Senior Data Center Technician

About the role

As a Microsoft Senior Data Center Technician, you will demonstrate expertise in standard processes and procedures for preparing, installing, performing diagnostics, troubleshooting, replacing, and/or decommissioning equipment, as well as a holistic understanding of the functions of, and interactions between, network and server equipment. You will provide input for suggested modifications to these processes and procedures to improve service quality and efficiency while guiding other technicians.

Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) powers our cloud services, delivering core infrastructure and foundational technologies for services including Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and the Microsoft Azure platform. CO+I offers professional development opportunities such as Career Rotation Programs, Diversity & Inclusion trainings, and professional certifications. Our global infrastructure includes over 200 data centers in 32 countries and millions of servers, supporting over 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses worldwide. Environmental sustainability is a priority in our data center design and operations.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and organization to achieve more. We foster a culture of inclusion, respect, integrity, and accountability. You may be required to travel domestically 0-25% of the time and work 12-hour shifts, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Microsoft is unable to sponsor a work visa for this role.

Responsibilities

• Datacenter Operations:
  • Comply with Data Center business unit policies, procedures, and deadlines with guidance from experienced technicians and/or management.
  • Escalate compliance or operational assurance issues to direct-line management.
  • Demonstrate expertise in standard processes for preparing, installing, diagnosing, troubleshooting, replacing, and decommissioning IT datacenter equipment.
  • Maintain expertise in the interactions between cabling infrastructure, network, server, and storage equipment.
  • Provide guidance to other technicians on process and procedure changes.
  • Review Process Change Notifications (PCNs) and share relevant information to evaluate workflow impact.
  • Resolve questions from others and escalate complex tickets as needed.
  • Complete assigned tickets efficiently and in alignment with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
  • Coordinate and assign tasks to other technicians to meet KPIs.
• Datacenter Work Environment:
  • Travel up to 25% domestically, including overnight stays.
  • Work 12-hour shifts, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
  • Occasional climbing of ladders; frequent climbing of stairs and ramps.
  • Prolonged standing; occasional lifting up to 25 lbs (11 kg) without assistance and 25-50 lbs (11-22.5 kg) with assistance.
  • Occasional pushing or pulling of 50-75 lbs (22.5-34 kg) with assistive devices.
  • Normal visual acuity and color vision (with correction) for electrical work.
  • Complete required security and data management training and comply with policies.
  • Escort third-party vendors or IT support on-premises and report security concerns.
  • Work in elevated levels of ambient noise, heat, and light due to equipment and ventilation systems.
  • Conduct or participate in daily safety briefings.
  • Complete Environmental & Health Safety (EHS) training and comply with safety procedures.
  • Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and complete Task Hazard Analysis (THAs).
  • Promote a culture of safety and report near-misses or incidents.
• Managing Service:
  • Complete required training aligned to job focus areas (e.g., Break fix, Deployment, Decommission).
  • Mentor and support training for other technicians through on-the-job training (OJT).
  • Maintain awareness of KPIs through reporting dashboards.
  • Escalate or seek guidance on client interactions.
  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of cross-functional Data Center processes.
• Service Delivery:
  • Provide guidance to less experienced technicians and develop execution strategies for assigned tasks.
  • Prepare, stage, and perform basic startups and shutdowns for hardware (e.g., racks, hard drives, switches).
  • Apply advanced diagnostics and troubleshooting to identify and resolve technical issues efficiently.
  • Maintain awareness of conditions that may impact customers or business operations.
  • Perform quality control and assess work compliance with standards.
  • Verify grounding, staging, labeling, and cabling align with safety protocols and Network Design Templates (NDTs).
  • Escalate errors in deployment standards or NDTs to relevant teams.
  • Communicate, report, and escalate technical or safety incidents.
  • Perform decommissions, simple changes (e.g., memory upgrades), complex changes (e.g., rack upgrades), and refreshes of infrastructure.
  • Process and verify compliance for data-bearing device (DBD) destruction.
• Team Collaboration:
  • Reinforce a positive team environment by sharing information and best practices.
  • Assist in cross-discipline collaborations and stay apprised of others' work status.
  • Provide and encourage feedback to enhance team efficiency.

Requirements

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent and basic knowledge of computer hardware and components.
• 2+ years of experience supporting IT equipment or related technology.
• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including passing the Microsoft Cloud Background Check every two years.
• Authorization to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate Degree in Computer Science or related field and/or equivalent work experience.
• 3+ years of experience supporting IT equipment or related technology.
• 2+ years of experience working in a production datacenter environment.