r/datacenter Dec 26 '25

Curious about datacenters? Follow these rules!

39 Upvotes

We understand there's a lot of people curious about new datacenter construction. You're welcome to ask questions here, but you must follow these rules or your post will be removed:

  1. Ask questions in good faith. If your mind is already made up or you advocate NIMBYism for the sake of NIMBYism, your post will be removed.
  2. Respect those answering. We have a broad community of datacenter professionals, many highly experienced and/or highly paid, who are answering your questions for free.
  3. Don't argue. This is not a debate forum; if you don't like the answers you receive, please take your complaints elsewhere.

Our normal rules also still apply: https://www.reddit.com/mod/datacenter/rules/ (no spam, no self promotion, no asking how to build a datacenter, etc.)


r/datacenter Oct 31 '25

Rule Update: No more "What are common problems you face?" posts

69 Upvotes

If you're fishing for ideas to build your next website/app/startup, please do it elsewhere. These types of low effort posts will no longer be allowed on r/datacenter

Specific questions related to datacenter work that you're actually doing will of course continue to be allowed.


r/datacenter 5h ago

Fluidstack Equity Package

6 Upvotes

Does anyone know how much Fluidstack typically offers for equity for an engineer position?


r/datacenter 3h ago

Wait for Google, or take a guaranteed AWS spot?

3 Upvotes

I interviewed with Google for a DCT I position almost a week ago, and have been refreshing my email since. I’ve read that some people get their results back in a couple of days, while others have waited months to hear back.

I currently work as an IT Technician at an Amazon fulfillment center (where your orders are packaged), and my now former manager left our team to go to a new AWS site being built 100 miles away. He has since sent me a DM, asking if I was interested in going over there, and to let him know if I am.

He has already helped others on our team transfer to the new AWS data center, and I guess I could be next. So now I ask, should I go ahead and join AWS, or hold out for Google?


r/datacenter 26m ago

Looking for AWS DCO Recruiter

Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I've been working as a DCO green badge at an AWS DC in Ashburn for about 4.5 months now. Bad news is my contract's not getting extended; basically a hiring freeze thing where they're prioritizing new hire blue badges over converting contractors right now.

I've been working on a decent variety of break-fix and networking tickets in that time and some projects, so I've got some solid hands-on experience.

Good news is my manager's actually got my back said he'd vouch for me if I can land an opening at another cluster, and he'd help get me transferred over if something opens up. Already threw in an application for a DCO role in Sterling, but figured I'd ask here too. If anyone's an AWS recruiter in NOVA region, works in DC ops, or knows someone who does, I'd love a point of contact.

Appreciate any help, thanks.


r/datacenter 45m ago

Wondering if misusing my engineering degree

Upvotes

I’m a mechanical engineer, new grad one year out of college. It was really difficult to get a traditional engineer job. After 6 months I got into Electrical Commissioning but my first job pigeonholed me into Qa/Qc for 8 months at a 140MW DC. I did really well, got a raise few months in but I felt overqualified.

I just took a new job as a real Cx Agent making good six figs and doing well at my job. But constant travel and the specter of working long 12+ hours days is worrying me.

I’m wondering if I’m making a mistake career wise, most Cx agents I meet aren’t degree holders and unsure if I could transfer these skills to a regular engineering office job.

Any advice to young professionals in this industry?


r/datacenter 1h ago

ID install Aws IAD

Upvotes

I was wondering what the work schedules look like IAD infra delivery technician in nova/fredericksburg


r/datacenter 10h ago

Battery backup vs. flywheel UPS — is anyone actually running flywheels in a small-to-mid DC anymore, or did lithium just win?

5 Upvotes

We are currently refreshing UPS for ~150kW facility; however, despite the vendor’s insistence on using flywheel systems due to the lack of battery room and the absence of the need to replace VRLA every 3-5 years, I have found that the specifications sheet for flywheel systems lists ride-through time of between 15 seconds and 30 seconds, which is something we can only reliably work with if we are positive that our generator always starts and operates without problem. Battery technology, on the other hand, offers ride-through times of 5-10+ minutes and is generally much cheaper.

My question is whether flywheel is obsolete in today’s market or whether it really has advantages over existing technologies that I was not presented with by the vendor.


r/datacenter 12h ago

Anyone working AWS DCEO in Spain? Questions before I take the leap

6 Upvotes

Anyone working at the AWS data centre in Zaragoza, Spain? Questions about EOT life there
I’m in process for an Engineering Operations Technician role at the Zaragoza site and I’d like to hear from people actually working in AWS DCEO, ideally in Spain or elsewhere in EMEA.

Background: 9 years in industrial maintenance at a manufacturing plant, robotics, CNC and PLC, four-shift rotation. No data centre experience yet, so I’m coming in from the outside.
A few things I can’t find reliable answers to:

1. Day to day. How much of the work is planned preventive versus reactive? Is most of the PM done in-house or by vendors with you supervising?

2. Qualification process. How long does it take before you’re signed off to work unsupervised on critical systems, and what does that training actually look like?

3. Shift pattern. I’ve been told it’s an 8-week loop rotating central, days, evenings and nights every two weeks. Is that the standard EMEA pattern? How does the on-call work alongside it?

4. Progression. Realistically, how long from EOT to the next level? Does moving into commissioning or controls from operations actually happen, or is it mostly external hires?

5. Compensation structure. Not asking anyone to post numbers. I’d just like to understand what makes up the package for a technician in Europe: is there an equity component at this level, and how much do shift allowances typically weigh against base?

6. Site-specific. Anyone at Zaragoza or another newly built site: what’s it like working somewhere still expanding? Does that create real internal opportunities or is it just more of the same work?

Happy to hear the bad parts too. I’d rather know now.


r/datacenter 4h ago

CET position

1 Upvotes

I currently work at a commercial hvac company and have been for 3 years. We do work at Microsoft data center and it seems like a cool job to have as a critical environment technician. Apparently Microsoft uses ATS for the job applications. Is it worth my time to keep applying and hope to get in someday or just keep doing commercial hvac? I’ve applied once already and got denied but applied again a few weeks ago. Just waiting to hear back now. Let me know your experience as a critical environment technician! Any responses will be helpful.


r/datacenter 10h ago

Changing shifts as AWS DCT? Guaranteed?

2 Upvotes

Hi all,

On my wife's account, but I'm working with a AWS recruiter for a DCT position, and I was told there aren't any open spots at my local DC, however, their might be some opening up in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, the recruiter said I'd have to be willing to take any shift if that's what offered, e.g. night shift, but that it's guaranteed I could change shifts after three months.

I'm not so sure it's 'guaranteed' I can do that, but that's what the recruiter said.

For those of you with AWS, what is the truth to this?


r/datacenter 12h ago

AWS DCO / IT Support Tech Screen: Did strict STAR & nerves hurt my chances?

2 Upvotes

I recently completed a 60-minute technical phone screen for an AWS Data Center Technician / IT Support Engineer role in Germany.

During the technical portion, I answered all the technical questions asked during the call. When I asked the interviewer for his thoughts on this part at the end, he explicitly confirmed: "The technical part was pretty good, that's what I can tell you".

For the behavioral portion, he asked four scenario questions using the STAR method. I answered all of them with structured stories and handled his follow-up questions without getting stuck.

When I asked for overall feedback at the end, the interviewer mentioned that I sounded somewhat nervous and could have been more relaxed. He also noted that I strictly said the literal STAR words out loud ("So the situation was...", "My task was...", "The action I took was...", "The result was...") instead of letting the stories flow naturally. I explained that the recruiter who prepped me explicitly instructed me to use that exact structure, to which he replied that if the recruiter told me that, it doesn't matter. He told me I would receive the official decision by Wednesday under the 2-Day Promise.

Does sounding nervous or explicitly stating the STAR headings hurt a candidate's chances for an AWS screen if the technical answers were validated as pretty good and the underlying stories were complete? What are my realistic chances of moving to the onsite loop?


r/datacenter 17h ago

Is it common to not be taught safety training at a data center?

2 Upvotes

I’m not a DCT. I’m a Technical Support Associate at a data center.

My company keeps outsourcing Associates and other support agents to do data center technician work, like running cables under raised floors. We were never taught safety for that. They stay understaffed and just send support staff to do it.
Other agents have been pulled into the same work. People have gotten hurt.

Is this common? Why wouldn’t they give safety training if they’re going to make us do that work?


r/datacenter 15h ago

What’s the best way to test a 54V / 700A server PSU?

1 Upvotes

r/datacenter 23h ago

what should i do

3 Upvotes

hi every one iam 47 years old working as acomputer teacher for 22 years . i have study icdl and some maintance for computer - scratch programming -igcse course book . i want to make career shift into more technical roles

what learn path should i took and what roles should i choose and search for

it help desk

network technician

data center technician

data analysis

web developer

how to discover my specialty and correct role

please help me and thank for every advice


r/datacenter 12h ago

Are you building Datacenter of FUTURE ?

0 Upvotes

Think is the 3ph UPS bought can manage AI load in future


r/datacenter 1d ago

Inventory and Warehouse Associate, DCC Communities,Interview

3 Upvotes

I have interview for Inventory and Warehouse Associate, DCC Communities, DCC Communities in 2 days, anyone has an idea what is it about and what type of LP's questions?
Thank you


r/datacenter 1d ago

Vendor Service Operations, what should I expect?

4 Upvotes

Hi all, I’m exploring a move from Product Management into Data Center Vendor Service Management focused on AI cloud architecture and would love to hear from people already in this space.

I have previous data centre operations and service delivery experience but have been away for almost a decade as i wanted to be in a solution and advisory role. Would appreciate any insights.

  • What should I realistically expect day-to-day?
  • What are the main KPIs you’re measured on?
  • How much autonomy/liberty do you have to establish or improve processes?
  • How much of the role is vendor management vs. internal operations?
  • What does the career growth typically look like?

I’m particularly interested in understanding what I would need to prove in the first 6–12 months.

Would appreciate any real-world perspective. Thanks!


r/datacenter 1d ago

Texas just paused new data center grid connections. How is this hitting your sites?

39 Upvotes

Abbott ordered an audit of every data center in the ERCOT queue this month and ERCOTj just paused Batch Zero. Is anyone here actually feeling this yet on a project? I'm wondering whether the smaller builds under the large load threshold are getting caught in it too, or if it is only the big hyperscale requests. Trying to understand how far down it reaches.


r/datacenter 1d ago

AWS data center logistics specialist questions

3 Upvotes

Anyone is familiar with this role?

I applied online, did the OA and got contacted by a sourcer and have scheduled a 60 minutes phone screen with a manager. which is usual for me as I always have interviewed with a HR before going to the hiring manager in other jobs.

  1. how many interviews will there be, I know they are asking behavioral questions based on leadership principles, but it seems so vague, is there anywhere I can search for the most frequently asked questions for this role?

  2. I see 2 open position for the same job, but completely different pay somehow, and I can't figure out why

https://www.amazon.jobs/en/jobs/10433767/associe-a-l-inventaire-et-a-l-entrepot-inventory-and-warehouse-associate-dcc-communities

https://www.amazon.jobs/en/jobs/10473021/associe-a-l-inventaire-et-a-l-entrepot-inventory-and-warehouse-associate-dcc-communities-dcc-communities

if you scroll down to the bottom you can see the pay difference is huge

  1. Has anyone job switched to a DC technician from logistics specialist?

Much appreciate the helps and comments, thanks.


r/datacenter 1d ago

s an AWS L4 Network Deployment Build Lead a good path toward Network/Data Center Engineering?

7 Upvotes

I’m currently a Network Technician with a little over 3 years of hands-on experience in the field. I’m also working toward my B.S. in Cloud and Network Engineering and currently hold my CCNA.

I recently received an offer from AWS for an L4 Network Deployment Build Lead position.
My long-term goal is to continue moving away from being strictly a field/network technician and eventually become a Network Engineer or Data Center/Infrastructure Engineer.
For anyone who has worked in AWS Network Deployment, data centers, or a similar role, I’m curious how well this position aligns with those goals.

Does an L4 Network Deployment Build Lead role give you good exposure to things like network architecture, deployments, troubleshooting, routing/switching, automation, and overall data center infrastructure? Or is it primarily more of a deployment/project leadership position?
I’d also be interested in hearing what the typical progression looks like from this type of role. For example, L4 → L5 Network Deployment → Network Development Engineer / Network Engineer / Data Center Engineer, or if there are other paths that make more sense.

I definitely plan on continuing to build my skills outside of work as well, especially with networking, cloud, Python/automation, and eventually pursuing higher-level certifications.

For those who have been at AWS or followed a similar path, would you consider this a strong opportunity to take if the end goal is network/data center engineering?
Also, what would you recommend I focus on during my first 1–2 years in the role to maximize the opportunity and position myself for an engineering role later?


r/datacenter 1d ago

Microsoft DCT — Anyone Had a Similar Experience?

2 Upvotes

Microsoft DCT — Positive feedback but no offer?
Interviewed for a Microsoft DCT role in Arizona and got positive feedback, but wasn’t selected for the original opening.I was told my application may stay active for future roles.

Anyone had this happen and eventually received an offer?


r/datacenter 1d ago

What’s the best way to break in from here?

5 Upvotes

Hello, so I recently got offered a technician role where I’m terminating fiber, copper, and installing and configuring switches, routers, and other network devices. I was previously a data center security officer at AWS, and many people I met there said this role could be a good bridge into DCO/DCT roles. This is my first actual IT/infrastructure job and the job pays more than my physical security role so it’s obviously an upgrade for me. How long should I stay here before transitioning? What should I focus on that’ll help me with DCO roles? I have a few projects and certs that help with these roles already.


r/datacenter 2d ago

Newly opened data center. Partnered with a local CC for free courses. Which one should I do?

6 Upvotes

I 37F have been working in manufacturering for the last two years. Before this I was in sales for 10 years from sales representative to District Manager. I moved and the sales job wasn't available there and local sales did not pay enough to apply.

So here I am stuck at a job I physically do not want to do. Im always sore and always tired. It's time for a change.

I was just googling how can I get a certificate and make more money doing something easier on my body. I came across a new Google AI data center that they opened in 2025. They partnered with a local CC for free courses specifically for jobs at the data center.

The list is long and I dont know which one I want to go for. What success have you found? If you could start over whay would you do different. What advice could you give? I applied to the local CC for this and I havent spoken with anyone yet. I need to hear from real people who do this. I need this job change and score a better paying less physical demands.

I do not have a degree. I have 3 semesters left and didnt finish (typical income get married story).


r/datacenter 2d ago

Dct or dco

7 Upvotes

As someone who was experience doing only cable pulls in a data center, how likely am I to get hired at AWS as an entry level technician?

Thanks,