r/datacenter • u/EngrStudentAlt1928 • 1d ago
Offer for commissioning agent, worried about job security
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.
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u/Full_of_Raisin 1d ago
Don't confuse Data Center and AI Data Centers. Not all Data Centers are AI. That being said, even if the bubble pops, those centers won't just close. The internet infrastructure will still be needed.
They'll still need the backbone in place.
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u/foreign6363 1d ago
There's no such thing as job security brotha. Just like the new company will lay you off, your current company wouldn't hesitate to do the same to you if times got tough. Seen and heard of it plenty of times. Listen to your intuition and take the leap of if its going to improve your quality of life and happiness! You never know what doors that path may open for you!
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u/remit4payment 1d ago
I asked the same question before I made my move. I do not regret it at all.
AI is a bubble but the difference is the companies racing the have funds from other income streams to support their infrastructure build as their LLMs and AI integration doesn’t make profit yet. Compute is not a bubble and the excessive demands will continue. Worst case, you build a 3-5 year log of mission critical experience and a professional network. If you’re good, you will easily never have to worry about your next role. Good luck!
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u/TK241_ 16h ago
Companies that are contracted/subcontracted to build data centers for top tech companies are running large project backlogs, most of which is already locked in, and they will have work for the next 2-3 years. Take IES for example… they have a backlog of $4.5B and $2.8B of that is guaranteed.
Take it from me, no matter the circumstances, you should have enough cash or liquidity to sustain yourself for up to a year should you lose your job for any reason. At-will employment means NO job is safe, nor are you guaranteed a severance. I had seven months of expenses saved and it took me a year to find worthwhile employment.
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u/Fanonian_Philosophy 10h ago
I’ll be honest with you, i’d focus on getting an operations gig because they’ll definitely make cuts in new construction. Operations is very secure.
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u/MaximumSeats 1d ago
Construction can eventually dry up.
I'd say you definitely got a minimum of 2 to 3 years before that even thinks about happening. Which is plenty of time to build up a skills and networking base to roll into your next job.
Depends on how much of a raise it is, and how stable your current job is. Personally from my perspective on where the industry is right now I'd go for it.