Data Center Technician (DCO), Data Center Operations

📍 Job Overview

• Job Title: Data Center Technician (DCO), Data Center Operations
• Company: Amazon
• Location: Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
• Job Type: On-site
• Category: Server Administration, Infrastructure
• Date Posted: 2025-06-23
• Experience Level: Entry-level (0-2 years)

🚀 Role Summary

• Maintain and troubleshoot AWS data center infrastructure, ensuring high system reliability and minimal downtime.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to build and expand the world's largest cloud infrastructure.
• Adhere to strict security protocols and safety best practices to protect customer data.
• 📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to work in state-of-the-art data centers and contribute to Amazon's global cloud expansion.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

• Problem Solving:

  • Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues on various platforms, including systems and networking.
  • Prioritize and resolve trouble tickets efficiently, escalating to senior technicians and management as needed.
  • Serve as the data center point of contact for high-severity issues.

• Technical:

  • Troubleshoot physical layer outages for both systems and networking.
  • Install and configure racks of hosts in line with internal SLAs.

• Operations:

  • Adhere to security and safety best practices in the data center.
  • Meet 24x7 on-call requirements and respond during shift rotations.
  • Interact with third-party vendors and contractors.
  • Contribute ideas to improve operational efficiency.
  • Engage with remote hands and eyes.

• Mentoring:

  • Share knowledge and educate less technical staff on best practices related to service owner issues.

• Hiring:

  • Contribute to the Amazon hiring process and candidate interviews.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires strong problem-solving skills, technical proficiency, and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Relevant education or training in IT, computer science, or a related field.

Experience: 0-2 years of experience in hardware troubleshooting, data center operations, or a related role.

Required Skills:

• Hardware troubleshooting experience
• Booting: POST, BIOS, PXE, Kickstart, GRUB/LILO, RAID
• Network protocols: TCP/IP, Ethernet, Layer2 & Layer3 troubleshooting
• Network hardware: Copper and optical fiber cabling, switches, routers
• Strong communication skills
• Passion for IT infrastructure and hardware!

Preferred Skills:

• Remote access: Console routers, IPMI, BMC
• Network equipment installation and troubleshooting
• Redundancy: Power feeds, ATS, server hardware, RAID, network connectivity
• Data center operations: Inventory management, hot/cold aisles, security
• Experience with Excel and data manipulation
• Project management experience
• Experience or knowledge of AWS products: EC2, EBS, S3, etc.
• Scripting: Bash, Python, Perl, Ruby (or programming languages)

📝 Enhancement Note: While not required, experience with AWS products and scripting languages would be beneficial for this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate experience in hardware troubleshooting and data center operations through relevant projects or case studies.
• Showcase problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Technical Documentation:

• Provide documentation or examples of your work, highlighting your technical skills and the results you've achieved.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: CHF 60,000 - 80,000 per year (based on regional market research and experience level)

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision care plans
• Retirement savings plan with company match
• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule
• On-site services and amenities
• Employee discounts on Amazon products and services

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with shift-based scheduling to ensure 24/7 coverage.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market research and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce and cloud computing services

Company Size: Large (over 1,000,000 employees)

Founded: 1994

Team Structure:

• Collaborative, cross-functional teams working on various aspects of data center operations and infrastructure.
• Clear hierarchy and reporting structure, with opportunities for mentorship and career growth.

Development Methodology:

• Agile and iterative development processes, with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.
• Strong emphasis on collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing.

Company Website: Amazon

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's company culture emphasizes innovation, customer obsession, and operational excellence, providing a dynamic and challenging environment for employees.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Entry-level to mid-level server administration and infrastructure roles, with opportunities for career progression and technical leadership.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Data Center Operations Manager or a similar role.

Technical Impact: Directly responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting AWS data center infrastructure, ensuring high system reliability and minimal downtime.

Growth Opportunities:

• Gain experience working in state-of-the-art data centers and contributing to Amazon's global cloud expansion.
• Develop technical skills and expertise in data center operations, hardware troubleshooting, and AWS products.
• Opportunities for career progression, including roles in technical leadership, project management, or specialized technical roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in data center operations and contribute to Amazon's global cloud infrastructure.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, with shift-based scheduling to ensure 24/7 coverage.

Office Location(s): Zürich, Switzerland

Workspace Context:

• Modern, state-of-the-art data centers with advanced hardware and infrastructure.
• Collaborative work environment, with opportunities for knowledge sharing and mentorship.
• Access to on-site services and amenities, including fitness centers, cafes, and transportation options.

Work Schedule: Shift-based scheduling, with on-call requirements and response during shift rotations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's work environment emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence, providing a dynamic and challenging environment for employees.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

1. Phone or video screen to assess communication skills and basic technical knowledge.
2. On-site technical interview, focusing on hardware troubleshooting, data center operations, and problem-solving skills.
3. Final interview with the hiring manager or a panel, assessing cultural fit and career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight relevant projects or case studies demonstrating hardware troubleshooting, data center operations, and problem-solving skills.
• Provide documentation or examples of your work, showcasing your technical skills and the results you've achieved.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

• Brush up on hardware troubleshooting skills, focusing on booting processes, network protocols, and network hardware.
• Familiarize yourself with AWS products and data center operations best practices.
• Prepare for problem-solving scenarios, focusing on prioritization, escalation, and remediation.

ATS Keywords: (Organized by category)

• Programming Languages: N/A
• Web Frameworks: N/A
• Server Technologies: AWS, EC2, EBS, S3, RDS, Route 53, CloudFront, CloudWatch, Lambda, API Gateway
• Databases: N/A
• Tools: Excel, Scripting (Bash, Python, Perl, Ruby), Network Hardware, Data Center Operations
• Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Project Management
• Soft Skills: Communication, Teamwork, Problem-solving, Adaptability, Attention to Detail
• Industry Terms: Data Center Operations, Hardware Troubleshooting, AWS, Cloud Computing, Infrastructure, Server Administration

📝 Enhancement Note: Familiarize yourself with AWS products and data center operations best practices to excel in the technical interview process.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Frontend Technologies: N/A

Backend & Server Technologies:

• AWS: EC2, EBS, S3, RDS, Route 53, CloudFront, CloudWatch, Lambda, API Gateway
• Server Hardware: Rack servers, blade servers, storage systems, network switches, routers
• Network Protocols: TCP/IP, Ethernet, Layer2, Layer3

Development & DevOps Tools:

• Scripting: Bash, Python, Perl, Ruby
• Project Management: Excel, JIRA, Confluence
• Collaboration: Slack, Microsoft Teams

📝 Enhancement Note: Familiarize yourself with AWS products and data center operations best practices to excel in the technical interview process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

• Customer obsession: Focus on delivering high-quality, reliable services to customers.
• Ownership: Take responsibility for your work and the results you achieve.
• Invent and simplify: Continuously innovate and simplify processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Learn and be curious: Embrace a growth mindset and be open to learning from others.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional collaboration: Work closely with teams across AWS to build and expand the global cloud infrastructure.
• Knowledge sharing: Share your expertise and learn from others to drive continuous improvement.
• Bias for action: Make decisions and take action, even in the face of ambiguity.

📝 Enhancement Note: Amazon's team culture emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence, providing a dynamic and challenging environment for employees.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

• Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues on various platforms, including systems and networking.
• Maintain high system reliability and minimal downtime in a large-scale, high-density data center environment.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to build and expand the global cloud infrastructure.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Gain hands-on experience working in state-of-the-art data centers and contributing to Amazon's global cloud expansion.
• Develop technical skills and expertise in data center operations, hardware troubleshooting, and AWS products.
• Opportunities for career progression, including roles in technical leadership, project management, or specialized technical roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in data center operations and contribute to Amazon's global cloud infrastructure.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

• Describe your experience with hardware troubleshooting and data center operations.
• Walk us through a complex technical challenge you've faced and how you resolved it.
• How do you prioritize and escalate technical issues in a high-pressure environment?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Why are you interested in this role and Amazon's data center operations team?
• How do you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in data center operations and hardware troubleshooting?
• Describe a time when you had to collaborate with a cross-functional team to achieve a common goal.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Highlight relevant projects or case studies demonstrating hardware troubleshooting, data center operations, and problem-solving skills.
• Provide documentation or examples of your work, showcasing your technical skills and the results you've achieved.
• Be prepared to discuss your approach to troubleshooting and resolving technical issues, focusing on prioritization, escalation, and remediation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Familiarize yourself with AWS products and data center operations best practices to excel in the technical interview process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this data center technician position:

1. Submit your application through the application link.
2. Customize your resume and portfolio to highlight relevant hardware troubleshooting, data center operations, and problem-solving skills.
3. Prepare for the phone or video screen, focusing on communication skills and basic technical knowledge.
4. Brush up on your hardware troubleshooting skills, focusing on booting processes, network protocols, and network hardware.
5. Familiarize yourself with AWS products and data center operations best practices.
6. Prepare for problem-solving scenarios, focusing on prioritization, escalation, and remediation.
7. Research Amazon's company culture, data center operations team, and AWS products to demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for the role.

⚠️ 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.