Data Center Technician

About the Role

As a Data Center Technician (Nightshift), you will develop an understanding of standard processes and procedures for preparing, installing, performing diagnostics, troubleshooting, replacing, and/or decommissioning equipment under the guidance of more experienced Data Center colleagues. This role allows you to develop an understanding of the Data Center environment, familiarize yourself with security and data management procedures, and accelerate your career growth. You will perform a key role in delivering the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's online services including Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and the Microsoft Azure platform.

Key Responsibilities

Datacenter Operations

• Comply with Data Center business unit policies, procedures, and deadlines with guidance.
• Review Process Change Notifications (PCNs) and understand their impact on work execution.
• Complete assigned tickets efficiently and in alignment with relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Develop an understanding of standard processes for preparing, installing, performing diagnostics, troubleshooting, replacing, and/or decommissioning IT datacenter technology and equipment.
• Acquire a fundamental understanding of the functions and interactions of cabling infrastructure, network, server, and storage equipment.

Datacenter Work Environment

• Complete required security and data management training and comply with related procedures/policies.
• May escort third-party vendors or IT support on-premises.
• Report physical security access concerns and/or incidents.
• Work for extended periods under elevated levels of ambient noise, heat, and light.
• Contribute to a positive and effective team environment by sharing information and partnering with other shifts.
• Participate in daily safety briefings and complete required Environmental & Health Safety (EHS) training.
• Comply with safety procedures (e.g., equipment use, lifting, electrical hazards, ladder/rolling stair use).
• Complete required Task Hazard Analysis (THAs) and use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Adhere to and promote a culture of safety, proactively alerting others to safety concerns, near-misses, and/or incidents.
• Participate in proactive safety observation reporting processes.

Managing Service

• Escalate and/or seek guidance regarding client interactions.
• Maintain awareness of KPIs through reporting dashboards for personal performance discussions.
• Develop an understanding of cross-functional Data Center processes to support partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Complete required training aligned to job focus areas (e.g., Break fix, Deployment, Simple Change, Decommission, IT Critical Environment).
• Observe experienced technicians for hands-on experience and relevant on-the-job training (OJT).
• May complete additional training to obtain or maintain relevant industry or technical certifications.

Service Delivery

• Perform basic diagnostics and troubleshooting with guidance to identify causes of technical issues and replace faulty components in network, storage, or server equipment with zero-to-minimal disruption.
• Develop awareness of conditions that may reflect significant customer or business impact within the Data Center environment.
• Develop an understanding of effective execution order strategies for assigned tasks.
• Prepare, stage, set up, and perform basic startups and shutdowns for hardware according to specific written instructions.
• May perform tasks in tandem with other technicians to comply with procedures and safety requirements.
• Directly perform decommissions, simple changes (e.g., memory upgrades, OS rebuilds), and refreshes of infrastructure cabling, network, storage, and server equipment.
• Process data-bearing devices (DBDs) for destruction or confirm identification for eradication/destruction.
• Communicate, report, and escalate data center technical or safety-related incidents.
• May participate in bridge calls and execute on-site follow-up actions.
• Learn about post-execution verification of grounding, staging, labeling, and cabling.
• Learn about errors in deployment standards or Network Design Templates (NDTs) and escalate for corrections.

Other

• Embody company culture and values.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Ability to work 12-hour shifts, including assignments during non-standard business hours (evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays).
• Ability to travel up to 25% typically domestically to and from multiple locations during the workday, and occasionally domestically for overnight stays.
• Occasional climbing of ladders.
• Frequent climbing of stairs and/or ramps.
• Prolonged standing.
• Occasional lifting up to 25lbs / 11kg without assistance.
• Occasional lifting 25-50lbs / 11-22.5kg with lift assistance.
• Occasional push or pull 50-75 lbs / 22.5-34kg with assistive device.
• Normal visual acuity (near, far, and peripheral with correction).
• Normal color vision for electrical work.

Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent and basic knowledge of computer hardware and components.
• OR equivalent experience.

Other Requirements

• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements.
• Must pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
• Citizenship verification is required due to citizenship-based legal restrictions supporting U.S. federal, state, and/or local government agency customers.
• Must have authorization to work in the United States that does not now or in the future require employer sponsorship.