Senior Data Center Technician

Microsoft; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 97,724,000 - 161,988,000; Full time

Job summary

Microsoft is seeking a Senior Data Center Technician in Chicago, IL. This on-site role requires working 12-hour shifts with 0–25% travel, and involves installing, diagnosing, and decommissioning data center equipment, while ensuring security and safety standards are met.

You will support network, server, and storage systems, review changes, and guide less experienced technicians. A strong foundation in IT hardware and certifications is preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; 2+ years IT equipment support experience.
• Associate degree in Computer Science or related field is preferred.
• Certifications such as CompTIA A+, Network+, and MCP are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates understanding of standard datacenter processes for installing, diagnosing, troubleshooting, and decommissioning IT equipment.
• Performs tasks with safety and security procedures, and escalates when needed.
• Maintains awareness of KPIs and supports team handovers and cross-shift collaboration.

Skills

IT hardware basics

2+ years IT support

Education

High school diploma

Associate degree in CS or related field

Tools

CompTIA A+

Server+

Network+

DCFC

MCP

Job description

Senior Data Center Technician

United States, Illinois, Chicago

Employment Information

Full-Time

Work site: Fully on-site

Travel: Less than 25%

Overview

As a Microsoft Senior Data Center Technician (SDCT), you will demonstrate expertise in standard processes and procedures for preparing, installing, performing diagnostics, troubleshooting, replacing, and/or decommissioning equipment, as well as a holistic understanding of the functions of, and interactions between, network and server equipment. You will provide input for suggested modifications to these processes and procedures as needed to improve service quality and efficiency while providing guidance to other technicians.

Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers our cloud services. As a CO+I DCT, you will perform a key role in delivering the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft’s online services including Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and the Microsoft Azure platform. As a group, CO+I is focused on the personal and professional development of all employees and offers training and growth opportunities including Career Rotation Programs, Diversity & Inclusion training and events, and professional certifications.

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 200 Data Centers in 32 countries and millions of servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide.

With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our data center design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

In this environment, you may be asked to go on business travel to support other metros periodically, 0-25% of the time and have the ability to work12-hourshifts, including shift assignments during non-standard businesshours that may include evening, nighttime, weekends and/or holidays. Microsoft is unable to sponsor a work visa for this role due to the nature of the role’s job duties.

Responsibilities

Datacenter Operations

• Demonstrates an applied understanding of standard processes and procedures for preparing, installing, performing diagnostics, troubleshooting, replacing, and/or decommissioning IT datacenter technology(ies) and equipment while proactively prioritizing security considerations. Demonstrates a fundamental understanding of the functions of, and interactions between cabling infrastructure, network, server, and storage equipment.
• Reviews Process Change Notifications (PCNs) and develops an understanding of the impact to work execution and awareness to changes within their area of work and/or the work of others. Asks questions when they do not have required information and may provide feedback on changes to processes to experienced technicians and/or direct-line management. Incorporates security requirements in feedback and process changes, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Completes assigned tickets efficiently and in alignment with relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) per task type independently. Provides guidance and/or assists less experienced technicians with complex tickets or tasks, and appropriately escalates challenging or complex tickets to more experienced technicians as needed.
• Complies with Data Center business unit policies, procedures, and deadlines with guidance from experienced technicians and/or direct-line management, maintaining audit readiness. Escalates issues related to compliance or operational assurance activities to direct-line management. Identifies potential vulnerabilities in operational security, escalates promptly, and implements best practices.

Datacenter Work Environment

• Completes required security and data management training while complying with security and data management procedures/policies with guidance from other technicians. May escort third party vendors or IT support on‑premises at data centers or network sites, enforcing adherence to security requirements for third‑party access and operations. Appropriately takes action and reports physical security access concerns and/or incidents to direct-line management or via established reporting methods.
• Participates in daily safety briefings. Completes required Environmental & Health Safety (EHS) training, complies with safety procedures (e.g., equipment use, lifting, electrical hazards, ladder/rolling stair use), completes required Task Hazard Analysis (THAs), and uses appropriate equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for assigned tasks. Adheres to and promotes a culture of safety, taking proactive action to alert others of safety concerns, near‑misses, and/or incidents. Participates in the regular cadence of proactive safety observation reporting processes and systems.
• Contributes to a positive and effective team environment by sharing information with other shifts or technician teams, contributing in regular team meetings, asking questions, and partnering with other shifts of technician teams to complete smooth transition and effective handover of ticketed work. Provides, responds to, and encourages providing feedback regarding on ways to work more effectively or enhance efficiency within their team and adopts best practices shared within-and-across shifts or technician teams. Proactively shares security‑related learnings and best practices across teams.

Managing Service

• Develops an understanding of cross‑functional Data Center processes to support partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Completes required training aligned to job focus areas and workloads (i.e., Break fix, Deployment, Simple Change, Decommission, IT Critical Environment) in a timely manner per direct‑line management assignment(s). Observes more experienced technicians to gain hands‑on experience and relevant on‑the‑job training (OJT). May complete additional or supplemental training to obtain or maintain relevant industry or technical certifications.
• Escalates and/or seeks guidance from experienced technicians or direct-line management regarding client interactions.
• Maintains an awareness of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) through reporting dashboards, systems, for personal monthly performance discussions as needed.

Physical Requirements

Applies to but is not limited to US-based Data Center roles: Occasional climbing of ladders. Frequent climbing of stairs and/or ramps. Prolonged standing. Occasional lifting 50lbs / 22.5kg. Occasional push or pull 50-75 lbs / 22.5-34kg. with assistive device. Normal visual acuity (near, far and peripheral with correction), defined via standard medical terms and applicable criteria. Normal color vision for electrical work, defined via standard medical terms and applicable criteria.

Service Delivery

• Performs diagnostics and troubleshooting and/or leverages standard procedures to quickly and efficiently identify the cause(s) of technical issues and replace faulty components in network, storage, or server equipment with zero‑to‑minimal customer and/or business disruption. Recognizes conditions, circumstances, and scenarios which may reflect significant customer or business impact within the Data Center environment.
• Directly performs decommissions, simple changes (e.g., memory upgrades, OS rebuilds) and refreshes of infrastructure cabling, network, storage, and server equipment, following standard procedures with minimal guidance. Processes data‑bearing devices (DBDs) for destruction or confirms any-and-all such devices (e.g. hard‑drives, solid‑state drives, flash cards, etc.) contained within network, storage, or server equipment has been identified for eradication or destruction. Ensures end‑to‑end management of DBDs in accordance with security protocols and regulations.
• Follows procedures to immediately communicate, report, and elevate data center technical, safety, or security related incidents to direct-line management. May participate in bridge calls to provide details on incident status and executes on‑site follow‑up actions as directed if necessary.
• May perform post‑execution verification of grounding, staging, labeling, and cabling to align with all safety protocols, deployment standards, and planned Network Design Templates (NDTs) with guidance. May identify errors in deployment standards or Network Design Templates (NDTs) and escalates to relevant technicians or specialists to coordinate corrections as needed with guidance.
• Develops and employs an effective execution order strategy for assigned tasks. Prepares, stages, sets up, and performs basic startups and shutdowns for hardware (e.g., racks, hard drives, switches) according to specific written instructions provided via checklists, guides, standard processes, emails, guidance from other technicians, and/or direction from management. May perform tasks in tandem with other technicians to comply with procedures and safety requirements. Ensures all tasks are executed and aligned with security principles, configurations, and controls.

Working Conditions

Applies to but is not limited to US-based Data Center roles: Working for extended periods under elevated levels of ambient noise, heat, and light due to necessary equipment and ventilation systems.

Other

Embodies our culture and values.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent and basic knowledge of computer hardware and components AND 2+ years experience supporting IT equipment or related technology
• OR equivalent experience

Other Requirements

• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
• Citizenship verification: This position requires verification of citizenship due to citizenship‑based legal restrictions. Specifically, this position supports United States federal, state, and/or local government agency customers and is subject to certain citizenship‑based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate’s citizenship will be verified with a valid passport.
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States that does not now or in the future require employer sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Computer Science or related field and/or equivalent work experience AND 5+ years experience supporting IT equipment or related technology
• OR equivalent experience.
• 2+ years experience working in a production, mission-critical 24x7x365 datacenter environment.
• Applicable certifications: ASICS/Inventory Control, CompTIA (A+, Server+, Network+), Basic Structure Cabling (BSC), Data Center Foundation Certification (DCFC), Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Vendor‑Specific Network Certifications.

Pay Range

Data Center Technicians ATR‑D - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $34.13 - $56.54 per hour. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $45.24 - $63.61 per hour.