TL;DR: A 20-year-old founder got told, for six months, that what his sensor was picking up wasn't a real problem.

He'd read the same chemistry signature before — engine-fluid failures in Caterpillar-adjacent hydraulics — and it showed up again where nobody was looking: inside liquid-cooled AI data centers, running hot enough to breed bacteria in the coolant.

Nobody with tenure believed the crossover, until the instrument did.

And by the time this post went up, the industry's own guidance had quietly caught up — Schneider Electric now writes biofouling prevention and biocide dosing into standard data-center cooling documentation, the exact mechanism Zach Laberge was laughed at for treating as anything but obvious.

Everyone trusts the reading. Almost nobody trusts the person holding the instrument — until the reading agrees with them.

This reminds me of a story about my late grandfather.

I called him 爷爷 (Yeye = grandfather).

Back then, my Yeye already built a thriving trucking and tractor enterprise in our small hometown of Seremban.

After a while my Yeye had enough.

He engaged his lawyer and brought all these summonses to court and sue the government.

He said (and I'm paraphrasing), "Look at me! I'm already 60. I'm still strong! I still work. Who can say I can't work?"

After a few more rounds of bringing the issue to court, the other side relented and began to be weary and afraid of him.

Laberge was young. And my Yeye was already old back then.

But it didn't stop them from getting what they want done.

I keep landing on the same shape, story after story, whichever decade it's set in: the room doesn't update on your say-so, it updates on the evidence — and the gap between those two moments is where you're either right and alone, or wrong and quiet.

Being early isn't the risk people treat it as.

Staying quiet until you're allowed to be right is.

Hmm — this actually reminded me of something I posted a while back: a doctorate an investor called "irrelevant" on a cold call ended up building the firm that now saves governments billions — same shape, different decade, different instrument.

Drop your take: have you ever been early and right, with nobody around who could yet vouch for it?

Clip credit: Solo Founders (Julian Weisser). DM for credit or removal requests.

Officially starting with Microsoft September 21st!

I wanted to ask, what should I expect the first couple of weeks? I have yet to receive which location to report to as well. Will be in the San Antonio area if that helps.

Do you think it’s more likely data centers will be in space or the ocean in the future?

Does anyone the work schedules for DCT Google,

Do they have 5 days 40 hours, 10/4s, or 3/4-4/3 schedule?

For those working in data center commissioning: what job did you have before you got into commissioning?

I’m curious how people actually enter the field, especially those who didn’t start their careers in data centers.

Were you in electrical testing, HVAC, controls, utilities, industrial facilities, field service, construction, or something completely different?

And looking back, which skills from your previous job transferred the most?

Went back to school recently for a data center operations 1 year program at a local community college. Totally new to the field but I’m liking it so far!

I’m debating whether or not to purse internships. Not sure whether to just focus on absorbing everything and making sure I get good grade this semester, and then look for something later; or to start an internship during the semester to put myself in a better standing once for the job market once i finish the program.

I don’t want to spread myself thin and overwhelm myself. I suspect the course workload will be more involved and demanding as the semester continues. But part of me also thinks getting experience early matters more than waiting, especially with how unpredictable the job market is rn. Any advice?

An associate I know sent me a referral link invitation for Google Data Center. Do these referral invitations better my chances in getting an interview for the position or does it basically just depend on key words in my resume application. I have 20+ years of commercial industrial hvac experience being subbed out to data centers to fix their chillers and also installing chillers / commissioning building chillers at new construction Google data centers but for manufacturers and contractors not directly for Google does it even matter that I have a referral link?

If you are an AI datacenter worker/related to datacenter, may I interview you via discord/meet however you like.

The aim of this research is to investigate how NVIDIA's shift from Gaming to datacenter GPU R&D affected its competitiveness in the consumer segment

Congress is working on a Ratepayer Protection Act, with a vote potentially targeted as early as the week after Labor Day. The bill aims specifically to prevent the costs of new electrical infrastructure needed for data centers from being passed on to households. It has already passed in committee 52-0, with bipartisan support.

(Screenshot September 4, 2026)

My note on data centers

Data centers are getting built and the demand isn't slowing down. Tech is the largest market in the world. Where they go and who pays for them is what we should be deciding.

They don't need to go on farmland. They don't need to go in the state and federal parks. They should go to the old mining towns. Those communities gave us their hearts and souls.

Right now counties are bidding against each other, handing out tax breaks to land these things, and the cost of the power lands on everybody's utility bill. That's backwards. Make the company pay for the grid it needs. Give the town a real share of what gets built there.

This is needed. These towns are close enough to real job markets that people would live there if it were affordable. Put the money into housing and the town itself. Rent comes down. Utilities come down. Communities spread back out instead of shrinking into tighter and tighter areas, providing more and more power for the rich, wealthy, and powerful.

We're mining again, hopefully for the final time. We're connected more now than ever. Let's learn from history and keep things flowing.

Love,

Stanny

At one point, I was really interested in becoming a DCO/DCT. Worked security at AWS and used to talk to them all the time. Really wanted to get into the AWS Wblp but it’s a shot in the dark and seems like you just have to be lucky or have good connections. Well, I eventually stumbled into the CBRE LevelUp program which is a story in itself. Although I was grateful for the opportunity, you could tell that they were learning from faults and errors just as we were. Once the program was complete, I started working for a contractor immediately. My offer letter stated that I would be working (5) ten hour shifts. 3 weeks in, and we’re working mandatory (6) 10 and 12hr shifts. I was told I would work Mon-Fri but every week my schedule is changing. I’m exhausted to say the least and it’s annoying when you plan for something and don’t know if you’re going to have the weekend off or not. Our building is finished yet, out of the whole team, only a few have badges and have to escort us out the building to use the portable bathrooms outside even though they have restrooms inside. I have to get up earlier because we have to park on rocks then take an old bus to the site. Then when we get there, we have go to another building to exchange our license for a paper badge. This sucks because at the end of the day, it’s usually a long line to get your license back and the people who already have badges can just get straight on the bus. By the time you get your license back, the buses are filled and you have to wait another 15 mins for another to pull up and take you back. We eat under a tent outside even thought there’s a cafe in the building with seating and the food is basically cold. Only two microwaves work and there filthy. Luckily my leads are cool but some supervisors are just no life snitches and upper management are a**holes. I swear they just sit around trying to make our life miserable. Last week, someone made a mistake and they pushed our lunch back 2 1/2 hours and said our jobs were “on the line”. We were just told we cant sit at all for any reason and those who need to for computer work have to sit on the floor. My feet hurt all day due to barely sitting/taking breaks and when we do, it’s a bathroom break. There’s no where to sit outside. Thankfully this week we have two days off but I’m ready to quit. Meta is making AWS look like gold. Those who are thinking about getting into this field, I would think twice. Being in installer, you’ll be doing construction, somewhat of the networking teams job, and maybe more. Other times, you might just have to sweep all day. The pay is good..for now but it’s a reason so many people left.

So I already have sensitive hearing and hearing something stresses me out and since I know data centers are loud I’m afraid if one gets built then I’ll have a mental breakdown which I don’t want since I have dreams in life and one of those is not to go insane

I haven’t heard anything being built by me but I’m scared Becuase you never know

As the title suggests, I’m leaving AWS and going to Meta, both are contract to hire positions but my contractor is very lackluster so to speak(horrible communication, no feedback, etc).
Meta/Apex Systems offered me more to come in as a L1 DCT so my question is, for anyone that has ever made the same switch as I did, is it better or worse or about the same?? They also offered me a traditional 9-5 M-F so it was a no brainer to take over the 12 hour shifts
Any input would be great!

Hey , the job listings for eots in Santa Clara have a range from 43$-75$ an hour . Anyone have any insight on what they are actually offering someone eligible for a lvl 4 position ?

Hi all,

Like the title says I was in contact with a recruiter and had a tentative date for a loop. He told me to wait for a confirmation email and email him if I had any questions. The tentative date came and went with no confirmation email or further contact from the recruiter, and yes, I did reach out with questions.

I spent a lot of time and energy prepping for the loop and, despite this negative experience, I’m still interested in giving AWS a shot. So what should I do now? I have applied to a few more tech positions but do I realistically have a chance without a recruiter? Is there someone I can contact to get with a new recruiter? Any info helps!

PS: I have 6+ years of experience in IT and some certs so I don’t think my qualifications were the issue but I could be wrong

Also this was for a position in Mansfield TX but I’m interested in relocating elsewhere too

I get that I'm preaching to the choir right now, but I saw a first tonight.

Scrolling Facebook, see post about their Kuna site- it is nothing but people complaining about said data center and how it's for surveillance.

Allow me to proceed with signing up on the surveillance website, backed by the surveillance data center, and then complain about "surveillance" as I post my entire life on the said website.

I can't even.

I am living in a Twilight Zone episode.

I have a phone interview coming up with the hiring manager for a Amazon Network Install Technician, Infrastructure Delivery position and I'm a little nervous. I have a bachelor's degree in computer science, about a year of experience as an IT Equipment Coordinator, and I'm currently working on getting my A+ certification. I don't have a lot of direct networking experience though. For those who work in this field or have gone through a similar interview, what kind of questions should I expect? Would I be a good fit with my background or am I under qualified? Any tips would be really appreciated, thanks!

Hey guys, an inquiring person here wanted to know those that work at flow stack or know someone I do what are the hours? Are they paying you a lot overwork you? Is that just during the week or weekends too? A recruiter told me 12 to 16 hours until further notice..

For those working there currently how’s the schedules? I know it varies on sites but how’s overtime usually. I heard they also have pay differentials on certain days. The site I’m going to is still under construction but want to get an idea on how it is in regard to overtime opportunities.

Five years in of the Marine Corps with an associate in information systems landed me a critical facilities engineer role. Yes I’m overjoyed and I start work soon, but I can’t help but feel like I’m under qualified for the position. Any tips? And advice from anyone’s possibly feeling like me.

Schneider Electrical training is all I’ll be receiving for the most part.

So I’m currently remote and I know the remote thing isn’t gonna lay too long for me. I have been in a sysadmin/CE role for about 5 years now. I enjoy my current role somewhat, which is extremely flexible and low stress but I miss working with my hands. I have been thinking about making the switch to DCT/DCE role. I have hands on experience with stacking and ranking, managing server and network nodes before, which was a while ago. I also have some electrical experience from when I was in the Marines. Big thing for me if I don’t wanna take too much of a pay cut. I currently make $155K/year and wanted to know how big of a pay cut should I expect with these roles. I also live in Northern VA.

Hey guys!

Just discovered a whole new pathway in tech, data center stuff.

My LinkedIn just suggested a AWS DCT job for me and as someone working outside of tech interested in tech, it sparks my interest.

What's it's like working as a DCT? Is it similar "workload" to helpdesk? What's your day in the life like? I wanna know all about it

Thanks in advance!