Chief Engineer, Data Centre Engineering Operations

Amazon Data Services UK Limited; Hemel Hempstead; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cloud services company in Hemel Hempstead is seeking a Chief Engineer to ensure all safety equipment operates efficiently within the data centers. This role includes training the engineering team, overseeing equipment operations and maintenance, and managing large-scale projects. Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering and should possess experience in data center operations and vendor management. The position involves on-call emergency response and fostering a culture of innovation and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Experience in vendor management.
• Experience in a data center or other critical environment.
• Experience in data center engineering or operations.

Responsibilities

• Train and support Engineering team in equipment troubleshooting.
• Oversee operation and maintenance of mechanical and electrical equipment in data center.
• Act as escalation point for facilities-related issues.
• Respond to off-hour emergency calls related to data centers.

Skills

Vendor management

Electrical equipment troubleshooting

Mechanical equipment troubleshooting

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain — and we’re looking for talented people who want to help.

You’ll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You’ll collaborate across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.

As Chief Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring that all electrical, mechanical, and fire/life safety equipment within the data center is operating at peak efficiency. This involves planned preventative maintenance of equipment, daily corrective work, and emergency response. You are expected to be a singular focal point for all facility operations and to support Amazon within its owned and operated data centers.

You should be able to manage large scale impacting projects and new region support from conception to completion. These projects involve large amounts of independent work as well as collaboration with external support groups including engineering, automation, procurement, and finance in both local and global settings. As Chief Engineer, you will be tasked with creating and delivering on key milestones, obtaining and tracking quotes for all necessary costs, and documenting project results for future implementation at other facilities. The goals of such projects are for the Chief Engineers to drive innovation and resiliency while reducing operational costs in the facilities.

Key job responsibilities

• Train and support the Engineering team in their role of providing electrical and mechanical equipment troubleshooting and operations
• Implement and execute site or equipment-specific training exercises. Exercises cover, but are not limited to: stand‑by diesel generators, switchgear, UPSs, PDUs, AHUs, chillers etc.
• Oversee day‑to‑day operation and maintenance of mechanical and electrical equipment in data center sites
• Operate independently, with limited direct management
• Assist in the design and build‑out of new facilities and perform root cause analysis of equipment failures
• Act as an escalation point for all facilities‑related issues within the data center region. Work OT hours as needed to support site stability
• Troubleshoot and report facility and data sever‑level events within internal Service Level Agreements (SLA)
• Create and deploy standard practices for Engineering Operations Technicians, Chief Engineers, and vendor support teams
• Ensure all safety procedures are adhered to by vendors, and AWS staff
• Respond to off‑hour emergency calls related to his data centers and help with the investigation, mitigation, and recovery of the issue(s)
• Candidates should be able to lift up to 40 lbs and or work in elevated locations
• Ability to work in an environment that operates 24/7 with an ability to provide after‑hours support as needed. All physical requirements are expected with reasonable accommodations

Physical requirements

• Work at height, and from ladders
• Perform physical tasks during the shift
• Work in a noisy environment, with ear protection

About the team

Amazon values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.

Why AWS

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. We pioneered cloud computing and never stopped innovating — that’s why customers from the most successful startups to Global 500 companies trust our robust suite of products and services to power their businesses.

Work/Life Balance

We value work‑life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why we strive for flexibility as part of our working culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.

Inclusive Team Culture

AWS values curiosity and connection. Our employee‑led and company‑sponsored affinity groups promote inclusion and empower our people to take pride in what makes us unique. Our inclusion events foster stronger, more collaborative teams. Our continual innovation is fueled by the bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and passionate voices our teams bring to everything we do.

Mentorship and Career Growth

We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge‑sharing, mentorship and other career‑advancing resources here to help you develop into a better‑rounded professional.

Basic qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• Experience in vendor management
• Experience in a data center or other critical environment
• Experience in data center engineering or operations
• Experience with Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel

Preferred qualifications

• Electrical or mechanical Journeyman License
• Experience in construction or project management