How to hire an infrastructure lead

How to hire an infrastructure lead, step by step

Here's a step-by-step infrastructure lead hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an infrastructure lead job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new infrastructure lead
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an infrastructure lead, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   An infrastructure lead's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, infrastructure leads from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of infrastructure leads.

   Type of Infrastructure Lead	Description	Hourly rate
   Infrastructure Lead	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$40-78
   Network Technician	A network technician is responsible for system malfunction diagnosis and troubleshooting operations. Network technicians duties' include repairing damaged system components, analyzing computer systems and blueprints, installing network connections, and upgrading accessories for efficient operations... Show more	$24-44
   Network Engineer	A network engineer is responsible for managing a network system, monitoring its performance, and upgrading its features to optimize performance and boost efficiency. Network engineers also create new systems, designing them based on clients' specifications and business needs... Show more	$29-53

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cloud
   • Architecture
   • AWS
   • Linux
   • Project Management
   • Amazon Web Services
   • Java
   • Azure
   • Desktop
   • SAN
   • Troubleshoot
   • Virtualization
   • VMware
   • Employee Development

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and justify VDI with VMware view.
   • Manage vendor engagement for vmware consultation, design, and implementation.
   • Verse in configuring and managing Cisco routers, switches and VoIP networks.
   • Manage VPN solution (both appliance and Cisco router) with PKI for Verizon.
   • Manage security management system (SMS) integration projects for SPAWAR / DoD intelligence agencies.
   • Manage the successful delivery of new campus EMC storage, migrate from existing/older EMC hardware to newer hardware.

   More infrastructure lead duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your infrastructure lead job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An infrastructure lead salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, infrastructure leads' average salary in colorado is 41% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level infrastructure leads earn 48% less than senior-level infrastructure leads.
   • Certifications. An infrastructure lead with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an infrastructure lead's salary.

   Average infrastructure lead salary

   $118,378yearly

   $56.91 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level infrastructure lead salary

   $85,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 17, 2026

   Average infrastructure lead salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$155,848	$75
   2	New York	$131,718	$63
   3	Ohio	$128,340	$62
   4	North Carolina	$123,261	$59
   5	Arizona	$120,436	$58
   6	Washington	$118,302	$57
   7	Pennsylvania	$116,585	$56
   8	New Jersey	$116,040	$56
   9	Illinois	$115,968	$56
   10	Maryland	$115,630	$56
   11	Texas	$115,286	$55
   12	Florida	$111,166	$53
   13	Massachusetts	$108,265	$52
   14	New Mexico	$105,346	$51
   15	Alabama	$103,381	$50
   16	District of Columbia	$103,176	$50
   17	Minnesota	$101,800	$49
   18	Georgia	$101,511	$49
   19	Virginia	$100,227	$48
   20	Missouri	$99,400	$48

   Average infrastructure lead salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Thumbtack	$159,386	$76.63
   2	Citi	$149,585	$71.92	3
   3	World Fuel Services	$145,907	$70.15
   4	Cisco	$141,897	$68.22	153
   5	Genentech	$140,482	$67.54	5
   6	Dolby Laboratories	$139,549	$67.09	1
   7	Nike	$138,402	$66.54
   8	Amd	$138,368	$66.52	9
   9	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$138,070	$66.38	55
   10	Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc	$134,428	$64.63
   11	Intel	$133,809	$64.33	11
   12	ICONMA	$133,809	$64.33
   13	BJ Energy Solutions	$132,451	$63.68
   14	J. Morrissey & Company	$131,721	$63.33
   15	FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies	$130,283	$62.64	2
   16	TEKsystems	$130,048	$62.52	45
   17	Aon	$129,702	$62.36
   18	ASML Holding	$128,735	$61.89	1
   19	Kinsley Power Systems	$127,984	$61.53
   20	Morgan Stanley	$127,917	$61.50	55

4. Writing an infrastructure lead job description

   An infrastructure lead job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an infrastructure lead job description:

   Infrastructure lead job description example

   Building and property maintenance for all Drexel locations; includes 6 yard locations and 2 manufacturing sites. Also assists with yard efficiency updates including racking, carts, storage, etc. Work with each yard to ensure best practices of storage and racking solutions and incorporate the Drexel buying team to purchase racking and coordinate freight.

   
   

   Project Manager and General Contractor of projects; Coordinate all aspects of the project, secure bids on all project categories, work with subcontractors to coordinate a cohesive plan to maintain project schedule and deadlines

   
   

   Property development; Work with local municipalities for permits and developers agreements, in addition to work with civil engineers & surveyors on land development plans

   Work with brokers, attorneys, and surveyors to purchase new properties

   
   

   Collaborate with designers and architects for new building designs; coordinate efficient designs based on Drexel standards/needs with local ordinances. Submit designs and information to local municipalities or state agencies for review

   
   

   Responsible for mechanical maintenance programs for each location; sprinkler systems, fire detection alarm systems, HVAC systems, etc. Coordinate quarterly and annual inspections and preventative maintenance routines in addition to coordinating pricing and subcontractors in programs

   
   

   Manage snow removal, waste removal and lawncare & landscaping programs. Quote and price contracts. Review annually to ensure contract best pricing and quality of services.

   
   

   Performance Coaching, Training and Development; Investigates problems and issues that occur on the team and works to train team members and create preventable solutions to avoid similar issues in the future

   
   

   Heavy collaboration with head coaches, finance team, buyers, field solutions teams, operations and leadership

   
   

   Coordinate and maintain training plans and bootcamps, specific to the needs of the team

   
   

   Utilize exceptional communication skills to effectively work through issues, demonstrating listening skills, patience, and superb problem solving abilities and follow through.

   
   

   First and always, LIVE our team's culture and core values. Ethics, Respect, Balance, Change, Winning Attitude, Development, Teamwork, Have Fun, Accountability, Communication, Connection.

   
   

   ABOUT YOU

   Your core values align with ours

   You are the hardest working individual in the room

   Your favorite color is blue, or you are willing to make it blue!

   You strive to always be better than you were yesterday

   You are full of ideas and don't hoard them

   Your team's success is your success

   You use your time efficiently

   You bring out greatness in others

   You will always be young at heart!

   You laugh with life and enjoy the ride

   You get up faster than you got knocked down

   Uber Positive, Winning Attitude!

   
   

   YOUR PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE

   It would be great if your experience encompasses these four things:

   Your background involves putting customers first

   You have been a HUGE contributor to the success of a team

   You are known to be the point person for repairs and maintenance

   You are uniquely you and bring something to the table that no one else can. You have done some great things that don't necessarily fall into the career path above but that's what makes you cool! Tell us why you would be great for this job anyway!

   Are you able to fulfill all the requirements? We are sure you don't. You should apply anyway! We have the best training facilities and mentors anywhere. We can train you if you have the right personality.

   
   

   PM19

   Requirements:

   
   

   
   
   

   PI193798718

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find infrastructure leads for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your infrastructure lead job on Zippia to find and recruit infrastructure lead candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with infrastructure lead candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   If your interviews with infrastructure lead applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new infrastructure lead

   Once you've found the infrastructure lead candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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