Universal EPA Certification
San Jose City College