Data Center Technician

$34,000 - $34,000/Yr

Microsoft - Bristow, VA

Full-time - Entry Level

Bristow, VA

10,001+ employees

Publishing Industries

About the position

As a Data Center Technician (DCT) at Microsoft, you will play a crucial role in the operations of our data centers, which are the backbone of our cloud services. This position is designed for individuals who are eager to learn and develop their skills in a fast-paced environment. You will receive guidance from experienced colleagues as you familiarize yourself with standard processes and procedures for preparing, installing, performing diagnostics, troubleshooting, replacing, and decommissioning IT equipment. This role offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a critical area of technology, contributing to the infrastructure that supports services like Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and Microsoft Azure. In this position, you will be part of a team that is dedicated to the personal and professional development of its members. Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) team emphasizes training and growth opportunities, including Career Rotation Programs, Diversity & Inclusion trainings, and professional certifications. You will work in a global environment, supporting a vast portfolio of data centers and millions of servers, all while adhering to the highest standards of security and data management. The role also emphasizes environmental sustainability, ensuring that our operations meet the evolving demands of the business while maintaining our commitment to being a world-class cloud provider. Your responsibilities will include understanding the interactions between various technologies, complying with data center policies, and efficiently completing assigned tasks. You will also learn about effective execution strategies for hardware setups and perform basic diagnostics and troubleshooting under supervision. Safety is paramount in this role, and you will participate in daily safety briefings and adhere to all safety protocols. This position is ideal for those looking to accelerate their career in technology while contributing to a culture of respect, integrity, and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Develop an understanding of standard processes and procedures for preparing, installing, performing diagnostics, troubleshooting, replacing, and/or decommissioning IT datacenter technology and equipment.
• Review Process Change Notifications (PCNs) and understand the impact on work execution.
• Comply with Data Center business unit policies, procedures, and deadlines with guidance from experienced technicians.
• Complete assigned tickets efficiently and in alignment with relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Prepare, stage, set up, and perform basic startups and shutdowns for hardware according to specific written instructions.
• Learn about post-execution verification of grounding, staging, labeling, and cabling to align with safety protocols.
• Perform basic diagnostics and troubleshooting to identify technical issues and replace faulty components.
• Communicate, report, and escalate data center technical or safety-related incidents to direct-line management.
• Directly perform decommissions, simple changes, and refreshes of infrastructure cabling, network, storage, and server equipment.
• Maintain an awareness of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) through reporting dashboards.

Requirements

• Basic understanding of IT datacenter technology and equipment.
• Ability to follow standard operating procedures and safety protocols.
• Willingness to learn and develop technical skills under supervision.
• Good communication skills to report and escalate issues effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with hardware setups and configurations.
• Familiarity with data center operations and management.
• Basic knowledge of networking concepts and cabling infrastructure.

Benefits

• Career Rotation Programs
• Diversity & Inclusion trainings
• Professional certifications
• Opportunities for personal and professional development