The Staffing Partner Built for Critical Infrastructure
We didn’t start as a staffing agency that wandered into data centers. We built a recruiting firm around the industries we know — and the problems we saw firsthand.
Our Story
Born from the job site, not a corporate playbook.
Data Center TALNT was founded because we saw the same problem playing out across the industry: general contractors need specialized talent for data center and mission critical builds, but generalist staffing agencies keep sending candidates who don’t have the right experience.
That disconnect costs real money — blown schedules, failed tests, crews standing around while someone gets up to speed. We decided there had to be a better way. So we built a recruiting firm that focuses exclusively on the data center, mission critical, construction, and utilities sectors — and staffed it with recruiters who know how to screen for real project experience, not just keywords on a resume.
Today, Data Center TALNT places professionals across every phase of data center and critical infrastructure construction — from QA/QC inspectors and MEP engineers to project managers and commissioning agents. Every placement starts with the same question: has this person actually done this work before?
50+
Years Combined Experience
4
Industry Verticals
20+
Markets Covered
Nationwide
Coverage
“His attention to detail, proactive approach, and consistent delivery of high-quality results has made him an invaluable resource to our team. His work consistently exceeds expectations and reflects positively on your organization. He is truly an asset to both our teams.”
Project Controls Manager
Amazon Web Services
Where We Focus
Four verticals. Zero generalist guesswork.
Data Center Construction
Hyperscale campuses, colocation expansions, edge deployments — from site prep to IST, we staff every phase.
Mission Critical Facilities
Hospitals, trading floors, telecom hubs, and government installations where a single power blip costs millions.
Commercial Construction
Ground-up builds, tenant improvements, and large-scale renovations that need skilled field leadership yesterday.
Utilities & Energy
Substations, T&D lines, solar fields, and battery storage — the power infrastructure behind every data center.
What Makes Us Different
Here's the honest version — no marketing fluff.
Industry Knowledge
Our team comes from deep backgrounds in recruiting and talent acquisition — with experience at companies like Apple, Rackspace, Aerotek, and Duo Security. We combine strong technical screening skills with a genuine understanding of what makes data center and construction projects succeed.
Speed to Hire
When a GC calls on Tuesday, they see resumes by Wednesday. We maintain a live pipeline of pre-screened professionals so that when your project timeline gets squeezed, your recruiting timeline doesn't.
Quality Over Quantity
Three vetted candidates beat thirty random resumes every time. We confirm certifications, call references, and review project histories before your team ever sees a name. If someone doesn't pass our screen, they don't pass go.
Nationwide Coverage
Ashburn, Phoenix, Dallas, Chicago, Portland — we have active candidate relationships in every top-tier data center market and most of the emerging ones too. When a new campus breaks ground somewhere unexpected, we're usually already there.
Every placement starts with one question: has this person actually done this work before?
The People Behind the Placements
Our leadership team brings direct experience from the industries we serve.
Nate Ollestad
Founder & CEO
Nate founded Data Center TALNT after years of building recruiting teams and talent acquisition operations across the tech industry, including leadership roles at Duo Security. Known for his ability to build deep relationships and identify exceptional talent, he launched Data Center TALNT to bring that same precision to the data center and mission critical construction space — an industry where the wrong hire costs six figures in schedule delays.
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Ramiro Barrientos
Senior Account Executive & Talent Acquisition Partner
Ramiro brings deep technical recruiting experience from Apple, Rackspace Technology, and Aerotek, where he managed full-cycle recruiting across enterprise sales, software engineering, and skilled trades. At Data Center TALNT, he leads business development and client partnerships, combining his technical screening expertise with hands-on knowledge of construction and infrastructure staffing to deliver candidates who can contribute from day one.
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Robert Putt
Advisor
Robert is a proven business leader with experience at Amazon and in AI technology, known for his calm, level-headed leadership style and ability to drive results in high-pressure environments. As an advisor to Data Center TALNT, he provides strategic guidance on scaling operations, technology-driven recruiting, and navigating the intersection of data center infrastructure and the rapidly evolving AI economy.
Connect on LinkedInLet’s Talk About Your Next Project
Whether you need to fill one critical role or staff an entire program, we’d rather show you what we can do than tell you about it.