Server Engineer | Data Center Operations, Data Center Operations at Amazon

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Server Engineer | Data Center Operations
Company: Amazon
Location: Tokyo, Tōkyō, Japan
Job Type: On-site
Category: Server Administration, Web Infrastructure
Date Posted: 2025-06-24
Experience Level: Intermediate (2-5 years)
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Manage on-site hardware lifecycle of IT infrastructure in Amazon's data centers
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure high availability and scalability of AWS services
Troubleshoot and resolve hardware-related issues, and participate in on-call rotations
Contribute to process improvement initiatives and documentation efforts

💻 Primary Responsibilities

📝 Enhancement Note: This role involves hands-on hardware management, troubleshooting, and on-call support, requiring a strong technical background in server administration and data center operations.
Hardware Lifecycle Management: Install, maintain, and decommission server racks, hardware, and networking equipment in Amazon's data centers.
Troubleshooting & Emergency Response: Diagnose and resolve hardware-related issues, and respond to emergent situations that affect operations.
On-Call Support: Participate in on-call rotations to provide 24/7 support for data center infrastructure.
Inventory & Maintenance Management: Track and manage inventory of hardware components, and assist in data center maintenance activities.
Team Collaboration & Process Improvement: Work closely with other teams to ensure service level agreements are met, and contribute to process improvement initiatives.
Documentation & Knowledge Sharing: Document technical issues, root cause analysis, and process improvements to enhance data center operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: At least 3 years of experience in data center operations, with a strong background in PC/server hardware and Linux/Windows systems.

Required Skills:

Proven experience in data center operations or a relevant facility
General knowledge of PC/server hardware and networking components
Working knowledge of Linux/Windows systems and basic networking experience
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a dynamic environment
Ability to work non-standard hours, including on-call rotations

Preferred Skills:

Experience with ticketing systems, escalation procedures, and data center facilities
Understanding of maintenance windows and change management processes
Familiarity with AWS services and infrastructure
Linux and/or networking certifications (RHCSA, CCNA, or equivalent) and scripting skills (Bash, Python, etc.)
Japanese and English communication skills

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Demonstrate experience in data center operations, including hardware lifecycle management and troubleshooting.
Showcase problem-solving skills and ability to work in a dynamic environment.
Highlight any relevant certifications or training in data center operations, Linux, or networking.

Technical Documentation:

Provide examples of technical documentation, root cause analysis, and process improvement initiatives related to data center operations.
Include any relevant case studies or success stories that highlight your impact on data center infrastructure and service availability.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: ¥5,000,000 - ¥7,000,000 per year (Based on market research for intermediate server administration roles in Tokyo)

Benefits:

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision care plans
Retirement savings plans with company match
Generous employee stock purchase plan
Paid time off and sabbatical opportunities
Parental leave and family care benefits
Employee discounts on Amazon products and services
On-site fitness centers and wellness programs
Professional development and training opportunities

Working Hours: Standard work hours are 8:00-18:00, 12:00-22:00, or 21:45-08:15, with a 10-hour shift and 1-hour break. Work on a 4-day work shift and 3-day off schedule.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce and cloud computing services

Company Size: Large (over 1,000 employees)

Founded: 1994 (Amazon.com) and 2006 (Amazon Web Services)

Team Structure:

Collaborative and cross-functional teams, working closely with AWS services and infrastructure teams
Data center operations teams consist of hardware engineers, network engineers, and support specialists
Flat organizational structure with opportunities for career growth and leadership development

Development Methodology:

Agile/Scrum methodologies for software development and infrastructure management
Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for automated testing and deployment
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and version control systems for consistent and scalable infrastructure management

Company Website: https://www.amazon.jobs/en

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Intermediate (2-5 years) - Server Administrator II

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Data Center Operations Manager, with a dotted line to the AWS Infrastructure Services (AIS) leadership team.

Technical Impact: Responsible for the on-site management of hardware lifecycle, ensuring high availability and scalability of AWS services. Contributes to process improvement initiatives and documentation efforts.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Career Progression: Gain experience in AWS infrastructure services and advance to senior roles within data center operations or other technical teams.
Leadership Development: Develop leadership skills and take on team management or mentoring roles within data center operations or other technical teams.
Architecture & Design: Gain expertise in data center architecture and design, contributing to the development of new data center facilities and infrastructure projects.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site data center facilities with 24/7 operations and on-call support requirements

Office Location(s): Tokyo, Japan (with potential for expansion to other AWS data center locations)

Workspace Context:

Collaborative workspaces with shared tools and resources for hardware management and troubleshooting
Access to specialized equipment and testing environments for hardware and networking components
Opportunities for cross-functional collaboration with AWS services and infrastructure teams

Work Schedule: Rotating shifts with on-call support requirements, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Standard work hours are 8:00-18:00, 12:00-22:00, or 21:45-08:15, with a 10-hour shift and 1-hour break. Work on a 4-day work shift and 3-day off schedule.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone or video call to discuss your application and experience in data center operations.
On-site Interview: A full-day on-site interview, including technical assessments, problem-solving exercises, and behavioral interviews.
Final Decision: A final decision will be made based on your overall fit for the role and the team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight your experience in data center operations, including hardware lifecycle management and troubleshooting.
Include examples of technical documentation, root cause analysis, and process improvement initiatives related to data center operations.
Showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to work in a dynamic environment.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your knowledge of data center operations, hardware lifecycle management, and troubleshooting.
Review AWS infrastructure services and familiarize yourself with AWS data center facilities.
Prepare for problem-solving exercises and technical assessments related to data center operations.

ATS Keywords:

Data Center Operations, Hardware Lifecycle Management, Troubleshooting, Linux, Windows, Networking, Emergency Response, Technical Documentation, Team Collaboration, Process Improvement, On-call Support, Inventory Management, Maintenance Management, Shift Work, Customer Service, Safety Procedures, Root Cause Analysis, AWS, Cloud Computing, E-commerce, Agile, Scrum, CI/CD, IaC, Version Control

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Hardware & Networking Components:

Server racks, hardware, and networking equipment (e.g., switches, routers, cabling, etc.)
Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) tools for hardware inventory and tracking
Specialized testing and diagnostic equipment for hardware and networking components

Operating Systems & Platforms:

Linux (CentOS, Ubuntu, etc.) and Windows Server (2016, 2019, etc.) operating systems
AWS infrastructure services and management platforms (e.g., AWS Management Console, AWS CloudFormation, etc.)

Monitoring & Automation Tools:

Monitoring tools for data center infrastructure and hardware components (e.g., Nagios, Zabbix, etc.)
Automation tools for hardware configuration and deployment (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, etc.)

👥 Team Culture & Values

Data Center Operations Values:

Reliability: Ensure high availability and scalability of AWS services through effective hardware lifecycle management and troubleshooting.
Efficiency: Optimize data center operations and processes to maximize resource utilization and minimize downtime.
Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure service level agreements are met and contribute to process improvement initiatives.
Continuous Learning: Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and best practices in data center operations and AWS infrastructure services.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with AWS services and infrastructure teams to ensure high availability and scalability of AWS services.
Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to documentation efforts and share technical expertise with team members and other data center operations teams.
On-call Support: Participate in on-call rotations to provide 24/7 support for data center infrastructure and collaborate with on-call team members to resolve issues.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Hardware Lifecycle Management: Manage the on-site hardware lifecycle of IT infrastructure, including installation, maintenance, and decommissioning of server racks, hardware, and networking equipment.
Troubleshooting & Emergency Response: Diagnose and resolve hardware-related issues, and respond to emergent situations that affect operations, often working under tight deadlines and high-pressure environments.
Inventory & Maintenance Management: Track and manage inventory of hardware components, and assist in data center maintenance activities, ensuring compliance with safety and security procedures.
Process Improvement: Identify inefficiencies in data center operations and contribute to process improvement initiatives, enhancing the overall effectiveness of data center infrastructure management.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: Gain experience in AWS infrastructure services and data center operations, expanding your technical skill set and knowledge of cloud computing services.
Leadership Development: Develop leadership skills and take on team management or mentoring roles within data center operations or other technical teams, driving process improvement initiatives and enhancing team performance.
Architecture & Design: Gain expertise in data center architecture and design, contributing to the development of new data center facilities and infrastructure projects, and staying up-to-date with emerging technologies and best practices.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Hardware Lifecycle Management: Describe your experience in managing the hardware lifecycle of IT infrastructure in a data center environment. What challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
Troubleshooting & Emergency Response: Walk us through a complex hardware issue you've encountered and how you diagnosed and resolved it. How do you ensure minimal downtime and impact on operations?
Inventory & Maintenance Management: Explain your approach to tracking and managing inventory of hardware components in a data center environment. How do you ensure compliance with safety and security procedures?
Process Improvement: Describe a process improvement initiative you've led or contributed to in a data center environment. What was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience?

Company & Culture Questions:

AWS Infrastructure Services: How do you stay up-to-date with AWS infrastructure services and their impact on data center operations? Can you provide an example of a recent service update or feature release and how it affected your work?
Data Center Operations Culture: How do you contribute to a collaborative and inclusive data center operations culture? Can you provide an example of a time when you went above and beyond to support your team or another data center operations team?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Hardware Lifecycle Management: Highlight your experience in managing the hardware lifecycle of IT infrastructure, including installation, maintenance, and decommissioning of server racks, hardware, and networking equipment.
Troubleshooting & Emergency Response: Showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to work in a dynamic environment, providing examples of complex hardware issues you've resolved and the impact on data center operations.
Inventory & Maintenance Management: Demonstrate your ability to track and manage inventory of hardware components, ensuring compliance with safety and security procedures, and contributing to process improvement initiatives.
Process Improvement: Highlight your experience in identifying inefficiencies in data center operations and contributing to process improvement initiatives, enhancing the overall effectiveness of data center infrastructure management.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Server Engineer | Data Center Operations position at Amazon:

Update Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your experience in data center operations, hardware lifecycle management, and troubleshooting. Include relevant keywords and skills, and emphasize your problem-solving abilities and commitment to process improvement.
Prepare Your Portfolio: Showcase your experience in data center operations, including hardware lifecycle management, troubleshooting, and process improvement initiatives. Include technical documentation, root cause analysis, and case studies that demonstrate your impact on data center infrastructure and service availability.
Research AWS Infrastructure Services: Familiarize yourself with AWS infrastructure services and their impact on data center operations. Prepare for technical interviews by reviewing AWS documentation and staying up-to-date with recent service updates and feature releases.
Prepare for Technical Assessments: Brush up on your knowledge of data center operations, hardware lifecycle management, and troubleshooting. Review AWS infrastructure services and prepare for problem-solving exercises and technical assessments related to data center operations.
Practice Interview Questions: Prepare for interview questions by reviewing the "💡 Interview Preparation" section and practicing your responses to common data center operations and AWS infrastructure services questions.

Server Engineer | Data Center Operations, Data Center Operations