Microsoft

Senior Data Center Technician

Microsoft • $71K — $117K *
Chicago, IL 60629In-Person
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • High school diploma, GED, or equivalent with basic knowledge of computer hardware and components; 2+ years experience supporting IT equipment or related technology.
  • Associate's degree in Computer Science or related field preferred; 5+ years experience supporting IT equipment or related technology.
  • 2+ years experience in a production, mission-critical 24x7x365 datacenter environment preferred.
  • Applicable certifications such as CompTIA (A+, Server+, Network+), Data Center Foundation Certification (DCFC), or Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) are advantageous.
  • Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and government security screening requirements.

Responsibilities

  • Demonstrate expertise in preparing, installing, diagnosing, troubleshooting, and decommissioning IT datacenter technologies.
  • Review Process Change Notifications (PCNs) and provide feedback on process changes to improve service quality.
  • Complete assigned tickets efficiently while guiding less experienced technicians on complex tasks.
  • Comply with Data Center policies and escalate compliance issues to management.
  • Participate in daily safety briefings and adhere to safety procedures and protocols.
  • Contribute to a positive team environment by sharing information and best practices across shifts.
  • Perform diagnostics and troubleshooting to minimize customer disruption during technical issues.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive training aligned with job focus areas and workloads.
  • Opportunities for hands-on experience and on-the-job training with experienced technicians.
  • Participation in a culture of safety and proactive safety observation reporting.
  • Potential for career advancement through additional training and certifications.
Full Job Description
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.

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 work 12-hour shifts, including shift assignments during non-standard business hours 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.
  • As indicated, above, this role has a travel requirement of up to 25% which means you may be required to travel, from time to time, as part of this role.
  • As indicated above, have the ability to work 12-hour shifts, including shift assignments during non-standard business hours that may include evening, nighttime, weekends and/or holidays.


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 escalate 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.
  • As indicated above, this role has a travel requirement of up to 25% which means you may be required to travel, from time to time, as part of this role.
  • As indicated above, have the ability to work 12-hour shifts, including shift assignments during non-standard business hours that may include evening, nighttime, weekends and/or holidays.

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


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.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

Microsoft Careers

Join Microsoft today and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and diversity in its workforce. As a global leader in technology and digital transformation, Microsoft offers unparalleled job opportunities that propel your career to new heights.

Explore Career Opportunities at Microsoft

Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a recent graduate eager to start your career, Microsoft has a position that suits your skills and ambitions. We are committed to fostering a culture of growth and learning, where every team member is supported in expanding their horizons.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with a Microsoft internship. Our internships provide invaluable workplace experience and networking opportunities in a supportive and dynamic environment. You'll work on real projects, learn from industry leaders, and gain the skills necessary for a successful career in technology.

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At Microsoft, we believe that innovation comes from diversity of thought and inclusion. We are committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued and inspired. Our leadership is dedicated to fostering an environment where diverse perspectives lead to breakthrough innovations and a competitive edge.

Grow with Us

Career growth at Microsoft is about more than climbing the corporate ladder; it's about continuous learning, expanding your skills, and improving your capabilities. With access to various leadership and training programs, you can evolve as a professional and make a significant impact within the company and on the global stage.

Hiring Process

Our hiring process is designed to identify true potential. Starting with a review of your resume, followed by interviews that assess your problem-solving abilities and cultural fit, we ensure that all candidates have a fair chance to demonstrate their strengths and potential to contribute to our team.

Networking and Professional Development

Microsoft is a place where you can build a professional network that spans the globe. Our employees benefit from connections with top-tier professionals and industry leaders, which opens doors to innovative projects and collaborative opportunities that are second to none.

Join Our Team

If you're ready to take on exciting challenges and make a difference in the world of technology, explore the job opportunities at Microsoft. Search for open positions that match your skills and interests, and prepare to embark on a rewarding career path filled with innovation and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

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At Microsoft, your future is limitless. Join us in our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Your journey with Microsoft starts here.
Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ
MSFT
* Ladders Estimates

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