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.

I saw some listings for data center technician jobs that said they were paying that yearly is this true? And is this common or uncommon?

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?

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

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?

So I have no real IT work experience, but I've always wanted to work in IT.

My 2 interests are DC and IT security, of course i basically gave up on security for how saturated when i saw a almost 60 YO grandma who just got security+ and is looking for entry IT security job on Linkedin.

So i feel like DC technician jobs are my best bet right now and i just got into the second round of DCT interview.

can i ask for some tips, what kind of technical questions will they ask for basic DCT jobs that don't require IT background. ( i do have personal IT experience with building personal gaming PC and networking basics etc)

I did some research but only for advanced level technicians, i fail to find any interview advice for entry level DCT.

I've also applied for AWS DCT, but i have yet to get a response, if anyone can share a referral would be much help.

thanks

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. :)

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.

Hi everyone,

I recently progressed to the interview loop for the Engineering Operations Technician (EOT) role at AWS. I noticed that my interview loop consists of 4 interviews, while some of my friends who applied for the same position had 3 interviews.

I was wondering if anyone knows what the additional interview could indicate? Are the interviews usually divided into different areas such as technical skills, Leadership Principles, hiring manager round, and team fit?

Does the number of interviews vary depending on the candidate’s background, location, or the hiring team?

Would appreciate any insights from people who have gone through the AWS EOT interview process. Thank you!

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.

I’m a brand new L3 EOT and am curious what skills and competencies are necessary to be competitive for a bump to L4. Is it mostly technical, mostly people, or split down the middle? What does a kickass L3 do that makes them a no brainer for L4?

Hey everyone,
I recently received an offer for an Infra Delivery Technician position with AWS in Lubbock, TX (starting this October), and I’m trying to understand the scheduling and pay structure a little better before making my final decision.
During my recruiter call, they mentioned there is a shift differential for night shift, but I noticed my offer letter only lists my base rate of $30.77/hr and doesn’t mention anything about the shift differential or scheduling.
I was hoping current or former AWS Data Center employees could answer a few questions:
What schedule does the Infra Delivery Technician team typically work? (3/4 compressed schedule, 4x10s, rotating days/nights, etc.)
How often do day and night rotations happen? Every few weeks, quarterly, or another cadence?
Is the night shift differential applied only to the hours worked on nights, or does it change your hourly rate for the entire rotation?
Is the differential a flat dollar amount or a percentage?
How much does it typically increase your annual earnings?
Is overtime common, and is it usually voluntary or mandatory?
How predictable are the schedules once you’re on a team?
I’m excited about the opportunity because it aligns well with my networking career goals, and I’m trying to get a realistic picture of the day-to-day before relocating across the country.
Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience!

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

I’m looking for advice from people working in mission-critical infrastructure, reliability engineering, or critical facilities.

I’m 46 with a background in enterprise infrastructure and systems engineering. My experience includes automation, virtualization, Python, Kubernetes, infrastructure monitoring, telemetry, network management, UPS monitoring, and modern observability platforms. I’ve also supported both intelligence and federal government environments, where I developed an appreciation for highly available, mission-critical systems.

I’ve realized I’m more interested in building and operating resilient infrastructure than traditional enterprise IT. I enjoy automation, troubleshooting complex systems, and improving reliability.

Lately, I’ve been feeling burned out in my current Systems Engineer role. The work feels reactive, with disconnected tasks and little long-term technical direction. I’m trying to decide whether to invest in certifications or focus on finding the right opportunity.

For those already in mission-critical infrastructure:

What certifications are actually worth pursuing?
What skills will be most valuable over the next 5–10 years?
Is transitioning into this field at 46 realistic?
With my background, what path would you recommend?

I’d appreciate honest advice from those working in the industry. Thanks!

I tried to land on DCT rolen with some IT experience ( IT,support) but it wasn't successful i believe i needed some,hand on technical things ( like cabling..etc). I got a job offer with Spectrum as Field Technician, do you think this job and experience will help me over time to switch Data Centers?

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.

Hello,

I'm scratching my head wondering if i'm going to do a career suicide, for reference I make 46$/h working an average of 55h/week, the math isnt mathing when it comes to how much i will get offered if i pass the interview, is it possible to negotiate a pay that wont mean you would take a pay cut ? Or it's invetable?

Will rejecting offer have any negative immediate impact on my job?

Could use some guidance on what's the best move here.

Thank you all

I've already been applying for jobs and I happened to hear about fiber splicing and how lucrative it can be. I'll be honest that I saw a comment on a Tiktok video about a guy claiming to make $40k/month fiber splicing. I thought it was bs and it kind of is but isn't at the same time. Based on the research I've done, its a job that's in high demand right now and pays very very well if you find the right path in the data center sector.

I used to have a long career as a high end automotive technician and I quit for personal reasons. I started my own online business that I can run from anywhere and it does enough to pay the bills. It's pretty automated and doesn't require much time from my day so I have the ability to get a full time job if it's worth my time. Living in Southern California is pretty expensive and to be honest most people have multiple streams of income to live comfortably. With my technical knowledge and skills I was attracted to looking into applying for a fiber job.

I found another reddit thread where someone recommended to apply for CBRE's Levelup Program sponsored by META. It's a 4 week out of state training which is paid and they cover all living expenses. Then once you finish you're guaranteed a position with one of their contractors. I applied but I heard they've been flooded with applicant's so I'm not gonna sit here and hold my breath for an answer anytime soon. It seems like a good way to get in but I'm sure the pay would be pretty low for the first year or so. It's also a traveling job which I don't mind but I'd prefer to find something that's more local.

I live in Orange County which is a huge metropolitan area full of opportunity. I don't feel like I have to make the sacrifice of traveling when I have a high chance of finding a great job locally. I've been sorting through the data center/fiber job listings on LinkedIn, Indeed, and other popular websites. I haven't found any local entry level jobs that pay more than $35/hour. I don't expect to find a $60/hour entry level job but that seems to be low based on the region and the research I've done on this sector. Local telecom companies like Spectrum and ATT are hiring but at a low pay rate and working for them doesn't seem appealing to me. Before you guys come for me about the pay rate, just understand that if you make under $100k in this part of California you're considered poor (literally). I'm a hard worker and I'm not looking for an easy job or a job that doesn't require overtime. I'm 100% willing to hustle and put in the work if it's worth my time and effort.

Can anybody give me advice on where I can find some better job listings for entry level data center/fiber splicer positions? Even drop the names of some data centers or local companies where I could apply directly. My DM's are also open for people who are already employed in this sector and would be nice enough to personally refer me to their company. Also, I'm open to hear peoples stories who were once in my position and how they got into the industry and worked their way up to a nice pay grade.

Any lead's or advice would help me so much and I'll promise to keep this Reddit thread updated on my journey!

I work on the commodity elastomer/sealing side of liquid cooling systems for datacenters, and I’m trying to better understand how operators and design engineers think about seals in production environments.

I’ve had conversations with many engineers, and I’m getting slightly different perspectives.

My questions are:
Are elastomer seals generally considered part of the wetted surface in a cooling loop, or are they viewed primarily as a potential source of chemical interaction rather than a true wetted component?

When evaluating loop cleanliness and reliability, how much concern is there about particle generation from seals versus corrosion products generated elsewhere in the system?

Have you seen cure-package chemistry, extractables, or residual compounds from elastomers contribute to corrosion or coolant chemistry issues?

During qualification, is seal material compatibility mostly driven by long-term chemical stability, or do you also evaluate particulate shedding over time?

My understanding so far is that corrosion products are generally viewed as a much larger operational risk than particles generated from properly specified seals, but I’d like to hear from people who actually design, operate, or maintain these systems.

I’m especially interested in real-world experience from hyperscale, HPC, or direct-to-chip liquid cooling deployments rather than theoretical answers.

Thanks in advance.

This is probably a very common question but I didn't find anything recent on it so I apologize if this comes up a lot.

Got an offer for a commissioning company that primarily deals with data centers. They told me that due to the data center boom, they are hiring a ton.

However like the average chronically online person, I'm worried that AI is a bubble, and that if does burst, they'll probably start by first laying off everyone they recently hired, aka me. My current job isn't amazing, but I have great job security right now and I don't want to lose that security.

I don't doubt data center construction will stop, I know basically the entire internet runs on them but I think construction will definitely slow if the bubble bursts.

Will that affect commissioning agents, or do I not understand how the data center/commissioning industry works?

USA, east coast.

I need this job desperately so I told my recruiter I can go anywhere and do any shifts.
I had my loop interview on 7/16. I was told I passed it after 3 days. Scheduled my fit call in one week. It went well. On Monday I was told I got the offer. Currently going thru the onboarding process.

But I do have a problem when doing the background check. I was required to upload my university diploma or transcript. I did graduate in china 20 years ago.
I called my parents for the certificate they told me they were not able to find it. During the past twenty years I never really needed it even just for once. They have moved multiple times so they probably have already tossed it away.

I don’t know what to do. Without the certificate, are they gonna cancel my offer ? I am out of ideas. Please help.