📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Data Center Facility Operations Manager
Company: Amazon
Location: Ashburn, Virginia, United States
Job Type: On-site
Category: Data Center Operations & Management
Date Posted: June 11, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Lead and manage data center operations to ensure high availability and performance of critical infrastructure.
Oversee on-site teams, sub-contractors, and vendors to maintain safety protocols and service level agreements.
Drive safety and security culture, manage budgets, and engage in improvement projects.
Utilize technical expertise and problem-solving skills to maintain and optimize data center facilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong technical background in data center operations, combined with proven leadership and management skills to effectively oversee teams and maintain critical infrastructure.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Facility Management: Oversee the day-to-day operations of the data center, ensuring high availability and performance of critical systems such as switchgear, generators, UPS systems, power distribution equipment, HVAC, and more.
Team Leadership: Hire, coach, and promote team members, fostering a healthy team culture and peak morale. Manage performance and career development for direct reports.
Budget Management: Effectively manage the operations budget and expenditures, ensuring financial efficiency and compliance.
Project Management: Drive improvement projects, often requiring collaboration with various support teams, from conception to completion.
Emergency Response: Act as an escalation point for facilities-related issues and respond to out-of-hours emergency calls.
Safety & Compliance: Ensure compliance with safety protocols and regulations, promoting a strong safety and security culture within the team.
Technical Troubleshooting: Utilize root cause analysis and troubleshooting/problem-solving skills to resolve issues and maintain optimal data center performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role demands a broad range of technical skills and leadership abilities, with a strong focus on maintaining data center availability, optimizing performance, and ensuring safety and compliance.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A high school diploma or equivalent is required. Advanced electrical or mechanical certifications (e.g., Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant engineering discipline) are preferred.

Experience: Candidates should have at least 4 years of management experience with 5 or more direct reports and 5+ years of relevant work experience in a data center or other mission-critical environment. Alternatively, 7+ years of technical (military/trade school) training and/or experience may be considered.

Required Skills:

Proven leadership and management skills, with experience overseeing teams and managing budgets.
Strong understanding of electrical and mechanical systems involved in critical data center operations.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience in technical writing or business justifications.
Demonstrated ability to work in physically demanding conditions, including group lifts, ladder use, and regular walking, climbing, and balancing.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and other basic administrative tools.

Preferred Skills:

Advanced certifications in electrical or mechanical engineering.
Experience working with building and equipment operation in a data center environment.
Knowledge of feeders, transformers, generators, switchgear, UPS systems, ATS units, PDU units, chillers, pumps, air handling units, and CRAHU units.
Experience with root cause analysis and problem-solving methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role requires a strong technical background, the preferred skills list emphasizes advanced certifications and specific data center experience, indicating a preference for candidates with specialized knowledge in the field.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials: Not applicable for this role, as it focuses on data center operations management rather than web development or server administration.

Technical Documentation: Not applicable for this role, as it focuses on data center operations management rather than web development or server administration.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The salary range for this role is estimated to be between $120,000 and $160,000 per year, based on regional market data and the required experience level. This estimate is inclusive of the cost of living in the Ashburn, Virginia area.

Benefits: Amazon offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

Health, dental, and vision insurance
Retirement savings plans (401k and pension)
Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
Maternity and paternity leave
Employee discounts and stock awards
Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities

Working Hours: This role requires a 40-hour workweek, with on-call responsibilities for emergency response. The work schedule may include shift work and may require flexibility to respond to maintenance windows and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate based on regional market data and the required experience level. Actual compensation may vary based on individual qualifications and Amazon's internal compensation structure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Amazon operates in the e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital streaming industries, with a strong focus on innovation, customer-centricity, and operational excellence.

Company Size: Amazon is a large corporation with over 1.6 million employees worldwide. This size allows for significant resources and opportunities for career growth and development.

Founded: Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Team Structure: The AWS Infrastructure Services team owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. The team consists of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. The Data Center Engineering Operations team focuses on maintaining and operating critical infrastructure systems to ensure high availability and performance.

Development Methodology: Not applicable for this role, as it focuses on data center operations management rather than web development or server administration.

Company Website: https://www.amazon.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's company culture is known for its focus on innovation, customer-centricity, and operational excellence. The AWS Infrastructure Services team plays a critical role in maintaining the high availability and performance of AWS's global infrastructure.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Data Center Operations Manager Career Level: This role is a mid-level management position, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of a data center and managing a team of technicians. The role requires a strong technical background in data center operations, combined with proven leadership and management skills.

Reporting Structure: The Data Center Facility Operations Manager reports directly to the Data Center Engineering Operations team and may have multiple direct reports, including shift technicians, sub-contractors, and vendors.

Technical Impact: The role has a significant impact on the overall availability and performance of the data center, ensuring that critical infrastructure systems are maintained and optimized to meet service level agreements.

Growth Opportunities:

Vertical Growth: With experience and proven performance, candidates may advance to senior management roles, such as Data Center Engineering Operations Manager or other leadership positions within AWS Infrastructure Services.
Horizontal Growth: Candidates may explore opportunities in related fields, such as data center design, project management, or other specialized roles within AWS Infrastructure Services.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and development within Amazon's AWS Infrastructure Services team. With experience and proven performance, candidates may advance to senior management roles or explore opportunities in related fields.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is based in a data center environment, with a focus on maintaining and operating critical infrastructure systems. The work environment may include physically demanding conditions, such as group lifts, ladder use, and regular walking, climbing, and balancing.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Ashburn, Virginia, with the possibility of supporting multiple locations/sites.

Workspace Context:

Critical Infrastructure Focus: The role requires a strong focus on maintaining and optimizing critical infrastructure systems, such as switchgear, generators, UPS systems, power distribution equipment, HVAC, and more.
Team Collaboration: The role involves working with various teams, including on-site technicians, sub-contractors, vendors, and support teams, to drive improvement projects and maintain high availability and performance.
Emergency Response: The role requires the ability to respond to out-of-hours emergency calls and act as an escalation point for facilities-related issues.

Work Schedule: The role requires a 40-hour workweek, with on-call responsibilities for emergency response. The work schedule may include shift work and may require flexibility to respond to maintenance windows and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment for this role is physically demanding and requires a strong focus on maintaining and optimizing critical infrastructure systems. The role involves working with various teams and may require flexibility to respond to emergency calls and maintenance windows.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone call to discuss the role, qualifications, and expectations.
On-site Interview: A series of in-depth interviews with team members, focusing on technical expertise, leadership skills, and cultural fit. The interview may include a tour of the data center facility and discussions about specific projects or challenges.
Final Decision: A final decision is made based on the candidate's qualifications, interview performance, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips: Not applicable for this role, as it focuses on data center operations management rather than web development or server administration.

Technical Challenge Preparation: Not applicable for this role, as it focuses on data center operations management rather than web development or server administration.

ATS Keywords: Not applicable for this role, as it focuses on data center operations management rather than web development or server administration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for this role focuses on assessing the candidate's technical expertise, leadership skills, and cultural fit. The process may include a tour of the data center facility and discussions about specific projects or challenges.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Data Center Infrastructure: The role requires a strong understanding of data center infrastructure, including electrical and mechanical systems such as:

Feeders, transformers, generators, switchgear, UPS systems, ATS units, PDU units
Chillers, pumps, air handling units, and CRAHU units
Building monitoring systems and other critical infrastructure components

Monitoring & Management Tools: The role may involve utilizing various monitoring and management tools to maintain and optimize data center performance, such as:

Building automation systems (BAS)
Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools
Power monitoring and management tools
HVAC monitoring and management tools

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong understanding of data center infrastructure, including electrical and mechanical systems, building monitoring systems, and other critical infrastructure components. The role may involve utilizing various monitoring and management tools to maintain and optimize data center performance.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Data Center Operations Values:

Safety First: Prioritize safety in all aspects of data center operations, ensuring compliance with safety protocols and regulations.
High Availability: Maintain high availability and performance of critical infrastructure systems to meet service level agreements.
Continuous Improvement: Drive improvement projects and initiatives to optimize data center performance and efficiency.
Teamwork: Collaborate with various teams, including on-site technicians, sub-contractors, vendors, and support teams, to maintain high availability and performance.
Customer Focus: Ensure that data center operations meet the needs of internal and external customers, providing exceptional service and support.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Collaboration: Work with various teams, including on-site technicians, sub-contractors, vendors, and support teams, to drive improvement projects and maintain high availability and performance.
Knowledge Sharing: Share expertise and best practices with team members to drive continuous improvement and learning.
Decision Making: Involve team members in decision-making processes to foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The data center operations values and collaboration style for this role emphasize safety, high availability, continuous improvement, teamwork, and customer focus. The role requires working with various teams to drive improvement projects and maintain high availability and performance.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

High Availability: Maintain high availability and performance of critical infrastructure systems to meet service level agreements, often in challenging and demanding conditions.
Emergency Response: Respond to out-of-hours emergency calls and act as an escalation point for facilities-related issues, requiring quick decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Budget Management: Effectively manage the operations budget and expenditures, ensuring financial efficiency and compliance while maintaining high availability and performance.
Continuous Improvement: Drive improvement projects and initiatives to optimize data center performance and efficiency, often requiring collaboration with various support teams.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skills Development: Develop expertise in data center operations, including electrical and mechanical systems, building monitoring systems, and other critical infrastructure components.
Leadership Skills Development: Enhance leadership and management skills through coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.
Career Progression: Advance to senior management roles, such as Data Center Engineering Operations Manager or other leadership positions within AWS Infrastructure Services.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant technical challenges, including maintaining high availability and performance, responding to emergencies, managing budgets, and driving continuous improvement. The role also offers opportunities for learning and development, including technical skills development, leadership skills enhancement, and career progression.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Data Center Infrastructure: Demonstrate a strong understanding of data center infrastructure, including electrical and mechanical systems, building monitoring systems, and other critical infrastructure components.
Emergency Response: Describe your experience and approach to responding to out-of-hours emergency calls and acting as an escalation point for facilities-related issues.
Budget Management: Explain your experience and approach to managing budgets and ensuring financial efficiency and compliance while maintaining high availability and performance.
Continuous Improvement: Discuss your experience driving improvement projects and initiatives to optimize data center performance and efficiency.

Company & Culture Questions:

Data Center Operations Culture: Describe your understanding of data center operations values, such as safety, high availability, continuous improvement, teamwork, and customer focus.
Collaboration Style: Explain your experience working with various teams, including on-site technicians, sub-contractors, vendors, and support teams, to drive improvement projects and maintain high availability and performance.
Decision Making: Discuss your approach to decision-making, involving team members and fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy: Not applicable for this role, as it focuses on data center operations management rather than web development or server administration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation for this role focuses on assessing the candidate's technical expertise, leadership skills, and cultural fit. The process involves discussing data center infrastructure, emergency response, budget management, continuous improvement, data center operations values, collaboration style, and decision-making approaches.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Data Center Facility Operations Manager position:

Submit Application: Submit your application through the application link provided.
Prepare for Phone Screen: Review the role description and be prepared to discuss your qualifications, experience, and expectations during a brief phone call.
Research Amazon & AWS: Familiarize yourself with Amazon's company culture, AWS Infrastructure Services, and the data center operations team to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm for the role.
Prepare for On-site Interview: Review the interview process and be prepared to discuss your technical expertise, leadership skills, and cultural fit with team members.
Follow Up: After the interview, send a thank-you note to express your appreciation for the opportunity to discuss the role and reiterate your interest in the position.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and data center operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Data Center Facility Operations Manager, DCC Communities