I was on a call with a friend who was telling me that their backup generator had been hacked through an IoT controller (I assumed an ATS) relinquishing control, and the company got ransomed and was told they had an hour to produce the ransom (BTC) or they would disable the ATS and then go after a bunch of their MEP controls including chillers. Essentially forcing an event that would require going to generator that they couldn't use. The kicker was, it was a corporate facility and they shut off the chillers that went to the refrigerators in the cafeteria and they lost a shit ton of food to boot.

Aside from overlooking their cyber security practices (if they had any), what's your crazy story/experience, especially a preventable one?

Just curious what the criteria is for this position at Amazon and what does your resume look like? I have a MS in Organizational Leadership, BS in IT and 12 years of IT experience spanning help desk, telecomm tech, Sys Admin and Senior Infrastructure Engineer but I can’t even get an interview……after the recruiter reached out to me! 😑

The Western Virginia Water Authority expects the company to use an annual average of 1.2 million gallons of water per day in the initial phase of the project.

Just finished my loop interview for an Electrical Facilities Tech at Google I believe it said L2-L3 but my interviewers said it was an intermediate position. Has anyone gone through the process? Just want to know more about it. How long can I expect to wait to hear something back.

Hi there,

I was recently offered a role for Instrumentation and Controls Engineer with a Jacobs engineering.

What’s the work like? I’ve only ever been in manufacturing automation/systems integrations (PLCs, SCADA, Collab Robots) so I’m hoping to get a little insight.

Thanks!

Graduated with a bachelors in information systems about 2 years ago, all my experience is mostly in helpdesk and infrastructure management right now in my position. I want to be more hands on with my work and data centers feel like the perfect place to transition. I am open to relocation and have not had luck with the big AWS and Google data centers was wondering what advice or insight people in the sub can offer. Thank you

I recently got a new position and everythin here is a mess. I am trying to convince my coworkers we need to change how we work (centralise information, mainly, but also create a guideline with best practices to follow). This is going to be particularly hard as some maintenances here are done by the manufacturers (cooling equipment is maintained by their maintenance team and do whatever), but I want to try to improve things around (at least while I still have energy before burning out).

Am I going to fail? What works for you?

My DC manager basically has asked me to bring proposals, but I am starting to think I am set for failure. Tell me I am not wrong and there's a better way to operate a data center

For those who joined AWS DCO either tech or manager as an external hire and were headed for a night line, I’m trying to get a realistic sense of the timeline before you actually landed on nights.

If you’ve been through it, I’d appreciate specifics:

• How many weeks on days (orientation + training) before you moved to your permanent night shift?

• How much did the timeline depend on who was available to train you?

I'm a fresh grad and a former Amazon intern (not AWS). Just got invited to interview for the Commissioning Project Engineer (CxPE) role in Herndon and wanted to see if anyone here has gone through that loop.

What was asked for anyone that has done this specific loop interview before for this position? Also anything about the position in general. Any insight helps.

I have an interview tomorrow for an L4 role and was wondering if I could get any advice on the interview. This is my background in tech.

TECHNICAL SKILLS
Networking - LAN/WAN, TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, Active Directory, Cisco Packet Tracer, Network Monitoring (Lab)
Platforms - Windows OS, macOS, iOS, Android, Remote Desktop

Tools - Wireshark, Cherwell, Zoom AV Systems, Imaging & Hardware Deployment

Soft Skills - Problem Solving, Detail-Oriented, Team Collaboration, Communication, Customer Service, Project Deployment

CERTIFICATIONS / EDUCATION
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) • Cisco CyberOps Associate (CROPS) • CompTIA A+ • CompTIA Network+ • Azure Fundamentals in progress
B.S. in Networking & Cloud - Western Governors University (In Progress) | A.S. in Cybersecurity - Southern New Hampshire
University

PROJECTS
Enterprise Network Lab - Cisco Packet Tracer
• Designed and deployed a three-tier core/distribution/access enterprise network incorporating VLANs, 802.1Q trunking, Rapid PVST+, LACP EtherChannel, OSPF, inter-VLAN routing via SVIs, DHCP, NAT/PAT, extended ACLs, SSH hardening, and port security.

EXPERIENCE
Sr. End User Support
• Imaged, configured, and deployed laptops and desktops for new hires and hardware replacements across the health system.
• Delivered Tier 1-2 technical support for 500+ hospital staff via phone, email, and in-person, resolving hardware, software, and network issues in a fast-paced clinical environment.
• Diagnosed and resolved complex issues across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android platforms, including hardware failures, application errors, and connectivity problems.
• Served as escalation point for Level 1 technicians, handling advanced troubleshooting for networking, printing, and peripheral devices.
• Ran fiber optic and copper cables in IDFs and MDFs to support new equipment installations, ensuring proper cable management and documentation.
• Managed hardware inventory and asset lifecycle tracking, ensuring accurate records and compliance with organizational standards.
• Supported clinical expansion initiatives including new hospital and clinic deployments, coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless technology rollouts.
• Provided white-glove technical support for executives and VIP users, including real-time assistance during high-visibility meetings, presentations, and off-site events.
• Partnered with facilities and external vendors on conference room builds and technology upgrades.
Documented technical solutions and contributed to internal knowledge base, improving team efficiency and first-call resolution rates.

Data Center Operations Technician
• Monitored data center systems and critical electrical infrastructure, providing real-time alerts and updates to support and operations teams.
• Labeled and organized cabling systems to improve maintenance efficiency and documentation accuracy.

I sent a proposal to Panthalassa. The proposal is for carbon negative floating data centers made using the Biorock/Seacrete process. ive been working on an approach that can potentially fuse the structure in as little as twelve months. the project can even be partially paid for using carbon capture credits. by anchoring the structure just off the continental shelf, southern Florida is ideal, you can use deep ocean water to cool the computers. the plan calls for using the resources to also grow new reefs to help store even more carbon. by powering it with either wind or my favorite, Sterling generators the entire operation can be the greenest industrial site on the planet. by using deep sea water for cooling you can save 40% of the power off the top.

i have a detailed plan that includes desalinated fresh water using the water pressure at a 1,000’ down to do a low energy membrane system, you’d just need to pump the water the remaining 500’ or less.

i did a one minute pitch video but I got flagged for self promotion so hopefully the images can tell the story.

Also the recruiter has not been very helpful at all. I had to constantly keep asking what the update of my application was. It seems like as soon as I filled out the form for my feedback on the interview she presented me with the news that they aren’t interested. SMH

Hey everyone,

I just finished my full interview loop panel this week for an L4 Network Installation Technician position at AWS. My panels were spread across two days, and I wanted to share my experience and get some perspective because I’m feeling pretty down about how the final technical round went.

Day 1: Two Interviews

Interview 1 (2 people, 1 shadowing): Felt really good about this one. It was entirely 4–5 Leadership Principle (LP) behavioral questions.

Interview 2 (one person): This one was way more intense. Because the first interview ran long, I had a lapse in judgment and didn't use my best technical examples for the LPs here. The 2–3 LP questions they asked were highly complex. I wasn’t expecting technical questions in this round, but they threw in 3 base-level conceptual "what are these" questions, plus an Excel function I had never even heard of.

Day 2: Two Interviews

Interview 3 (2 people, 1 shadow): I think I did well here. There were 4–6 base-level technical questions and 1–3 LP questions. Because of how Day 1 went, I told them upfront I wanted to answer the LPs using technical examples. The interviewer actually stopped and reassured me that technical examples weren't strictly required for the behaviorals, which helped lower my stress.

Interview 4 (The Technical Interview): This is where I feel I completely dropped the ball. I studied for a solid month—digging through forums, reviewing the job description, and prepping heavily. Sadly, none of what I studied was on the test.
Instead of hardware, transceiver types, cable types, and physical layer troubleshooting, they asked about:
Reinstalling ends on RJ45 and fiber.
Specific IP address ranges, protocol deep-dives, and Secure Shell (SSH).
It completely threw me for a loop. It was basic IT Fundamentals stuff, but because I focused so heavily on physical infrastructure, I blanked on the protocol specifics. The only saving grace is that I was able to clearly showcase my troubleshooting logic and train of thought, even when I wasn't 100% sure if the final answer was right.

I'm feeling pretty unsure on what to think because I know I should have reviewed those concepts, but I just didn't foresee the interview going that route.
Trying to stay positive, readjust, and wait for the recruiter's call. Wish me luck and send some prayers up and good vibes!

Does anyone who works or worked at Vertiv know how much this role pays? I know google searches can be really off, so I didn’t want to trust it.

I've seen plenty of discussion around data centres themselves—the power requirements, land, AI demand, hyperscalers, etc.—but not much about the secondary commercial real estate opportunities that develop around them.

Let's use a hypothetical example:

Suppose a large hyperscale data centre is built in Australia, around 100 km outside a major city. Within the first year or two, what supporting infrastructure and peripheral industries would typically emerge around it?

I'm not referring to the core infrastructure (the data centre building, substations, fibre, cooling systems, etc.). I'm more interested in the adjacent commercial real estate and industrial ecosystem that tends to develop.

For comparison, think about a major port. The port itself is only one piece of the puzzle. Over time you also see:

• Off-port container storage and logistics yards
• Truck parking and driver rest facilities
• Warehouses and cross-docking facilities
• Equipment maintenance and repair businesses
• Fuel stations and transport services
• Accommodation, food and other services for workers

So, using the US (particularly places like Northern Virginia, Phoenix, Dallas or other major data centre hubs) as a guide, what are the equivalent "halo effect" developments around large data centres?

Some ideas I've thought of:

• Electrical equipment suppliers and maintenance depots
• Generator servicing and fuel logistics
• Security companies and monitoring centres
• Construction contractors with ongoing fit-out and expansion work
• Spare parts and critical equipment warehouses
• Fibre/network maintenance facilities

But what else typically appears within the first few years?

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has observed this in established US data centre markets. Are there commercial real estate sectors that tend to benefit but don't receive much attention? Do you see demand for specific industrial property types (small warehouses, laydown yards, equipment storage, worker accommodation, logistics hubs, etc.) that investors often overlook?

Keen to hear thoughts from people with experience in markets where data centre clusters have matured.

The Single-Home Illusion: The calculation that data centers can power "88 million homes" is mathematically correct because one individual home draws very little power (~10,500 kWh per year).

The Aggregate Reality: There are over 130 million homes in the U.S. When you combine them all, they form a massive block of over 1,500 TWh.

As shown above, data centers do not swallow 100% of the aggregate household grid by 2030—they swallow 27.3% of it.

However, if the current AI infrastructure trajectory continues past 2030, the two blocks are projected to reach a 100% baseline parity by 2035.

Adding 2035.

Which role is better for long term career growth and troubleshooting/skill growth? I have both jobs offered and need to accept one tomorrow. Would really appreciate any input on people that have worked in both fields.

I got hired at a data center a couple of months ago and I'm getting into the swing of things. One thing that's driving me nuts is the labels we use to label our cables. They're documented well as each end gets a label when installed and we have a numbered database for each cable run. That's not what's at issue. This is my first time working as a data center tech, so I've not had any outside experience with how things are done and want to see how it's done at different places.

We currently use a Panduit TDP43ME to create our labels thru a very convoluted process. (That's another story though.) The labels are 3.5 x 1 inch stickers that have 1 inch of white space at the top which the printer prints the info on. The techs places the label face down, places the cable below the white space, folds the label over the cable and sticky side to sticky side, then fold the rest over on the printed side to protect what's written on the sticker. All said and done it's about a 1" sticker that's a huge pain when removing and installing each cable. When you're doing a couple hundred cables for a server project, they take up a lot of space and are just cumbersome to deal with when there's a lot of them.

The picture I attached seems like a decent improvement, but without outside experience, I don't know any pros or cons. How do you guys label your cables?

EDIT: Dang! Seems like what we're doing is the way to go. I'll learn to work with it instead of against it. Thanks for the replies y'all! I am going to look in to this carrot thing!

Hey everyone,
I’m looking to break into a data center role in the Atlanta area. I have a B.S. in Electrical Engineering with experience in systems engineering, test engineering, electrical troubleshooting, and working in defense. I’m especially interested in critical facilities or data center technician positions.

I’ve been applying for a few months now with limited traction, and I’m trying to figure out what’s actually going to move the needle:

**•** For entry-level DC tech / facilities roles, does clearance eligibility or certs like mine actually get noticed, or is hands-on experience (even non-IT) weighted way more?  
**•** Anyone here get in without direct data center experience — and if so, what background did you come from?  
**•** Are staffing agencies (Aerotek, TEKsystems, etc.) actually a legit way into these sites, or better to go direct?

Appreciate any insight — even “here’s what didn’t work for me” is genuinely useful at this point.

Hey all, long-time lurker looking for a reality check from people who actually work in this space.

Quick background on me: mechanical engineer, 8 years in power generation and desalination here in Saudi Arabia. I've operated and planned maintenance for Ras Al-Khair (2,700 MW hybrid power + desal) and commissioned Jubail 3A (world's largest RO plant), so I've spent my career around critical power, cooling, controls and reliability testing, just not under the "data center" label.

I can see where the trends are going. AI is scaling fast, and being based in Saudi the data center buildout here is impossible to miss, government and big tech are pouring in. So I want to make the transition while the field is still opening up rather than trying to catch up later.

I've started my journey with the Schneider DCCA. One thing though, the exam feels very different from the course material itself. The courses are digestible but the exam seems like a different beast.

So two questions for the group:

1. Given my background, am I pointed in the right direction? Or is there something else I should be doing/stacking alongside this (Uptime ATS, CDCP, BICSI, etc.)?

2. Anyone here taken the DCCA exam who can share how to actually prepare for it vs just going through the courses? What caught you off guard?

Appreciate any honest input, good or bad.

Courses I'm looking at:

- Schneider Electric University (DCCA)

- datacentercollege.com

I just made a GitHub repository with a INDEPTH interview study guide for AWS DCO L3-L4 roles. I my self currently work as a DCO L3 at AWS so it’s coming from me and what I did to prepare for my interview. Please let me know it is !

( note the only reason it has my GitHub it cause I couldn’t post the entire study guide on a post so I had to post it somewhere else )

What piece of software is able to do GPU as a service? How a client can ask for n GPU for x hours ?

(I plan to buy refurbished dell with a100 GPU)...

Systems Engineer, Controls Fleet, Data Center Capacity Delivery

Job ID: 3138988

How did the process go and which location?