Data Center Engineering Operations Technician - Northern Virginia (AWS)

Amazon; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 49,593 - 86,788; Full time

Job summary

Amazon Data Services, Inc. in Northern Virginia seeks an Engineering Operations Technician to support 24/7 data center reliability, maintaining critical electrical and mechanical systems and reporting to the site Data Center Facility Manager.

You will perform rounds, monitor BMS/EPMS, assist in troubleshooting, execute rack installs and preventive maintenance, coordinate with contractors, and adapt schedules that may include 12‑hour shifts and on-call rotations across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of practical experience in electrical, mechanical, HVAC, or fire suppression systems.
• Ability to work shifts longer than eight hours.
• Ability to bend, reach, climb, and work at heights.

Responsibilities

• Conduct daily rounds monitoring electrical, mechanical, and fire/life safety equipment.
• Monitor Building Management Systems (BMS) and Electrical Power Management System (EPMS).
• Troubleshoot facility and rack-level events within SLA.
• Perform rack installs and decommissioning.
• Execute preventive maintenance and root-cause analysis on electrical and mechanical equipment.
• Provide technical writing to support change-management.
• Manage daily work requests and drive projects from concept to completion.
• Liaise on-site with contractors and vendors, ensuring compliance with practices and local laws.
• Schedules may rotate and include up to 12-hour shifts and on-call rotations; may support multiple sites.

Skills

Electrical systems

Mechanical systems

HVAC

Fire suppression systems

Job description

Data Center Engineering Operations Technician - Northern Virginia

Job ID: 3146674 | Amazon Data Services, Inc.

We are seeking a dedicated Engineering Operations Technician to support the operations of some of the world’s most powerful data centers. The role involves maintaining critical infrastructure systems and ensuring 24/7 reliability.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Daily building rounds to monitor and record information from electrical, mechanical, and fire/life safety equipment.
• Monitor Building Management Systems (BMS) and Electrical Power Management System (EPMS).
• Assist in troubleshooting of facility and rack‑level events within internal Service Level Agreements (SLA).
• Perform rack installs and rack decommissioning within internal SLA.
• Perform preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and repair of electrical and mechanical equipment.
• Provide technical writing to support the change‑management program.
• Monitor daily work requests and manage them to resolution, executing projects from conception to completion.
• Provide on‑site support of contractors, sub‑contractors, and vendors, ensuring all work performed complies with established practices, procedures, and local legislation.
• Work schedule may vary depending on specific site needs. Shifts can be up to 12‑hours and may rotate on a predefined schedule. Some locations have on‑call rotations. The role may support more than one location/site.

Work Schedule

• Option 1: Weekend Rotation
  • Days Worked: Sunday – Tuesday, plus every other Saturday
  • Weekly Pattern: Alternates between 3‑day and 4‑day work weeks
  • Shift Hours: 5:30 am – 6:00 pm (day shift) or 5:30 pm – 6:00 am (night shift)
• Option 2: Weekday Rotation
  • Days Worked: Wednesday – Friday, plus every other Saturday
  • Weekly Pattern: Alternates between 3‑day and 4‑day work weeks
  • Shift Hours: 5:30 am – 6:00 pm (day shift) or 5:30 pm – 6:00 am (night shift)
• Both schedules rotate between three days one week and four days the following week.

Overtime & Pay

• Overtime: Time and a half after 40 hours per week.
• Night‑shift differential: 13 % additional pay for 6:00 pm – 6:00 am shifts.
• Maximum hours: 60 hours per week in total (up to 20 hours of overtime).

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.
• Perform construction tasks while on a ladder, maintaining balance.
• 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

The role acts as Amazon’s front line for hands‑on electrical and mechanical equipment preventive maintenance (PM) and troubleshooting, reporting to a site’s Data Center Facility Manager. Responsibilities include maintaining, operating, and troubleshooting mission‑critical data center facility equipment such as diesel generators, fuel systems, 3‑phase electrical systems (switchgear, UPS units, PDUs, wet‑cell batteries) and mechanical equipment (CRAHU units, centrifugal chillers, cooling towers, water systems, air handlers, pumps, motors). Additional support equipment includes fire/life safety equipment, building automation systems, and general facilities equipment.

Basic Qualifications

• Work shifts longer than eight hours in duration.
• At least 2 years of practical experience in electrical systems, mechanical systems, HVAC, and/or fire suppression systems.
• Ability to bend or twist the body into unusual positions while working, use hands to manipulate small wires and objects, walk on uneven terrain, and work at heights and from ladders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of network design and layout as well as low‑voltage (copper/fiber) cabling.
• Experience in data center engineering.

Salary and Benefits

• Base salary range:
• USA, MS, Canton – 32.00–57.00 USD hourly
• USA, NV, Sparks – 36.00–63.00 USD hourly
• USA, OH, New Albany – 36.00–63.00 USD hourly
• USA, OH, Plain City – 36.00–63.00 USD hourly
• USA, OR, Boardman – 36.00–63.00 USD hourly
• USA, OR, Hermiston – 36.00–63.00 USD hourly
• USA, PA, Berwick – 36.00–63.00 USD hourly
• USA, PA, Fairless Hills – 36.00–63.00 USD hourly
• USA, VA, Chantilly – 36.00–63.00 USD hourly
• USA, VA, Sterling – 36.00–63.00 USD hourly

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.

Amazon offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription), Basic Life & AD&D insurance, optional 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.