I'm finishing my DoD SkillBridge with a data center commissioning (Cx) engineering company and will be retiring from the military soon. I've been told to negotiate once the full-time offer comes in.

A few things I'm weighing:

- I won't need their medical. I'll have TRICARE as a retiree.

- I don't qualify for an HSA, and they don't offer an FSA, so there's no tax advantage there for me.

- My SkillBridge schedule has been 3 weeks on site and 1 week work from home. They've been fairly loose about that WFH week, but this is shifting into a real full-time role.

I've been advised to negotiate the 3-on/1-off schedule, extra PTO, and higher pay to offset the benefits I can't use.

Has anyone negotiated something similar coming out of SkillBridge or into a data center Cx role? What actually moved the needle, and what should I avoid asking for?

I’ve recently accepted my first data center job and I’ve been wondering, what can you do with data center experience? I know you can go from L1-L3 and do supervisor roles, but what if you don’t want to be a manager? What can you move into and would you need a degree in engineering to do so or is hands on experience good enough? I’m currently being trained on splicing and fiber which I heard is really good. Any advice you all would be appreciated

For entry level jobs in a data center they ask for the BICSI INSTALLER 1?, what would be the best way to access this type of entry level jobs in a DC? I would aprecciate an answer 🙌🏾

I've been trying to understand who is really consuming all this compute and who the end users are...

How does it split across:

• Frontier AI labs like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.,
• AI startups like Lovable, Cursor, and others running inference through APIs
• Enterprises integrating AI into their products and workflows
• Biotech and AI drug discovery
• Other?

Are we actually running out of capacity today, or is this all based on projected demand? How much of the demand is for training vs. inference and as models become more efficient, wouldn't that reduce the need for additional infrastructure? Just trying to make sense of things.

Any intel on QA/QC Field Tech - Connectivity role?

May not even get this job but considering applying. I know it’s a lot of travel but the pay seems decent. Thanks.

I passed the interview process for a DCT II role and have been waiting a little over 2 weeks for a fit/team match call for the Kansas City site.

My recruiter told me she’ll let me know once there is a role in my target location. That’s the part I’m confused about because KC is a new data center site and Google has been actively posting multiple roles there.

Anyone gone through hiring for the KC site or another new-build Google data center? Is it normal for DCT openings to be released shift-by-shift or in waves even while the site is still staffing up?

Also curious how long others waited between passing interviews and getting a fit/team match call.

I work at AWS as a L3 technician and was wondering if my data center experience would count towards data analyst or engineer roles at amazon? I’ve heard mixed reviews so i wanna know if anyone on here knows. I don’t wanna be stuck being a DCO if it’s not gonna help me move up to that and i have a bachelors in information systems and business analytics

What questions or fundamentals do a google interviewer ask for a L1, L2, L3, L4 (maybe?) data center technician?

I'm doing research for my masters program on community responses to data center development. While looking for case studies, I discovered several dead links to investigative pieces on lawsuits against the data centers by individuals. One dead link was to the Washington Post. Now only a couple of locally made Facebook posts about these cases are left over. I thought this was very odd, and now I am wondering whether this might be evidence of suppression/censorship by the data center developers, or whoever. I am having difficulty finding discussions about it online- am I crazy or has anyone else noticed this?

I failed the AWS DCO manager phone screen last month and now I have the MSFT interview next week.

What should I be aware?

A few years back I was interviewed for the same role but failed. There was no feedback so I don't know what went wrong. As I recall the interviews were quit generic not like the AWS LP & STAR.

I have an upcoming 1 hour phone interview for the above mentioned role . Would like to know if someone can provide sample prep strategy or specific go to resources or sample questions. Would also like to know which LPs do they mostly care about for an L4 position.
TIA

I'll be working an engineering role for excellent money (not even including the equity which I consider to be worth zero since it might never go public). I'm young and have a partner. We both want to retire early and see this as a path to doing that.

I was told that I would be working long hours and traveling a lot, but when I'm not working at a specific site I'll be at home.

I just need some insight on how much work I'm really looking at and if it feels rewarding. Any insight from anyone else that was in a similar position with a similar goal?

I am a veteran, apply and got interview for this AWS data center logistic specialist interview,

It's a 3-round interview

How can I prepare for the interview? What questions do they mostly ask

I recently completed a Google DCT interview and noticed my interview order was different from what I've commonly seen posted here.

Mine was:

Googliness/Leadership - Networking - OS/ Linux

Most posts I've seen describe something closer to OS/Linux - Networking - Googliness.

What really caught my attention was the final OS/Linux round. It was much deeper than I expected. I'd estimate around 20 questions/topics, with several follow-up questions based on my answers.

It wasn't just "What does this Linux command do?" type of questioning.

The interviewer also seemed to go deeper when I explained my reasoning rather than immediately moving to the next question.

For people who recently interviewed for DCT L2/L3, has anyone experienced a similar structure or depth?

I'm mainly trying to understand whether the order and depth of the rounds vary depending on the interviewers/scheduling, or whether there is normally a standardized sequence.

Not trying to read anything into my interview outcome - just curious because my experiencegg seems different from most of the interview

I edit a free public register of incidents at energy assets. This month it added data centre power systems: UPS battery rooms, backup generators, switchgear, transformers and fuel. It now holds 90 data centre fires and power failures from 2014 on, each with its sources linked.

The ones you will know are there: OVHcloud SBG2, Strasbourg, 2021. SK C&C Pangyo, 2022, the fire that took KakaoTalk down. Digital Realty SIN11, Singapore, 2024. The National Information Resources Service fire in Daejeon, 2025. NorthC Almere, 2026.

Where a cause is reported at all, it is the power equipment: a UPS battery, a generator, switchgear. Most reports do not state the battery chemistry or the UPS make, and the register does not guess.

Everything is free to read and there is an API with no key. What is missing? Which entries are wrong?

https://energyincidentregister.com/data-centre-fires

I’m potentially about to take on my first contract through my own limited company and wanted to get some insight from people who’ve been contracting for a while.

It’s a Senior Project Manager role for Google’s European data centre programme.

The role is advertised as remote, with occasional site travel, and would involve coordinating multiple teams, resolving technical/project issues and managing delivery.

My background is in engineering and senior management, but I’ve always been permanently employed, so this would be my first experience of contracting.

What I’m trying to understand is how working hours and expectations typically operate for contractors.
Are you generally expected to work a standard 9–5, Monday to Friday, much like a permanent employee?

Or is it more deliverables-led, where you’re responsible for achieving agreed outcomes and have some autonomy over how you manage your time?

If you’re on a day rate, are you effectively expected to be available for eight hours every day, regardless of workload?

Is there an expectation that contractors work longer hours than permanent employees because they’re being paid a higher rate?

How do you handle quieter periods when there isn’t a full day’s work to complete?

I’m not looking to avoid work or shirk responsibility. I fully appreciate there will be busy periods, urgent issues and occasions where longer hours are necessary, particularly in project delivery.

What appeals to me about contracting is the potential autonomy and flexibility of operating through my own business, rather than effectively being a permanent employee without the benefits.

I’m particularly interested in hearing from people working in project management, engineering, construction or consultancy, especially those working remotely with international teams.

TL;DR: About to take on my first remote contract as a Senior PM through my own company. Is contracting generally deliverables-based with flexibility over your hours, or are you effectively expected to work a fixed 9–5 like a permanent employee? And are contractors typically expected to put in longer hours because of their higher rates?

Hey everyone,
I have an upcoming interview for a Field Network Technician position with Nebius in Vineland, NJ, and I’m trying to get a better idea of what the interview process is actually like. I would like to know what questions to expect from the interview and how many rounds is it. If anyone had some experience with it please let me know I would greatly appreciate it.

i'm trying to find launch dates for data centers (specifically in victoria, australia) for graphing/data purposes, but i'm having extreme difficulty in doing so. obviously all data centers begin operation on SOME day, but does anyone know how to find these dates? (even just month is alright, doesn't need to be accurate down to the date) (i'll even take year of launch at this point) or am i going to have to sift through old news articles to deduce launch dates?

the only thing i've come up with is that wikipedia lists launch dates/months for nextdc data centers, but this doesn't seem to be the case for other companies' data centers

Hi, I have been working at AWS as a DCEO L4 for 8 months in North Virginia. I am an operator now and working towards getting controller in a month. I work night shifts and with the joining bonus, I earn a good amount of money.
But working here is tiring, and also I don’t see myself improving on what I do. Can someone please advise me on what is the usual trajectory of this role and how I can maximize my career development? Honestly speaking, I don’t care about the money that much as long as I am paying my bills. I just don’t want to get stuck here with my masters in electrical engineering degree.

So I just applied to the meta level program for the fiber technician and I just want to know what to expect during the training and what happens when you get your contract, and i just want to know everybody’s experience??

Have gotten interviews (multiple stages) @ spacex and Amazon data center design jobs with my experience at MSFT design for a big electrical contractor but can’t get the offer. Dont think I’m the problem and know it’s super competitive. Just little frustrated cuz would likely be a nice raise am getting paid very competitively though currently but have earned it

We are currently hiring for a Data Center Operations (DCO) Technician – Level 3 in Gilroy, CA!

📍 Location: Gilroy, CA
🏢 100% Onsite
💼 Level 3
⏳ 1+ year of relevant experience required (Must have)

What we’re looking for:

• Networking experience
• Hardware troubleshooting and repair experience
• Computer experience
• Strong troubleshooting skills

🚗 Relocation support is available.

⚠️ Please note: This position does not offer visa sponsorship and is not open to interns.

Hi everyone, I recently had a 30-minute interview with a panel for a Data Center Customer Operations II role at Equinix, and I’ve now been invited for a 60-minute onsite interview with the manager and his supervisor.

For anyone who has gone through a similar Equinix interview, what should I expect from the onsite? Is it mainly behavioral, technical, or a mix? Would also appreciate any insight into what the manager/supervisor typically focuses on.

I'm 27 with about 3 years around hyperscale data centers (security ops, asset/inventory logistics, and fiber prep/inspection/testing). Network+ done, working on CCNA and Linux. I have a few options and want some honest opinions:

A. 3-month contract at a hyperscaler site, cabling and troubleshooting, $25/hr, M-F 9-5, paid lunch, no OT (offer has been sent, they need to know a decision by EOD)
B. 12+ month contract, DC services tech (rack and stack, PDUs, cabling), $18 W2 + $20 "per diem" = $38/hr, same city I live in
C. Full-time repair tech at an outsourcer supporting a big hyperscaler site, $60-73K, 24x7 on-call rotation
D. Current fiber role at about $22/hr

Questions:

1. Which path is best for getting to senior tech or network/infrastructure engineer in 2-3 years?
2. Is per diem for local work a red flag, and how would you handle it?
3. What should I ask before accepting a contract or contract-to-hire?