📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Data Center Planning Manager
Company: Meta
Location: Bellevue, WA
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Infrastructure & Operations
Date Posted: June 9, 2025
Experience Level: 12+ years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Develop and lead transformational strategic initiatives for Meta's data center planning.
Drive investment decisions and build large transformational programs to scale Meta's data center footprint efficiently.
Collaborate cross-functionally with various teams to challenge the status quo and meet Meta's AI goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is highly strategic and requires a strong background in infrastructure planning, capacity management, and stakeholder collaboration to drive transformational changes in Meta's data center strategy.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Planning: Identify and build large transformational programs and initiatives across infrastructure to scale Meta's data center footprint efficiently.
Data Center Planning: Develop new data center planning strategies focused on meeting Meta's AI goals through AI deployments, reliability improvements, cost and operational efficiency, power utilization optimizations, and service placement optimizations.
Project Evaluation: Develop detailed project evaluation plans for data center plan changes and drive closure.
Communication: Own the communications strategy for data center planning changes, including executive-level and detailed project briefs and status updates.
Technical Judgment: Use technical judgment to drive new project evaluations, technology reviews, challenge proposals, and build consensus.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a balance of strategic thinking, technical expertise, and strong project management skills to successfully navigate complex data center planning challenges and drive impactful decisions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Operations Research, Supply Chain Management, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Chemical Engineering. A Master's degree or MBA is preferred.

Experience: 12+ years of experience working in infrastructure, cloud, or hardware with a background in strategy consulting, capacity planning, or supply chain planning.

Required Skills:

Infrastructure strategies and capacity planning
Technical project management
Data center operations and AI deployments
Reliability improvements and cost efficiency
Power utilization and service placement optimization
Project evaluation and technology reviews
Stakeholder collaboration and consensus building

Preferred Skills:

Experience with cloud and hardware designs
Familiarity with data center construction and site selection
Knowledge of network engineering and finance

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should possess a strong blend of strategic, technical, and project management skills to excel in this role and drive meaningful impact on Meta's data center planning and AI goals.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials: Not applicable for this role.
Technical Documentation: Not applicable for this role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $180,000 - $250,000 per year (based on regional market data and experience level)

Benefits:

Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
Retirement savings plans with company matching
Generous time-off policies, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays
Parental leave and family planning benefits
Employee stock purchase plan
Fitness and wellness reimbursement
Professional development opportunities and tuition assistance

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with flexible scheduling and occasional overtime as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is estimated based on regional market data for similar roles in the tech industry, considering the candidate's experience level and the strategic nature of the position.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, with a focus on social networking, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.

Company Size: Large (over 50,000 employees)

Founded: 2004 (as Facebook, Inc.)

Team Structure:

The Strategic Planning Team is part of the Infrastructure organization.
This role will collaborate with data center capacity stakeholders, including capacity engineering, network engineering, construction, site selection, network, and finance teams.

Development Methodology:

Agile and data-driven approach to strategic planning and project management.
Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement are essential for success.

Company Website: Meta

📝 Enhancement Note: Meta's culture values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, which are crucial for driving transformational changes in data center planning and meeting the company's AI goals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is a senior-level, strategic position within the Infrastructure organization, focusing on data center planning and capacity management.

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Director of Strategic Planning within the Infrastructure organization.

Technical Impact: This role has a significant impact on Meta's data center footprint, AI goals, and overall infrastructure strategy.

Growth Opportunities:

Career Progression: Potential growth paths include moving into a director or manager role within the Infrastructure organization or transitioning into a more specialized or strategic role within the company.
Technical Skill Development: Opportunities to develop expertise in AI deployments, data center operations, and infrastructure management.
Leadership Development: This role offers the chance to hone leadership skills through strategic planning, project management, and stakeholder collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role provides ample opportunities for career growth, technical skill development, and leadership experience within Meta's Infrastructure organization and beyond.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, with flexible scheduling and remote work options available for some teams.

Office Location(s): Bellevue, WA; Menlo Park, CA; San Francisco, CA; Fremont, CA

Workspace Context:

Collaborative workspaces designed to foster innovation and teamwork.
Access to cutting-edge technology and tools for data analysis, project management, and communication.
Opportunities to engage with and learn from diverse teams across the company.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible scheduling and occasional overtime as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: Meta's work environment encourages collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning, providing employees with the resources and support needed to succeed in their roles.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief call to discuss the role, qualifications, and fit with the team.
On-site Interview: A series of interviews with team members, focusing on technical skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit.
Final Interview: A meeting with the hiring manager or director to discuss the candidate's vision for the role and fit within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips: Not applicable for this role.

Technical Challenge Preparation: Not applicable for this role.

ATS Keywords: Infrastructure strategies, capacity planning, technical project management, data center operations, AI deployments, reliability improvements, cost efficiency, power utilization, service placement optimization, project evaluation, technology reviews, stakeholder collaboration, strategic initiatives, transformational planning, consensus building.

📝 Enhancement Note: To optimize your resume and application for this role, ensure that you highlight relevant keywords and experiences that demonstrate your strategic thinking, technical expertise, and project management skills in infrastructure planning and capacity management.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Relevant Technologies:

Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools (e.g., Nlyte, Sunbird, or Schneider Electric)
Data center infrastructure monitoring (DCIM) tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Datadog, or Nagios)
AI and machine learning platforms (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Caffe)
Cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure)
Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, or Trello)

📝 Enhancement Note: Familiarity with relevant data center, AI, and project management tools is essential for success in this role, as they enable effective planning, monitoring, and optimization of Meta's data center infrastructure.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Data Center Planning Values:

Strategic Thinking: Develop and drive long-term strategies to scale Meta's data center footprint efficiently and meet AI goals.
Technical Expertise: Leverage deep understanding of data center operations, AI deployments, and infrastructure management to make informed decisions.
Collaboration: Work effectively with cross-functional teams to challenge the status quo and drive transformational changes.
Innovation: Embrace a culture of continuous learning and improvement to stay at the forefront of data center planning and technology.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with various teams, including capacity engineering, network engineering, construction, site selection, network, and finance, to drive data center planning initiatives.
Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with stakeholders at all levels, from individual contributors to executive leadership, to build consensus and drive project closure.
Knowledge Sharing: Foster a culture of learning and development by sharing expertise and best practices with team members and other stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: Meta's data center planning team values strategic thinking, technical expertise, and collaboration, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning to drive transformational changes in the company's infrastructure strategy.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Scaling Efficiently: Develop and implement strategies to scale Meta's data center footprint efficiently while meeting growing AI and product needs.
AI Integration: Integrate AI deployments into data center planning to optimize resource utilization and improve service placement.
Reliability & Efficiency: Identify and implement improvements in data center reliability, cost efficiency, and operational efficiency.
Power Utilization: Optimize data center power utilization to minimize environmental impact and reduce costs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

AI & Machine Learning: Develop expertise in AI and machine learning platforms to drive data center planning and optimization.
Infrastructure Management: Expand knowledge of data center infrastructure management and monitoring tools to improve operational efficiency.
Strategic Planning: Enhance strategic planning and project management skills to drive transformational initiatives and project closure.
Leadership Development: Hone leadership skills through strategic planning, stakeholder collaboration, and team management.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents numerous technical challenges and growth opportunities, enabling candidates to develop their skills in data center planning, AI integration, and strategic planning while driving meaningful impact on Meta's infrastructure strategy.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Strategic Planning: Describe your experience with strategic planning and capacity management in large-scale infrastructure projects. How have you approached long-term planning and investment decisions?
Data Center Operations: Walk us through your understanding of data center operations, including power utilization, cooling, and server management. How have you optimized data center efficiency in previous roles?
AI Integration: Explain how you would integrate AI deployments into data center planning to improve resource utilization and service placement. What are some challenges you foresee, and how would you address them?
Project Management: Describe your experience with project management in complex, cross-functional environments. How have you ensured project closure and stakeholder satisfaction?

Company & Culture Questions:

Meta's AI Goals: How do you see this role contributing to Meta's AI goals, and what strategies would you propose to support these objectives?
Cross-functional Collaboration: Describe your experience working with cross-functional teams. How have you built consensus and driven project closure in these environments?
Innovation: How do you stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and trends in data center planning and infrastructure management? What innovative approaches have you implemented in previous roles?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy: Not applicable for this role.

📝 Enhancement Note: To excel in the interview process, candidates should demonstrate strong strategic thinking, technical expertise, and project management skills, with a focus on data center planning, AI integration, and cross-functional collaboration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Data Center Planning Manager position at Meta:

Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your relevant experience in infrastructure planning, capacity management, and strategic initiatives. Emphasize your technical expertise, project management skills, and ability to drive transformational changes.
Research Meta's AI Goals: Understand Meta's AI goals and how this role contributes to achieving them. Prepare thoughtful responses to questions about supporting these objectives.
Prepare for Technical Interviews: Brush up on your knowledge of data center operations, AI integration, and project management. Practice explaining your thought processes and decision-making strategies in these areas.
Rehearse Your Responses: Familiarize yourself with the interview process and practice your responses to common questions. Seek feedback from mentors, peers, or career coaches to refine your interview skills.

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

Data Center Planning Manager