Senior Data Center Technician

Overview

As a Senior Data Center Technician (SDCT) at Microsoft, you will support the deployment, maintenance, troubleshooting, and decommissioning of critical IT infrastructure within our datacenters. You will apply your technical expertise across server and network hardware, diagnose complex issues, and ensure work is completed safely and to required quality standards.

As a senior member of the team, you will also provide technical guidance, coaching, and on-the-job training to other technicians, while identifying opportunities to improve processes and operational efficiency.

Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) team powers the infrastructure behind services including Azure, Microsoft 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and Bing. Our global datacenter organization operates at significant scale, supporting more than one billion customers and millions of businesses worldwide.

At Microsoft, we work with a growth mindset, collaborate to achieve shared goals, and are committed to our mission of empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Responsibilities

• Apply advanced diagnostic and troubleshooting skills to identify and resolve hardware, server, and network-related issues.
• Install, deploy, replace, and decommission datacenter hardware in accordance with documented procedures and standards.
• Perform and support complex infrastructure changes, including rack-level hardware upgrades and decommissions.
• Provide technical guidance to technicians during hardware preparation, staging, installation, startup, shutdown, and replacement activities.
• Coordinate planned work and downtime with relevant stakeholders to ensure quality execution and minimise operational impact.
• Assist technicians with complex technical tasks and escalate issues when required.
• Complete and oversee post-execution quality checks, ensuring grounding, cabling, staging, and labelling meet deployment and safety standards.
• Ensure appropriate security processes are followed when decommissioning equipment and handling data-bearing devices.
• Monitor operational performance through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), dashboards, and performance reviews.
• Train, coach, and mentor technicians through on-the-job training and practical technical guidance.
• Participate in and support daily safety briefings and required safety training.
• Promote compliance with safety procedures including PPE, equipment operation, lifting, electrical safety, and ladder or rolling stair use.
• Identify opportunities to improve technical processes, procedures, service quality, and operational efficiency.
• Demonstrate accountability for the quality, completeness, and reliability of work delivered.
• Embody Microsoft’s culture and values in all aspects of your work.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Knowledge of computer hardware, servers, networking equipment, and related components.
• Experience supporting, maintaining, troubleshooting, or deploying IT equipment or related technology.
• Ability to follow technical procedures and operate safely within a datacenter or similarly controlled environment.
• Strong troubleshooting, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience supporting IT infrastructure, server hardware, networking equipment, or related technology.
• Experience working in a production or mission-critical 24x7x365 datacenter environment.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, or providing technical guidance to other technicians.
• Relevant technical certifications such as CompTIA A+, Server+, Network+, Basic Structured Cabling (BSC), Data Center Foundation Certification (DCFC), Microsoft certifications, or vendor-specific networking certifications.

Background Check Requirements

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements is required for this role.

This position requires successful completion of the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter.