Data Center Chief Engineer

Amazon Web Services (AWS); Hermiston (OR); On-site; USD 96,000 - 166,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Amazon Data Services, Inc. in USA (OR Hermiston) seeks a data center engineering operations professional to lead and troubleshoot critical facility systems, including electrical and mechanical equipment, ensuring uptime for cloud infrastructure.

The role emphasizes vendor management, project coordination, and adherence to safety and operational standards, with travel to facilities as needed and on-call work outside normal hours.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of vendor management in data-center environments or similar mission-critical facilities.
• 4+ years in data center or critical facility operations.
• 5+ years in data center engineering or operations.

Responsibilities

• Act as escalation point for facilities issues; oversee routine and emergency services on critical systems.
• Perform root cause analysis within SLAs and guide technicians.
• Provide training and guidance to Engineering Operations Technicians and the Facility Manager.
• Create and deploy standard practices for engineers and vendor teams.
• Assist in building new facilities and projects to improve efficiency.
• Work outside normal hours for maintenance and on-call emergencies.
• Communicate complex technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Coordinate projects with IT managers to manage capacity and safety.
• Ensure safety procedures are followed by vendors and staff.
• Establish performance benchmarks and report on operations.
• Utilize MS Excel, Word, Outlook for day-to-day tasks.

Skills

Vendor management

Data center operations

Electrical/Mechanical systems

Project management

Team leadership

Communication

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Overview

Join our Data Center Engineering Operations Team to become a critical architect of the infrastructure that powers global cloud computing. You will maintain the heartbeat of Amazon Web Services’ physical infrastructure, ensuring seamless operations that support millions of customers worldwide.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Act as the primary escalation point for all facilities‑related issues; oversee operation and management of routine and emergency services on critical systems such as switchgear, generators, UPS systems, power distribution equipment, chillers, cooling towers, computer room air handlers, and building monitoring systems.
• Perform root cause analysis of equipment failures and troubleshooting within internal Service Level Agreements.
• Provide training and guidance to Engineering Operations Technicians and work with the Facility Manager to set team culture.
• Create and deploy new standard practices for Engineering Operations Technicians, Chief Engineers, and vendor support teams.
• Assist in building out new facilities and in projects to increase current facility efficiency.
• Work outside of normal business hours for routine maintenance, including responding to out‑of‑hours emergency calls.
• Communicate complex technical information to a non‑technical audience.
• Coordinate projects with IT managers and business leaders to 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 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 accommodation:
• Regularly lift 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.
• The role may involve travel to an under‑development facility and training at established locations.

Essential Requirements

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

Day in the Life

This role acts as Amazon’s front line for hands‑on electrical and mechanical equipment troubleshooting. You will maintain, operate, and troubleshoot mission‑critical data center facility equipment including standby diesel generators, 3‑phase electrical systems such as switchgear, UPS units, PDUs, wet‑cell batteries, and associated systems. Mechanical equipment includes CRAHU units, centrifugal chillers, cooling towers, water systems, air handlers, and associated systems. Additional support equipment includes fire/life safety equipment, building automation systems, and general facilities equipment.

The Chief Engineer directs, trains, and supports technicians. Implementation and execution of site/equipment‑specific training exercises is expected. You will manage projects from conception to completion, collaborate with external support groups, create and deliver on key milestones, obtain and track quotes, and document results for future implementation.

Basic Qualifications

• 3+ years of vendor management experience.
• 4+ years of relevant work in a data center or other critical environment.
• 5+ years of data center engineering or operations experience.
• 5+ years of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in vendor management, data center or other critical environment, and data center engineering or operations.
• 3+ years of mission‑critical facilities experience (e.g., hospital, military facility, public safety facility) including industrial electrical and mechanical systems.
• Experience with reading and writing procedures, technical documents, and engineering drawings.
• U.S. Citizenship required for access to AWS GovCloud region (effective February 24, 2026).

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 leading technical teams through daily operations and maintenance evolutions.
• Must be able to work in an environment that involves walking, stooping, bending, and climbing to access equipment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this position is $96,000.00 – $166,300.00 USD annually. Your Amazon package will include sign‑on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance, dental, vision, prescription, basic life & AD&D insurance, EAP, mental health support, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.

Location & Company

USA, OR, Hermiston – 96,000.00 – 166,300.00 USD annually
Company: Amazon Data Services, Inc.
Job ID: A10436038