Chief Engineer, DCEO, Data Center Engineering Operations

Amazon; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Amazon AWS Infrastructure Services seeks a Data Center Chief Engineer to lead electrical, mechanical and fire/life safety uptime across Cape Town-area data centers. You will manage on-site teams, coordinate with vendors, and drive large-scale projects from concept to completion.

The role requires 5+ years in data center engineering or operations, strong vendor management, and a Bachelor’s degree in engineering. Travel within the EMEA region may be required.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of vendor management experience.
• 4+ years in data center or critical environments.
• 5+ years in data center engineering or operations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of construction or project management experience.
• Electrical or mechanical Journeyman License; operating engineering licenses such as DC II/III preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operations and maintenance of mechanical and electrical equipment in data centers.
• Operate independently with limited direct management.
• Assist in the design and build out of new facilities.
• Act as an escalation point for all facilities-related issues within the data center region and work OT hours as needed to support site stability.
• Perform root cause analysis of equipment failures.
• Troubleshoot and report facility and data center events within internal SLA.
• Create and deploy new standard practices for Engineering Operations Technicians, Chief Engineers, and vendor support teams.
• Provide training and guidance to EOTs and assist in recruiting efforts for the same.
• Ensure all safety procedures are adhered to by vendor and Amazon staff.
• Utilize internal Change Management Systems to manage building workflows.
• MV/LV Isolation to facilitate MV maintenance.
• Provide metric availability reporting on a weekly basis.
• Communicate complex technical information to a non-technical audience.

Skills

Vendor management

Data center experience

Data center engineering/operations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Description

Amazon is looking for an energetic, detail-oriented individual to join our Data Center Engineering Operations Team in the Cape town Area. This committed group works to maintain the critical physical infrastructure that supports Amazon Web Services. Specifically, this team works to ensure that the data center's MEP operates at 100% availability while maintaining first-class customer service to the teams and groups within the data centers.

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 both planned preventative maintenance of equipment, daily corrective work, and emergency response to emergent issues. 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 and to support Amazon within its owned and operated data centers.

Also expected from the CE is the ability to manage large scale impacting projects and new region support from conception to completion. These projects involve large amounts of independent work as well as collaboration with external support groups including engineering, automation, procurement, 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. The goals of such projects are for the CE to drive innovation and resiliency while reducing operational costs in the facilities.

The CE directs, trains and supports EOTs 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. This equipment includes, but is not limited to, stand‑by diesel generators, switchgear, UPSs, PDUs, AHUs, chillers, cooling towers, chemical treatment systems, pumps, motors, VFDs, and building automation systems.

The role will be based in the Cape town area, however flexibility is required to travel to other locations within the EMEA region if required.

Key job responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operations and maintenance of mechanical and electrical equipment in data centers
• Operate independently with limited direct management
• Assist in the design and build out of new facilities
• Act as an escalation point for all facilities‑related issues within the data center region and work OT hours as needed to support site stability
• Perform root cause analysis of equipment failures
• Troubleshoot and report of facility and data sever‑level events within internal SLA
• Create and deploy new standard practices for Engineering Operations Technicians, Chief Engineers, and vendor support teams
• Provide training and guidance to Engineering Operations Technicians and assisting in recruiting efforts for the same
• Ensure all safety procedures are adhered to by vendor and Amazon staff
• Utilize internal Change Management Systems to manage building workflows
• MV/LV Isolation to facilitate MV maintenance
• Provide metric availability reporting on a weekly basis
• Communicate complex technical information to a non‑technical audience

About the team

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 of 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.

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
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field

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

Amazon is an equal opportunities employer, and we value your passion to discover, invent, simplify and build. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. Amazon is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from South African citizens who are members of designated groups who may contribute to Employment Equity within the workplace and the further diversification of ideas. In this regard, the relevant laws and principles associated with Employment Equity will be considered when appointing potential candidates. We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers.