Data Center Chief Engineer

Amazon.com; Boardman (OR); On-site; USD 96,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Data Services, Inc. is seeking a Data Center Chief Engineer to oversee electrical, mechanical, and fire/life safety systems in our data centers.

You will lead preventative maintenance, respond to emergencies, and coordinate with Engineering Operations Technicians and third-party vendors to ensure peak facility performance. The role requires 5+ years in data center engineering or operations, vendor management experience, and a Bachelor's in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of vendor management experience.
• 4+ years of data center or critical environment experience.
• 5+ years of data center engineering or operations experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience reading and writing procedures, technical documents, and engineering drawings.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary escalation point for facilities issues across critical systems (switchgear, generators, UPS, PDUs).
• Perform root cause analysis of equipment failures and troubleshooting within SLA.
• Provide training and guidance to Engineering Operations Technicians and facilities staff.
• Create and deploy new standard practices for engineers and vendor teams.
• Assist in building out new facilities and projects to improve efficiency.
• Occasionally work outside normal hours for routine maintenance and emergencies.
• Communicate complex technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Coordinate projects with IT and business leaders to optimize safety and reliability.

Skills

Vendor management

Data center engineering

Microsoft Office

Education

Electrical/Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job ID: 10593873 | Amazon Data Services, Inc.

Join our dynamic Data Center Engineering Operations Team and become a critical architect of the infrastructure that powers global cloud computing. You'll play a pivotal role in maintaining the heartbeat of Amazon Web Services' physical infrastructure, ensuring seamless operations that support millions of customers worldwide.

The Data Center Chief Engineer (CE) is 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. The CE serves as an expert technical resource interacting with onsite Engineering Operations Technicians (EOT) and any third‑party vendors. They are expected to be a singular focal point for all facility operations within a given data center and to support AWS.

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 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 with people 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.

NOTE: PDX is an AWS GovCloud region. As required by our contracts with the federal government, effective February 24, 2026, logical access to the AWS GovCloud region will be restricted to Amazon employees who are U.S. Citizens. (GovCloud may NOT be accessed from outside of the United States).

NOTE: Relocation assistance will be provided to eligible candidates who relocate for this position.

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 are 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 building 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 of 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 accommodation:

• 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

Essential Requirements:

• Ability to travel to or commute between data center locations as needed
• Willingness to temporarily work at alternative sites during training periods or until assigned facility is operational
• Travel frequency will vary based on business needs and operational status of assigned facility
• Candidates must be able to travel (over 50 miles) or commute (less than 50 miles) to active data center sites as required by business needs.

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

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 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.

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

• 3+ years of vendor management experience
• 4+ years of relevant work in a data center or other critical environment experience
• 5+ years of data center engineering or operations experience
• 5+ years of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel experience
• 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
• 3+ years of Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel experience
• Experience reading and writing procedures, technical documents, and engineering drawings
• 3+ years of electrical and mechanical facilities maintenance experience — OR — 3+ years of electrical facilities maintenance experience and 2+ year of mechanical facilities maintenance experience

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of construction or project management experience
• Electrical or mechanical Journeyman License
• operating engineering license such as DC II, DC III, or equivalent
• Experience in construction or project management
• Experience leading technical teams through daily operations and maintenance evolutions
• Can work in an environment that involves walking, stooping, bending, and climbing to access equipment

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 .

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of construction or project management experience
• Electrical or mechanical Journeyman License
• operating engineering license such as DC II, DC III, or equivalent
• Experience in construction or project management
• Experience leading technical teams through daily operations and maintenance evolutions
• Can work in an environment that involves walking, stooping, bending, and climbing to access equipment

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, OR, Boardman - 96,000.00 - 166,300.00 USD annually