Senior Data Center Technician (Nightshift)

Overview Senior Data Center Technician (Nightshift) position at Microsoft. As a Senior Data Center Technician (DCT), you will demonstrate expertise in standard processes for preparing, installing, performing diagnostics, troubleshooting, replacing, and/or decommissioning equipment, and you will have a holistic understanding of the functions of and interactions between network and server equipment. You will provide input for suggested modifications to processes and procedures to improve service quality and efficiency, and you will guide other technicians. Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers our cloud services. As a CO+I DCT, you will play 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. CO+I offers training and growth opportunities, including Career Rotation Programs, Diversity & Inclusion training and events, and professional certifications. Our data center footprint includes more than 200 data centers in 32 countries and millions of servers. Our foundation is built and managed by a team of subject matter experts supporting services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. We focus on environmental sustainability and optimization in data center design and operations to meet the changing business demands that position Microsoft as a world‑class cloud provider. Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. We strive for a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond, guided by values of respect, integrity, and accountability. In this environment, you may be asked to travel to support other metros periodically, up to 25% of the time. Responsibilities Complies with Data Center policies, procedures, and deadlines with guidance from experienced technicians and/or direct-line management. Escalates issues related to compliance or operational assurance activities to direct-line management. Provides guidance to other technicians on changes to processes and procedures. Reviews Process Change Notifications (PCNs) and proactively shares relevant information to enable efficient workflow and evaluate impact on work execution. Completes assigned tickets efficiently and in alignment with relevant KPIs per task type independently. Provides guidance and/or assists less experienced technicians with complex tickets or tasks, and escalates challenging tickets to internal partners as needed. May coordinate and assign tasks on a temporary basis to ensure work is allocated to meet KPIs. Demonstrates expertise in standard processes for preparing, installing, performing diagnostics, troubleshooting, replacing, and/decommissioning IT data center technology and equipment. Maintains understanding of the interactions between cabling infrastructure, network, server, and storage equipment. Datacenter Work Environment Reinforces a positive and effective team environment by sharing information and best practices with other shifts and technician teams, assisting in cross-discipline collaborations, and staying apprised of work-status for handovers and partner inquiries. May conduct daily safety briefings and completes Environmental & Health Safety (EHS) training; provides guidance on safety procedures; completes THAs; uses PPE; promotes a culture of safety and reports concerns. Completes required security and data management training; escorts third‑party vendors or IT support on‑premises; reports security access concerns per established procedures. Travel up to 25% of time to support other metros as needed. Managing Service Completes required training aligned to job focus areas and workloads; mentors and supports training of other technicians through on‑the‑job training; may pursue additional certifications. Maintains awareness of KPIs through dashboards and reporting for monthly performance discussions. Escalates and/or seeks guidance from experienced technicians or direct-line management regarding client interactions. Develops a comprehensive understanding of cross‑functional Data Center processes to support partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. Physical Requirements Applies to US-based Data Center roles: occasional climbing of ladders; frequent climbing of stairs or ramps; prolonged standing; occasional lifting up to 50 lbs (22.5 kg); occasional pushing or pulling 50–75 lbs (22.5–34 kg) with assistive device; normal visual acuity and color vision for electrical work. Service Delivery Applies advanced diagnostics and troubleshooting to identify causes and replace faulty components in network, storage, or server equipment with minimal customer impact; escalates imminent incident risks to direct-line management. Performs quality control and post‑execution verification of grounding, staging, labeling, and cabling to align with safety standards, deployment standards, and Network Design Templates; identifies errors and escalates as needed. Guides less experienced technicians and plans execution order; prepares, stages, and sets up hardware startups and shutdowns per written instructions; may work with others to comply with procedures and safety requirements. Directly performs decommissions, simple and complex changes, and infrastructure cabling refreshes; ensures destruction or eradication of data-bearing devices per standards; coordinates with management and stakeholders as needed. Communicates, reports, and escalates data center incidents promptly; participates in bridge calls and follows up on actions as directed; applies learnings to improve service quality. Working Conditions Working for extended periods under elevated ambient noise, heat, and light due to equipment and ventilation systems in data centers (US-based roles). Qualifications Required Qualifications High school diploma, GED, or equivalent and 2+ years experience supporting IT equipment or related technology, or equivalent. Ability to work 12-hour shifts, including non-standard hours that may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays. Travel up to 25% may be required. Other Requirements Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including the Microsoft Cloud Background Check at hire/transfer and every two years thereafter. Preferred Qualifications Associate's degree in Computer Science or related field and/or equivalent work experience; plus 5+ years experience supporting IT equipment or related technology, or equivalent. 2+ years experience in a production, mission-critical 24x7x365 datacenter environment. Applicable certifications: ASICS/Inventory Control, CompTIA (A+, Server+, Network+), Basic Structure Cabling (BSC), Data Center Foundation Certification (DCFC), Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), vendor-specific network certifications. Equal Opportunity Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations. #J-18808-Ljbffr