Microsoft—Data Center Technician

Job description

Description: Overview As a Microsoft Data Center Technician (DCT), you will stage, set up and perform hardware deployments. In addition, you will also perform troubleshooting and diagnostics on equipment, as well as perform hardware decommissions for simple changes and refreshes following Standard Operating Procedures. This opportunity will allow you to deepen your understanding of Data Center standard processes and procedures, develop mentoring skills while providing guidance to peers, familiarizing yourself with security and data management procedures, and accelerate your career growth in the process. Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers our cloud services. As a CO+I DCT, 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. As a group, CO+I is focused on the personal and professional development of all employees and offers training and growth opportunities including Career Rotation Programs, Diversity & Inclusion training and events, and professional certifications. Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 200 Data Centers in 32 countries and millions of servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our data center design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider. Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. Responsibilities Responsibilities - Performs diagnostics and troubleshooting following standard procedures, quickly identifies the cause(s) of issues, and replaces faulty components with minimal customer and business disruption. - Performs post-execution quality checks and verifies that grounding, staging, labeling, and cabling are set up properly according to safety protocols, deployment standards, and planned Network Design Tasks (NDTs). - Decommissions hardware for simple changes and refreshes (e.g., memory upgrades, rebuilds) following standard procedures with minimal guidance. - Follows procedures to communicate, report, and escalate incidents to appropriate Microsoft data center operations management units, Technician Leads, and engineering specialists. - Assists and provides guidance to other technicians to complete challenging or complex tasks. - Completes required training aligned to the role and workload; observes more experienced technicians to gain hands-on experience and relevant on-the-job training. - Contributes to a positive and effective team environment by sharing information with others, contributing to regular team meetings, asking questions, and staying apprised of the status of others' work. - Has pride and a sense of accountability for the service quality, completeness, and resulting user experience; displays accountability and ownership of the data center facilities. - Embodies our culture and values. Qualifications Qualifications Datacenter Technician (DCT) – Job Description Role Overview The Datacenter Technician (DCT) is a hands-on operational role responsible for deploying, maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing datacenter IT hardware. DCTs ensure servers, network devices, and related infrastructure operate reliably, securely, and within defined service levels. Key Responsibilities Deployment, Installation & Decommissioning - Rack, stack, cable, label, and install servers, storage, and network equipment. - Execute hardware deployments, upgrades, refreshes, rebuilds, and decommissioning activities following established procedures. - Verify power, network connectivity, asset tagging, grounding, staging, cabling, and labelling requirements before and after execution. Break-Fix & Troubleshooting - Perform diagnostics and troubleshooting to identify root causes of hardware issues. - Repair or replace faulty components, including disks, memory modules (DIMMs), power supplies (PSUs), network adapters (NICs), GPUs, and other server components. - Minimize customer and business impact by restoring services efficiently. - Escalate complex issues to appropriate engineering and operational support teams when required. Operations, Compliance & Quality - Follow all safety, security, operational, and change-management procedures. - Conduct post-execution quality checks to ensure compliance with deployment standards, network design requirements, and safety protocols. - Handle data-bearing devices in accordance with security and data protection policies. - Maintain accurate documentation, ticket updates, and timely closure of work activities. - Communicate, report, and escalate incidents through established operational channels. Collaboration & Leadership - Collaborate with Operations Managers, Inventory & Asset teams, CETs, Engineering teams, and vendor partners to support daily operations and large-scale deployments. - Provide support and guidance to other technicians during complex tasks and operational activities. - Actively participate in team meetings, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement initiatives. Learning & Professional Development - Complete required technical, operational, safety, and compliance training. - Continuously build technical expertise through hands-on experience and mentoring from experienced technicians. Microsoft Culture & Ownership - Demonstrate accountability, ownership, and pride in service quality, operational excellence, and the customer experience. - Maintain a positive, collaborative team environment aligned with Microsoft's culture and values. - Take responsibility for the care, security, and operational readiness of data center infrastructure and facilities. Qualifications & Requirements - Experience supporting data center, server, storage, or network hardware environments. Performed Structured Cabling tasks. - Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. - Ability to follow documented processes and work safely in a mission-critical environment. - Effective communication and teamwork skills. - Ability to work non-standard hours, including shifts, weekends, and holidays, based on business requirements. - 100% onsite role. Required Qualifications - Diploma or equivalent AND 2+ year(s) industry experience in a datacenter or other critical environment facility, While not required, we also look for the following  Preferred  Qualifications: 2+ years' experience supporting IT equipment or related technology. Applicable certifications: CompTIA (A+, Server+, Network+), Basic Structure Cabling (BSC). Background Check Requirements: Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter. This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations. This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.