Data Center Technician (Entry Level)

StarTech Networks Inc.; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

StarTech Networks Inc. seeks an enthusiastic Datacenter Technician (Entry Level) to join our on-site team in Columbus, Ohio. In the first months you will observe and assist, progressing to hands-on work with fiber and copper cabling under supervision.

You will patch and dress cables, support rack and stack, document work, and follow safety protocols. This role offers growth as you complete certification coursework and gain experience in a hyperscale data center environment.

Qualifications

• Entry-level position requiring training and observation in the first months.
• Willingness to obtain certifications through coursework.

Responsibilities

• Assist with fiber and copper cable pulls as specified by project requirements.
• Patch, label, and dress cable to project standards including connector cleaning.
• Support rack and stack activities including cabinet roll-in, leveling, and PDU installation.
• Perform structured cabling installation for Cat6/Cat6A copper and MPO/LC fiber under supervision.
• Complete accurate daily documentation of work performed, ports, labels, and as-built marks.
• Follow site safety requirements including hazard analyses and toolbox talks.
• Observe customer site rules: badging, escort procedures, and clean-work-zone standards.
• Hand off completed cable segments to test technicians and assist troubleshooting.
• Care for issued tools and report shortages to Field Tech Lead.
• Attend weekly technical and safety sessions and complete certification coursework.

Tools

Scopes

Cleaning tools

Job description

Datacenter Technician (Entry Level Position)

Onsite at Columbus, Ohio

US Citizens/ Green Card Preference

80 hours mandate training

Key Responsibilities:

Responsibilities grow with training. In the first months you will assist and observe; within the first year you will execute the work with your crew.

• Assist with fiber and copper cable pulls — reel and jack setup, routing through ladder rack and cable tray, bend radius and slack management to customer specification.
• Patch, label, and dress cable to project standard, including connector cleaning and inspection with scopes and cleaning tools.
• Support rack and stack activities — cabinet roll-in, leveling, rack-level power distribution unit installation, ground bonding, and in-rack cable management.
• Perform structured cabling installation for Cat6 / Cat6A copper and MPO / LC fiber under supervision, progressing to independent work packages.
• Complete accurate daily documentation: work completed, port and label records, photos, and as-built markups.
• Follow every site safety requirement — daily job hazard analysis, toolbox talks, personal protective equipment, lift and ladder discipline, and customer red-zone protocols.
• Observe customer site rules at all times: badging and escort procedures, sub-location confirmation, equipment handling, and clean-work-zone standards.
• Hand off completed cable segments to test technicians and support troubleshooting of failed connectors or links.
• Care for issued tools, test equipment, and consumables; report shortages to your Field Tech Lead.
• Attend the weekly technical and safety sessions and complete assigned certification coursework.

Physical Requirements:

• Lift up to 50 lbs repeatedly throughout the shift.
• Extended standing, walking, kneeling, climbing ladders and lifts, and overhead work at heights of approximately 12–15 ft.
• Manual dexterity for connector work in confined spaces behind racks and in overhead trays.
• Ability to work shifts of up to 10 hours in an active, temperature-controlled data center environment.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including hard hat, safety glasses, high-visibility vest, and fall protection harness.

Work Environment and Schedule

Active hyperscale data center construction and operational environments — campus, colocation, and greenfield sites. Work is performed on site in the market you are hired for. Standard shifts with extended hours during critical project phases; some programs run multiple shifts, and migration and cutover work occasionally falls outside normal business hours.

Career Path

Entry-Level Data Center Technician → Data Center Technician → Senior Technician → Field Tech Lead → Working Foreman → Project Coordinator. Progression is based on demonstrated quality of work, safety record, reliability, teamwork, and certification milestones. Many of our current site leads started with no data center experience.