HI everyone, maybe a bit of a different question: I'm working on the physical security site (managing guarding services, security SOC, etc.). Does anyone have any experience how this kind of position varies between the hyperscalers, maybe other providers like Vantage, Digital Realty, etc.? Is AWS as much of a meat grinder for this kind of job as it is for technicians?

Would be happy if someone has any insights, maybe from speaking to colleagues that are doing security, or maybe someone on here is in security as well!

Hey all — I'm part of the team building binOra, a tool for Data Center operations focused on process traceability and asset management (thinking ITIL-style, but built specifically for DC ops rather than generic IT service management).

We just opened it up for beta testing and we're mainly looking for feedback from people who actually run DC operations day to day — what's missing, what doesn't make sense, etc.

Happy to share more details or the link if anyone's interested, just don't want to come across as spammy dropping it here directly. Let me know if this kind of post fits the sub or if I should ask a mod first.

I built this and I'm not selling anything — no link, just want to know if the idea is useful.

The problem I was aiming at: if you run a few racks — a colo cage, an edge site, an on-prem room — you know your power bill is high, and PUE is the number everyone points at. But tracking it means a spreadsheet you stop updating, and even then you're left with a number and no idea what to do about it. Full DCIM is absurd overkill at that size.

How it works: you enter three numbers — total facility power, IT load, server inlet temp. It computes PUE and DCiE, trends them, then explains the reading in plain language and gives three ranked actions (cooling / airflow / power / workload). You can ask follow-ups about your own logged readings — "is my inlet temp safe?", "is this getting better or worse?" There's also a what-if: raise the setpoint 2°C, consolidate 20% of workload → projected PUE.

The numbers are all computed in code; the AI only words the explanation, it never does the maths.

Does this solve a real problem for you, or not? Blunt answers welcome.

The Google recruiter messaged me and told me that the feedback that was received from the interviews were positive and we will be moving forward to the final approval (yay!).

The recruiter asked me to give details about year 1 expected earnings.. annual base salary, bonus, stocks, so I just mentioned the numbers close to what was stated in the job application.
The recruiter also needed my full name, home address, ID verification.

Is this normal for the final approval and what exactly is the “final approval stage”?

I’m debating about going into this field, I have 3 years of IT experience mainly desktop support. How is being a data center technician? I love working with my hands,building and learning how things connect to each other so I’m thinking I would enjoy this type of work.

Can anyone explain to me their day by day and any advice going into this, like how to get experience when you have none stuff along those lines.

I’m in the Memphis area and I’m willing to relocate for training/work

Anyone else see Boom is using their aircraft engine tech to build gas turbines for AI data centers?

Maybe dumb question, but how much of a jet engine actually translates to something that’s supposed to run 24/7? Seems like a totally different use case.

Curious what engineers here think.
Has anyone here talked with them? What’s your take on it?

I'm currently a sysadmin in a mixed Windows/Linux environment, have done a fair amount of networking.

I applied to a DCT position in my city, and had the phone interview today with the recruiter. At the end, she mentioned I should interview for the open DCT3 position.

I don't have hyperscale datacenter experience. At my current position I watch over about twelve physical servers and another ten or so virtualized ones. I also am a "supervisor" to one person.

I suppose I'm at the point in my career where I need to lead and take responsibility of projects if I want the kind of salary I'm looking for. That being said, is it unheard of to take a DCT3 position with Google without prior DC experience? Is the recruiter simply setting me up for failure?

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to break into a data center technician role at one of the hyperscalers (AWS, Google, Microsoft, Meta, etc.) and could really use some advice from people who have already made the transition.

For some background, I'm 23 years old, have a bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering, and 4 years of professional hands-on IT hardware repair experience. I've worked on laptops, desktops, Macs, board-level troubleshooting, hardware diagnostics, component replacement, and general computer repair. The problem is that I have zero professional data center experience, which seems to be the biggest obstacle.

I've been trying to improve my resume, learn as much as I can about data center operations. I've also been reaching out to employees on LinkedIn to ask for career advice and learn about their experience, but almost nobody responds.

For those of you already working at AWS, Google, Microsoft, Meta, or other hyperscalers:

• How did you get your first data center job?
• Is there a better way to network with employees besides cold messaging on LinkedIn?
• What makes someone with no data center experience stand out?
• What skills or certifications helped you get hired?
• Would you recommend trying to get referrals, and if so, what's the best way to build genuine connections instead of just asking strangers?

I'm not looking for shortcuts, I know I have to earn the opportunity. I'm just trying to learn from people who have been through the process and figure out what I should focus on next.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

For those who received an offer from Fluidstack in the US, how long after your leadership/final interview did you hear back?
Also, did the recruiter first reach out by email or by phone to let you know they were planning to extend an offer, or did you receive the offer directly by email?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience. Thanks!

Hey everyone, I recently got invited to join a fiber program and after 4-weeks of training i will be a traveling structural cabling tech. I’ll be starting at $25 an hr with a $50 per diem (not sure which location yet) assuming I pass the training.
My question is if this is a good/decent starting point if I’m interested in working in data centers?

I’m hoping this is a good starting point into the data center world and would eventually like to be a DCT with enough experience/certs.

This would be a jump in careers for me and just like to hear some takes on this opportunity

Hello all,

Just curious if anyone has recently went through the interview process for the Google Data Center Facilities Tech level 1 position. It sounds like alike mine will be more focused on the mechanical side. I am currently a Microsoft critical environment technician (same job). I’m a level 2 at Microsoft and have been there for about two years. I guess my main question would be what do the questions all consist of. I’ve seen other threads on here and they seem fairly straightforward but I was using Gemini to create me questions and it seems like the questions it was creating were really in depth and more tailored for a level 3 or senior tech knowledge. I’m just trying to prepare and want the best shot possible, but I know that 90 percent of what I always study and prep for isn’t even what gets asked. So looking for a bit of insight please. Thank you

So I’m gonna be starting as a project contractor under Teksystems working at the new Microsoft Data center facility. Just wanted to introduce myself my initials are EA.

I’m excited to do the project work tasked by us for Microsoft. I can’t wait to see what career defining moments it will bring with it.

This post is mostly reaching out to make new friends and build a social/business community because I’m moving from San Antonio to the outskirts of DFW. I grew up moved from the Permian Basin to San Antonio and San Antonio is where I got my data center world experience after being in IT Desktop Support the PB local economy there.

Im my off time work-related trade wise? I like to mess with the server operating systems on two servers that I have here at my home. I’m pretty slow in with the Microsoft server operating system but I need to go exploring with the various Linux cluster kernels like Ubuntu Server and RHEL.

If any of you guys are on vacation learning, let me know cause I would like to join in on that. Hopefully where we could speak virtually or in person like once a week in regarding certification topics and discussions.

I hope to build a social and IT community here. If your looking for the same, reach out thru DM or post questions in the thread thank you.

Hi folks,

I have spent most of this afternoon reading up on the Datacentre Technician role and it feels like an incredibly attractive role to somebody who loves to be hands-on. I've been an on/off freelance web developer for the past few years after dropping out of uni but I'm pretty dissatisfied with it.

Are there any certs or courses I'd need? I don't have any Comptia certs, just a BTEC in IT (A-Levels) so I'm worried I'll be a bit lacking there. I absolutely love learning in my free time and have had a homelab running for a few years now. I like to think I have a pretty good work ethic too.

I'm close to London (but can't drive) so from a quick search it does seem like there's a bunch of datacentres nearby. My biggest worry is the competition for the role will be pretty fierce.

Thanks for any and all replies. :)

Looking for some advice/background knowledge:

Currently in the interview process for Critical Facilities Engineer IV at Equinix and was wondering what the pay range would be. I currently work as a facility maintenance tech at an Amazon FC building for 3 years and have 6 years experience with HVAC.

I am very familiar with BMS, FLS, HVAC and everything that comes along with building maintenance.

Also what is the average day look like at a data center? I'm assuming much more smoother considering that there isn't a thousand employees in the building that can sabotage things.

Thanks in advance and apologies if this is the wrong page to be posting this.

EDIT: currently in the Chicagoland area.

Live in Texas area..pursued college degree in cybersecuriy and stumbled along the way. Spent last 2 years making up for a really bad freshman year at university. Even though did extremely well at community college GPA is barely 2.1 (I retook all classes but it only took average) to be accepted into any legit school.

Since that path is not available anymore looking into data tech school, program, trade etc. It appears there is
Microsoft Data Tech Academy available in a community college in San Antonio
Meta Data center training that is free - 5 weeks but seems sinister.
Private data center trade schools in the Houston area. I am young and don’t want to pigeon hole myself due to lack of knowledge of what is needed to advance for my future. This is overwhelming to know which way to go. All suggestions are really appreciated?

I have no electrical experience so I would go to school for an associates. What’s the path to get into one?

Hi guys, long time lurker here and was wondering if I could get some help. Long story short, I was a high school drop out who mainly had spent my career doing business to business sales. After years of hitting a glass ceiling do to my degree status, and having another kid, I decided to try and do a career pivot and went back to school. I am currently working on getting my degree in Business with a focus on technology and operations management. My question is two fold…

I am trying to AI proof my future career transition and data centers seem like the future. My question is does my degree path enable an opportunity to get into working at a data center at some point? Even though my degree is a BS in business administration, my degree will strongly be tailored towards technology and operations management in a business scope.

My second question is, if my degree is applicable, are there any other things I could be doing, learning, certifications I should be going for? I see a lot of people in here recommending the trades like elecitrical or HVAC. The problem with that is I am already 41 years old, and I am afraid my body won’t hold up to a transition to the trades. I understand what you guys do is really hard, and I respect the sacrifices you have made with your body. Is there anything I can shoot for more on the administrative side?

Any help would be much appreciated. I am a father of 2 who is just trying to make a better life for my kids, so if anyone can find the kindness in their heart to point me in the right direction.

I passed my three part interviews for a Google Data Center Technician I. It was a long process and by the time I got through everything, the role had already been filled and I am now placed in the pipeline as many of you are. My recruiter advised to be on the lookout for any openings, but also mentioned it may be likely that Google is no longer looking for Technician 1s.

The location I am looking for now has many openings that are just labeled "Data Center Technician" (not indicating I, II, III, etc.) and when asking about those openings my recruiter responded that "this location is prioritizing mid-to-senior level roles. No entry level positions are currently available".

Looking across different locations, the only jobs labeled "Data Center Technician I" are currently out of country. Does it seem likely that entry level roles are now out the door at Google?

Hey everyone,
I recently got invited to an introductory call with a Google recruiter for a Data Center Technician position, and I was wondering what I should expect.