Chief Engineer, Data Center Eng Ops

Socket.dev; Plain Township (OH); On-site; USD 111,000 - 186,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is seeking a Chief Engineer (CE) within the Data Center Engineering Operations group to support mission-critical facility systems. You will lead hands-on electrical and mechanical troubleshooting, guide technicians, and coordinate with cross-functional teams to improve safety, performance, and reliability in AWS data centers.

The role requires travel to active sites as needed and a Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience carrying new design concepts through exploration, development, and deployment.
• Experience in MS Excel, Word, and Windows Operating Systems.
• Experience with power management and power monitoring systems.
• Current, active US Government Security Clearance of Top Secret with SCI eligibility or above.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary escalation point for facilities issues and oversee operation of critical systems.
• Perform root cause analysis of equipment failures within SLAs.
• Provide training and guidance to Engineering Operations Technicians and collaborate with the Facility Manager.
• Create and deploy new standard practices for engineering operations and vendor support.
• May assist in build-out of new facilities and projects to increase efficiency.
• Work outside normal hours for maintenance and emergency responses.
• Communicate complex technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Coordinate projects with IT managers and business leaders to optimize safety and reliability.

Skills

Project management

MS Excel

MS Word

Windows OS

Power management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Power monitoring systems

Job description

The Data Center Engineering Operations (DCEO) organization supports the infrastructure that enables AWS data centers to operate reliably and securely. In this role, you will work with teams responsible for maintaining and operating critical facility systems that support ongoing data center operations.

AWS operates a global portfolio of data centers. As a Chief Engineer (CE), you will contribute to the operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of facility infrastructure. This includes collaborating with cross‑functional teams to implement new technologies, support operational readiness, and uphold established safety, security, and performance standards.

This position may support data centers at various stages of development. You may be assigned to a site that is not yet fully operational, which could require temporary travel to other locations for training or operational support. Candidates must be able to travel more than 50 miles or commute less than 50 miles to active data center sites based on business needs.

This position requires that the candidate selected be a US citizen and currently possess and maintain an active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.

Key job responsibilities

• Act as the primary escalation point for all facilities‑related issues. Oversee operation and management of routine and emergency services on a variety of critical systems such as: switchgear, generators, UPS systems, power distribution equipment, chillers, cooling towers, computer room air handlers, building monitoring systems, etc.
• Perform root cause analysis of equipment failures, and troubleshooting of facility within internal Service Level Agreements (SLA).
• Provide training and guidance to Engineering Operations Technicians and responsible for working with Facility Manager (FM) to set team culture.
• Create and deploy new standard practices for Engineering Operations Technicians, Chief Engineers, and vendor support teams
• May assist in the build out of new facilities and assist in projects to increase current facility efficiency
• Working outside of normal business hours for routine maintenance as required, including responding to out‑of‑hours emergency calls.
• Communicate complex technical information to a non‑technical audience.
• Work with IT managers and other business leaders to coordinate projects, manage capacity, and optimize plant safety, performance, reliability and efficiency
• Ensure all safety procedures are adhered to by vendor and Amazon staff
• Establish building performance benchmarks, conduct analyses, and prepare reports on all aspects of the critical facility operations and maintenance.
• Utilize Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and other basic administrative tools to perform day to day tasks

Physical Requirements

• Willingness and demonstrated ability to work in the following physical conditions with reasonable accommodations:
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 39 pounds independently
• Participate in group lifts for 40+ pounds
• Maintain balance and perform construction tasks while on a ladder
• Regularly walk, use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, climb stairs, twist, bend, work above shoulders, grasp, carry, push and pull objects into position
• Work in an environment requiring provided ear protection

A day in the life

This role acts as Amazon’s front line when it comes to hands‑on electrical and mechanical equipment troubleshooting. They maintain, operate, and troubleshoot mission‑critical data center facility equipment including electrical support equipment that supports servers that must maintain better than 99.999% uptime. Equipment will include but is not limited to stand‑by diesel generators and related fuel systems, 3 phase electrical systems such as switchgear, UPS units, PDUs, and wet cell batteries and associated systems. Mechanical equipment includes CRAHU units, centrifugal chillers, cooling towers, water systems, air handlers and associated systems, pumps, and motors. Additional support equipment is included in the scope of the role which includes fire/life safety equipment, building automation systems, and general facilities equipment.

The CE directs, trains and supports technicians in their role of providing hands‑on electrical and mechanical equipment troubleshooting and operations. Implementation and execution of site/equipment‑specific training exercises is also expected. They manage projects from conception to completion. These projects involve independent work as well as collaboration with external support groups including engineering, automation, processing, and finance in both local and global settings. The CE 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.

About the team

AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. 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.

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.

Diverse Experiences

AWS values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the 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.

Inclusive Team Culture

Here at AWS, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Our employee‑led affinity groups foster a culture of inclusion that empower us to be proud of our differences. Ongoing events and learning experiences, including our Conversations on Race and Ethnicity (CORE) and AmazeCon conferences, inspire us to never stop embracing our uniqueness.

Mentorship & 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.

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 in the cloud.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• Experience carrying new design concepts through exploration, development, and into deployment or mass production
• Experience in MS Excel, Word, and Windows Operating Systems
• Experience with power management and power monitoring systems
• Current, active US Government Security Clearance of Top Secret with SCI eligibility or above

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of project management in data centers or comparable critical infrastructure experience
• Knowledge of critical data center equipment
• Knowledge of engineering documentation, electrical diagrams and standard operating procedures
• Knowledge of building codes and regulations including Life Safety, BOCA, NFPA, NEC, or OSHA
• Experience in project management in data centers or comparable critical infrastructure
• Experience in Data Center Engineering Operations, with a deep understanding of electrical and mechanical data center infrastructure

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign‑on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.

USA, OH, Plain City - 111,300.00 - 186,100.00 USD annually