Critical Environment Technician

Microsoft•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

As a Critical Environment Technician (CET) on Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) team, you will help maintain the critical infrastructure that keeps Microsoft datacenters operating. The role supports the infrastructure and foundational technologies behind online services such as Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and Microsoft Azure. Work includes monitoring and inspecting equipment, maintenance and repairs, troubleshooting, safety and security compliance, and developing operating procedures. The role may require domestic travel to support other sites, typically for training or operational support, up to 25% of the time. It may also involve 12-hour shifts at non-standard hours, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Microsoft states that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. The technician performs and oversees maintenance, inspections, testing, commissioning, and operations of critical facility systems. The work spans equipment and disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, cooling, controls, HVAC, and fire/life safety systems. The technician follows established safety requirements and procedures, coordinates vendor and contractor work, documents maintenance and operational activity, monitors systems and alarms, and responds to abnormal conditions and incidents. The role also includes coaching less experienced colleagues and serving as a subject matter expert in covered critical-environment systems. Microsoft describes CO+I as supporting a global portfolio of more than 200 datacenters in 32 countries. The team emphasizes employee development, including career rotation programs, diversity and inclusion training and events, and professional certifications. Microsoft also identifies environmental sustainability and optimization as priorities in datacenter design and operations.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
At least 4 years of mission-critical services work or applied-learning experience, such as in a data center, high-availability assembly or manufacturing, critical infrastructure, oil and gas refinery, hospital, pharmaceutical, or related environment; equivalent experience is also accepted.
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including passing the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter.
Authorization to work in the United States without current or future employer visa sponsorship.
Ability to work 12-hour shifts, including non-standard hours such as evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to travel to other sites periodically, up to 25% of the time.
Ability to perform the stated physical and sensory demands: occasional ladder climbing; frequent stair and/or ramp climbing; prolonged standing; occasional lifting up to 25 pounds without assistance and 25–50 pounds with lift assistance; occasional pushing or pulling 50–75 pounds with an assistive device; normal corrected near, far, and peripheral visual acuity; and normal color vision for electrical work.
Ability to work for extended periods in elevated ambient noise, heat, and light caused by equipment and ventilation systems.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree, technical trade certification (such as military or trade school), or higher-equivalent education, plus at least 7 years of mission-critical services experience; or high school diploma, GED, or equivalent plus at least 10 years of mission-critical services experience; equivalent experience is also accepted.

Responsibilities

Follow and promote safety, security, business-process, and applicable Authority Having Jurisdiction requirements; identify unsafe conditions, stop or escalate work when appropriate, and maintain safe working conditions.
Participate in required meetings, trainings, and handoffs, and identify resources and equipment needed to support environmental health and safety objectives.
Coordinate contractor and vendor schedules and activities, provide escorts according to procedures and levels of risk, and ensure third-party work is safely performed to scope with correct documentation.
Inspect facility equipment and participate in testing and commissioning activities.
Perform planned, predictive, and corrective maintenance and repairs across assigned disciplines, following applicable MOPs, SOPs, DMOPs, hazard analyses, work statements, permits, and maintenance schedules.
Oversee maintenance tasks within a discipline or area of expertise and maintain systems and equipment safely and professionally.
Develop and recommend corrections to procedures, including MOPs, SOPs, and DMOPs, for equipment and disciplines within the technician’s coverage and expertise.
Document completed work, maintenance findings, issues, task hours, asset activity, spare-parts usage, and procedure changes in approved systems and templates.
Prepare and submit assigned reports, including turnover and preventive maintenance reports, and analyze report findings and observations.
Monitor critical facility equipment and systems through central monitoring locations, telemetry, control systems, and other platforms; identify alarms and trends and escalate according to policy.
Inspect and validate equipment performance and identify unsafe or abnormal building, grounds, or system conditions.
Troubleshoot equipment and systems to the subsystem level, determine when escalation is needed, and communicate with suppliers, engineers, or experienced colleagues.
Respond to abnormal conditions and incidents, coordinate corrective repairs, engage appropriate parties, and create incident timelines, root-cause analyses, and action items as required.
Use the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) and other applicable systems to track assets, work orders, task hours, logs, and reports.
Operate equipment and systems safely, understanding the interactions between assigned disciplines and overall datacenter operations.
Provide consultation and coaching to less experienced colleagues on troubleshooting, systems, mandatory training, and technical or procedural assignments.
Embody Microsoft’s culture and values.