📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Data Center Manager, DCO
Company: Amazon
Location: Herndon, Virginia, United States
Job Type: On-site
Category: Server Administration & Infrastructure
Date Posted: 2025-06-11
Experience Level: 2-5 years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Lead day shift operations for multiple Amazon data centers, ensuring high availability and reliability.
Manage and develop a diverse team of data technicians, fostering a culture of best practices and continuous improvement.
Coordinate change management resources and oversee policies to meet industry best practices and service level agreements (SLAs).
Troubleshoot complex hardware and network issues, driving problem-solving and resolution.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver mid-size projects and innovate data center operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong balance of technical proficiency, leadership skills, and project management experience to excel in a dynamic, 24/7 data center environment.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Operational Management: Oversee day-to-day data center operations, ensuring service level agreements (SLAs) are met or exceeded.
Team Leadership: Manage, mentor, and develop a diverse team of data technicians, fostering a positive work environment and driving performance.
Troubleshooting & Resolution: Diagnose and resolve hardware and network issues, collaborating with team members to ensure quick and effective problem-solving.
Change Management: Coordinate change management resources, ensuring minimal disruption to data center operations and service availability.
Project Delivery: Manage and deliver mid-size projects, driving progress and ensuring on-time completion.
Policy & Procedure Development: Recommend, document, and oversee policies and procedures to meet industry best practices and required SLAs.
Staff Training & Development: Train and educate data staff on best practices related to service owner issues, ensuring continuous learning and growth.
Reporting & Communication: Provide weekly reports to the data center manager and maintain open lines of communication with team members and stakeholders.
On-Call Scheduling & Management: Coordinate on-call schedules, ensuring adequate staffing levels and addressing absences and vacations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role involves a high degree of multitasking, prioritization, and quick decision-making, requiring strong organizational skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Experience: 2+ years of experience managing people in a technical environment, with a strong preference for data center experience. 3+ years of networking experience and knowledge of cabling best practices. 3+ years of experience with hardware architectures and troubleshooting experience. 3+ years of experience with system management tools and client/server environments.

Required Skills:

Proven leadership and people management skills, with the ability to mentor and develop team members.
Strong technical understanding of data centers, hardware, and network repair.
Excellent communication, organizational, and prioritization skills.
Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex problems and drive resolution.
Experience with change management processes and project delivery.
Knowledge of industry best practices and service level agreements (SLAs).
Proficiency in system management tools and client/server environments.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with Amazon Web Services (AWS) or other cloud service providers.
Familiarity with data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools.
Project management experience and certifications (e.g., PMP).
Knowledge of ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) frameworks.
Experience with hardware and network diagnostics tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates with a strong background in data center operations, combined with proven leadership and project management skills, will excel in this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate experience in managing data center operations, highlighting your ability to ensure high availability and reliability.
Showcase your leadership and team management skills, providing examples of how you've developed and motivated team members.
Highlight your problem-solving skills, with case studies of complex hardware and network issues you've successfully resolved.
Present your project management experience, detailing how you've delivered mid-size projects on time and within budget.

Technical Documentation:

Prepare documentation outlining your approach to data center operations, including your strategies for ensuring high availability and reliability.
Include examples of policies and procedures you've developed to meet industry best practices and required SLAs.
Provide case studies of complex problems you've troubleshot, detailing your diagnostic and resolution processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: A well-curated portfolio demonstrating your technical expertise, leadership skills, and project management experience will be crucial for success in this role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 per year (based on regional market research and experience level)

Benefits:

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
401(k) matching and employee stock purchase plan.
Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick, and holiday leave.
Parental leave and family care leave.
Employee discounts on Amazon products and services.
Access to Amazon's employee wellness programs and resources.

Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with a flexible work schedule and on-call rotation requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is estimated based on regional market research and experience level, with adjustments for cost of living in the Herndon, Virginia area.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce and cloud computing services.

Company Size: Large (over 1,000,000 employees), with a decentralized organizational structure and a focus on innovation and customer obsession.

Founded: 1994, with a rich history of growth and expansion in the e-commerce and cloud computing sectors.

Team Structure:

The data center operations team is part of Amazon Web Services (AWS) Infrastructure Services, which is responsible for designing, planning, delivering, and operating all AWS global infrastructure.
The team consists of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles.
Collaboration and cross-functional teamwork are essential for delivering high-quality services to customers.

Development Methodology:

Agile and iterative development processes, with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.
Regular team meetings and stand-ups to ensure open communication and collaboration.
Strong emphasis on customer-centric design and user experience.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's unique company culture, with a focus on customer obsession, innovation, and long-term thinking, provides a dynamic and challenging environment for data center managers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Data Center Manager Career Level: This role is typically at the mid-level management tier, with responsibility for day-to-day data center operations and team leadership. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background, combined with proven leadership and project management skills.

Reporting Structure: The Data Center Manager reports directly to the Data Center Operations Manager and works closely with cross-functional teams, including hardware and network engineers, supply chain specialists, and security experts.

Technical Impact: Data Center Managers play a critical role in ensuring the high availability and reliability of AWS data centers, directly impacting the user experience and performance of cloud services for millions of customers worldwide.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Specialization: Deepen your expertise in specific areas of data center operations, such as network architecture, hardware management, or security.
Team Leadership: Develop your leadership skills and take on additional responsibilities, such as mentoring team members or leading cross-functional projects.
Architecture & Design: Contribute to the design and planning of new data center infrastructure, driving innovation and improvement in AWS global infrastructure.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's fast-paced and dynamic environment offers numerous opportunities for career growth and development, with a strong emphasis on continuous learning and innovation.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Amazon's data center operations teams work in a combination of on-site data centers and remote offices, with a focus on collaboration and cross-functional teamwork.

Office Location(s): Herndon, Virginia, with additional data centers and offices located worldwide.

Workspace Context:

Data Center Environment: Data Center Managers spend a significant portion of their time in data center environments, ensuring high availability and reliability through regular inspections, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Office Environment: When not in data centers, team members work in collaborative office spaces, with access to modern tools and resources for communication, project management, and documentation.
Remote Work: Some team members may have the opportunity to work remotely, with a focus on maintaining open lines of communication and collaboration with on-site team members.

Work Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with a flexible work schedule and on-call rotation requirements. Data Center Managers may be required to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed to ensure data center availability and reliability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's data center operations teams work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, requiring strong adaptability, communication, and teamwork skills.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone call to assess your communication skills, technical background, and cultural fit with Amazon.
Technical Deep Dive: A comprehensive technical interview focused on your data center operations experience, troubleshooting skills, and problem-solving abilities. Expect to discuss complex hardware and network issues, as well as your approach to managing data center teams and projects.
Behavioral & Situational Questions: A series of behavioral and situational questions designed to assess your leadership, team management, and project management skills. Be prepared to provide specific examples of your experience and accomplishments in these areas.
Final Round: A final interview with the hiring manager or a panel of team members, focusing on your cultural fit with Amazon and your long-term career goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your experience in data center operations, with a focus on ensuring high availability and reliability, troubleshooting complex issues, and managing teams and projects.
Include case studies of your most challenging and rewarding data center experiences, detailing your approach to problem-solving, leadership, and project management.
Prepare a concise and well-organized portfolio, with clear and concise documentation that demonstrates your technical expertise and attention to detail.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your hardware and network troubleshooting skills, with a focus on data center-specific issues and best practices.
Familiarize yourself with Amazon's data center operations and AWS global infrastructure, ensuring you have a solid understanding of the company's approach to data center management and customer-centric design.
Prepare for behavioral and situational questions, with a focus on your leadership, team management, and project management skills.

ATS Keywords:

Hardware & Network Technologies: Data center, server, network, cabling, hardware repair, network repair, diagnostics, troubleshooting.
Project Management: Project delivery, change management, project planning, project execution, project closure.
Leadership & Team Management: Team leadership, people management, mentoring, coaching, performance reviews, staff training.
Data Center Operations: Data center management, data center operations, high availability, reliability, service level agreements (SLAs), industry best practices.
Cloud Computing: AWS, Amazon Web Services, cloud computing, cloud infrastructure, cloud services.

📝 Enhancement Note: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight the most relevant and impressive data center operations, leadership, and project management experience for this role.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Data Center Technologies:

Hardware: Servers, storage systems, networking equipment, power and cooling infrastructure.
Networking: Ethernet, fiber optic, wireless, and other networking technologies.
Power & Cooling: Uninterruptible power supply (UPS), generators, cooling systems, and other power and cooling infrastructure.
Monitoring & Management: Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools, system management tools, and client/server environments.

Cloud Computing Platforms:

AWS: Amazon Web Services, including Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), Simple Storage Service (S3), and other AWS services.
Other Cloud Providers: Familiarity with other cloud service providers, such as Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud Platform, may be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong understanding of data center technologies, combined with experience in cloud computing platforms, will be crucial for success in this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Data Center Operations Values:

Customer Obsession: Focus on delivering high-quality services and ensuring customer satisfaction.
Ownership: Take responsibility for data center operations and drive continuous improvement.
Invent & Simplify: Innovate and simplify data center processes, driving efficiency and effectiveness.
Learn & Be Curious: Stay up-to-date with industry best practices and emerging technologies in data center operations.
Hire & Develop the Best: Attract, develop, and retain top talent in data center operations.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Teamwork: Collaborate with hardware and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, and other team members to deliver high-quality data center services.
Communication & Transparency: Maintain open lines of communication and ensure transparency in data center operations.
Decision Making: Make data-driven decisions, with a focus on ensuring high availability, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's data center operations teams foster a culture of customer obsession, innovation, and continuous learning, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and cross-functional teamwork.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

High Availability & Reliability: Ensure high availability and reliability in data center operations, with a focus on minimizing downtime and maximizing service uptime.
Complex Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex hardware and network issues, with a focus on quick and effective problem-solving.
Change Management: Coordinate change management resources and ensure minimal disruption to data center operations and service availability.
Project Delivery: Manage and deliver mid-size projects, driving progress and ensuring on-time completion.
Emerging Technologies: Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies in data center operations, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for predictive maintenance and automation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Training: Participate in technical training and certification programs to deepen your expertise in data center operations, hardware and network management, and cloud computing.
Leadership Development: Develop your leadership skills through mentoring, coaching, and other professional development opportunities.
Architecture & Design: Contribute to the design and planning of new data center infrastructure, driving innovation and improvement in AWS global infrastructure.
Industry Conferences & Events: Attend industry conferences and events, such as AWS re:Invent or other data center-focused events, to stay up-to-date with emerging trends and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's fast-paced and dynamic environment offers numerous opportunities for technical and professional development, with a strong emphasis on continuous learning and innovation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Data Center Operations: Describe your approach to ensuring high availability and reliability in data center operations. How do you troubleshoot complex hardware and network issues? What strategies do you use to manage data center teams and projects?
Change Management: How do you coordinate change management resources to ensure minimal disruption to data center operations and service availability? Can you provide an example of a successful change management project you've led?
Project Delivery: How do you manage and deliver mid-size projects on time and within budget? Can you provide an example of a challenging project you've successfully completed?
Emerging Technologies: How do you stay up-to-date with emerging technologies in data center operations? Can you discuss a specific emerging technology and its potential impact on data center management?

Company & Culture Questions:

Amazon Culture: How do you embody Amazon's leadership principles in your daily work? Can you provide an example of a time when you demonstrated one or more of Amazon's leadership principles?
Customer Obsession: How do you ensure customer satisfaction in data center operations? Can you provide an example of a time when you went above and beyond to meet a customer's needs?
Innovation: How do you drive innovation and continuous improvement in data center operations? Can you discuss a specific innovation you've implemented or a process you've improved?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Data Center Operations: Highlight your experience in data center operations, with a focus on ensuring high availability and reliability, troubleshooting complex issues, and managing teams and projects.
Case Studies: Include case studies of your most challenging and rewarding data center experiences, detailing your approach to problem-solving, leadership, and project management.
Technical Documentation: Prepare a concise and well-organized portfolio, with clear and concise documentation that demonstrates your technical expertise and attention to detail.

📝 Enhancement Note: Thorough preparation and a well-curated portfolio will be crucial for success in the technical interview process for this data center manager role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this data center manager position at Amazon:

Submit Your Application: Visit the Amazon Jobs website and submit your application through the provided link.
Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your relevant data center operations, leadership, and project management experience, using the ATS keywords provided in this enhanced job description.
Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a well-organized portfolio, with clear and concise documentation that demonstrates your technical expertise and attention to detail. Include case studies of your most challenging and rewarding data center experiences, detailing your approach to problem-solving, leadership, and project management.
Research Amazon: Familiarize yourself with Amazon's data center operations, AWS global infrastructure, and customer-centric design approach. Prepare for behavioral and situational questions, with a focus on your leadership, team management, and project management skills.
Prepare for Technical Challenges: Brush up on your hardware and network troubleshooting skills, with a focus on data center-specific issues and best practices. Familiarize yourself with Amazon's data center operations and AWS global infrastructure, ensuring you have a solid understanding of the company's approach to data center management and customer-centration.

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

Data Center Manager, DCO