Data Center Production Operations Manager at Meta

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Data Center Production Operations Manager
Company: Meta
Location: DeKalb, IL
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Data Center Operations Management
Date Posted: June 10, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 years

🚀 Role Summary

Lead and manage a team responsible for maintaining and operating server hardware and supporting infrastructure at scale within Meta's data centers.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data center uptime and enable business growth.
Mentor and develop engineers and technicians to run daily operations with minimal supervision.
Drive process improvements, automation, and documentation to optimize data center operations globally.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a balance of technical depth and leadership skills to manage a team and drive operational excellence in a large-scale, fast-paced environment.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Team Management: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of engineers and technicians to manage daily data center operations with minimal supervision.
Collaboration: Work with peer organizations and regional teams to maintain data center uptime and ensure operational delivery.
Project Management: Manage server upgrades, integration, automated OS provisioning processes, rebuilds, and other projects as required.
Troubleshooting: Understand and debug network, hardware, and Linux OS-related issues.
Process Improvement: Identify and implement process improvements, and inform best practices in data center operations.
Data Analysis: Predict data center growth and scaling issues, and implement solutions using data trending and analysis.
Documentation: Create and maintain documentation for the global DC knowledge base.
Strategic Planning: Drive specifications for tooling and automation to facilitate deployment, monitoring, automated remediation, and decommissioning of server hardware at scale.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role involves a mix of hands-on technical work, team management, and strategic planning to ensure optimal data center operations and enable business growth.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent experience.

Experience:

4+ years of experience managing 5+ technical resources.
4+ years of experience in large-scale data center hardware deployments and building scalable infrastructure.
Proven time and project management skills.
Experience training, mentoring, and leading other engineers and technicians.

Required Skills:

Strong knowledge of Linux and hardware systems support in an Internet operations environment.
Familiarity with Python, SQL, and/or shell scripting.
Solid knowledge of enterprise-level infrastructure.
Understanding of out-of-band/lights-out server communication methods, such as IPMI and serial console.
Depth and breadth of knowledge managing servers in a large-scale distributed environment.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with hyper-scale computing fleets and data trending analysis.
Familiarity with data center operations and technical leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should have a strong technical background in server hardware, Linux, and data center operations, along with proven leadership and management skills to excel in this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

As this is a management role, a portfolio is not required. However, candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience in managing teams, driving process improvements, and ensuring data center uptime.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 per year (based on regional market data for data center operations management roles in the United States)

Benefits: Meta offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and employee stock purchase plans. Additional benefits may include tuition assistance, parental leave, and wellness programs.

Working Hours: Full-time position with standard business hours, including on-call rotations for 24/7 data center support.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is estimated based on regional market data and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and skills.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Meta operates in the technology industry, focusing on social media, virtual reality, and data center infrastructure.

Company Size: Meta is a large corporation with a global presence, employing over 80,000 people worldwide.

Founded: 2004 (as Facebook, Inc.)

Team Structure:

The Data Center Operations team is part of the Infrastructure organization, working closely with various teams, such as Network Operations, Project Management, Facilities, and Hardware Design.
The team consists of engineers and technicians with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Development Methodology:

Agile and iterative approach to data center operations and process improvements.
Collaboration and cross-functional partnership to ensure operational delivery and business growth.

Company Website: Meta

📝 Enhancement Note: Meta's company culture emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, which is reflected in its approach to data center operations and team management.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: This role is at the senior management level, focusing on leading and driving data center operations and strategic planning.

Reporting Structure: The Production Operations Manager reports directly to the Data Center Operations Director and manages a team of engineers and technicians.

Technical Impact: This role has a significant impact on Meta's data center operations, ensuring uptime, scalability, and efficiency to support the company's products and services.

Growth Opportunities:

Advance to a Data Center Operations Director or similar leadership role within the Infrastructure organization.
Explore opportunities in related fields, such as network operations, hardware design, or supply chain management.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers growth opportunities in both technical and leadership aspects, allowing candidates to develop their skills and advance their careers within Meta's Infrastructure organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, with a focus on collaboration and cross-functional partnership within the data center environment.

Office Location(s): DeKalb, IL (with potential for global travel to other data center sites)

Workspace Context:

The primary work environment is within the data center, with access to various tools, equipment, and resources required for server hardware management and troubleshooting.
Collaboration spaces and meeting rooms are available for team discussions and cross-functional collaboration.

Work Schedule: Full-time position with standard business hours, including on-call rotations for 24/7 data center support.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is fast-paced and dynamic, with a focus on collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning to ensure optimal data center operations.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief call to discuss the candidate's experience, skills, and fit for the role.
Technical Deep Dive: A detailed conversation focusing on the candidate's technical background, data center operations experience, and problem-solving skills.
Behavioral Questions: Assess the candidate's leadership, management, and collaboration skills through situational and behavioral questions.
Final Interview: A meeting with the hiring manager and other key stakeholders to discuss the candidate's fit for the role and the team.

Portfolio Review Tips: Not applicable, as this is a management role.

Technical Challenge Preparation: Not applicable, as this is a management role.

ATS Keywords: (See the comprehensive list below)

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process focuses on assessing the candidate's technical depth, leadership skills, and strategic thinking to ensure a strong fit for the Production Operations Manager role.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Server Technologies:

Linux (CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian)
Out-of-band/lights-out server communication methods (IPMI, serial console)
Hyper-scale computing fleets and data trending analysis tools

Infrastructure Tools:

Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools
Monitoring and alerting tools (e.g., Nagios, Zabbix, Prometheus)
Automation and configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef)

Data Center Hardware:

Server hardware (e.g., Dell, HP, Supermicro)
Networking equipment (e.g., Cisco, Arista, Juniper)
Storage systems (e.g., EMC, NetApp, HPE)

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack for this role is focused on data center infrastructure, server hardware, and related tools to ensure optimal data center operations and management.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Data Center Operations Values:

Ownership and accountability for data center uptime and operational delivery.
Collaboration and partnership with cross-functional teams to ensure operational excellence.
Innovation and continuous learning to drive process improvements and automation.
Safety and reliability in data center operations and management.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional partnership and collaboration to ensure operational delivery and business growth.
Regular team meetings and stand-ups to discuss progress, challenges, and solutions.
Knowledge sharing and mentoring to develop technical and leadership skills within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Meta's data center operations team values collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning to ensure optimal data center performance and enable business growth.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Managing server hardware and supporting infrastructure at scale within a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Troubleshooting network, hardware, and Linux OS-related issues in real-time.
Predicting data center growth and scaling issues before they occur and implementing solutions.
Driving process improvements and automation to optimize data center operations globally.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Gain experience managing a team of engineers and technicians in a large-scale, distributed environment.
Develop leadership and strategic planning skills to drive data center operations and enable business growth.
Learn from and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure operational delivery and business success.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents technical challenges and learning opportunities that allow candidates to develop their skills and advance their careers in data center operations management.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Describe your experience managing server hardware and supporting infrastructure at scale.
How have you driven process improvements and automation in data center operations?
Can you walk us through a time when you had to troubleshoot a complex network, hardware, or Linux OS-related issue?
How do you approach predicting data center growth and scaling issues, and implementing solutions?

Company & Culture Questions:

Why are you interested in the Production Operations Manager role at Meta?
How do you see yourself contributing to our data center operations team and driving business growth?
Can you describe a time when you had to collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure operational delivery and success?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy: Not applicable, as this is a management role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare for the interview by reflecting on your experience in data center operations, management, and troubleshooting, as well as your ability to drive process improvements and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Data Center Production Operations Manager position at Meta:

Submit your application through the Meta Careers website.
Prepare for the phone screen by reviewing your experience, skills, and fit for the role.
Research Meta's company culture, data center operations, and approach to team management.
Reflect on your experience in data center operations, management, and troubleshooting to prepare for the technical deep dive and behavioral questions.
Prepare for the final interview by considering your long-term career goals and how you can contribute to Meta's data center operations team and business success.

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

ATS Keywords:

Programming Languages:

Linux (CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian)
Python
SQL
Shell scripting

Web Frameworks & Libraries:

Not applicable for this role

Server Technologies:

Linux (CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian)
Out-of-band/lights-out server communication methods (IPMI, serial console)
Hyper-scale computing fleets and data trending analysis tools

Databases:

Not applicable for this role

Tools:

Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools
Monitoring and alerting tools (e.g., Nagios, Zabbix, Prometheus)
Automation and configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef)

Methodologies:

Agile
Iterative development
Cross-functional collaboration
Process improvement
Data analysis

Soft Skills:

Leadership
Management
Team building
Mentoring
Communication
Problem-solving
Strategic planning

Industry Terms:

Data center operations
Server hardware management
Infrastructure management
Scalability
Uptime
Troubleshooting
Process improvement
Automation
Collaboration
Cross-functional partnership
Technical leadership
Hyper-scale computing
Data trending analysis

Data Center Production Operations Manager