Posted by Amazon Data Services, Inc. is recruiting a Data Center Chief Engineer for its data center operations in Avondale, Arizona. The position focuses on maintaining critical electrical, mechanical, and fire safety systems that support Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure.
This full-time opportunity is suited to experienced data center engineering and facilities operations professionals who can troubleshoot complex equipment, lead technicians, coordinate vendors, and maintain reliable facility operations.
Job Overview
- Job Title: Data Center Chief Engineer, DCEO
- Employer: Amazon Data Services, Inc. / Amazon Web Services
- Location: Avondale, Arizona, USA
- Salary: $96,000 to $166,300 per year
- Employment Type: Full-time
- Work Arrangement: Data center operations role
- Required Experience: Five or more years of data center engineering or operations experience, alongside other experience requirements
- Benefits: Health insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, parental leave, and other benefits
About the Employer
Amazon Web Services provides cloud computing and related infrastructure services to businesses and organisations around the world. Its infrastructure operations teams maintain the physical facilities and equipment needed to support AWS services.
The Data Center Chief Engineer will help keep essential building systems operating reliably and safely while supporting technicians, vendors, and engineering projects.
Job Description
The Data Center Chief Engineer is responsible for overseeing critical facility systems, including electrical distribution, backup power, cooling equipment, and fire and life safety systems. The position combines hands-on technical troubleshooting with team leadership, maintenance planning, vendor coordination, and project management.
The successful candidate will act as a key escalation point for facility problems, investigate equipment failures, and help ensure maintenance and operational work meets safety and reliability requirements.
The role may require work outside standard business hours for planned maintenance and emergency responses.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the operation and maintenance of critical facility equipment.
- Manage issues involving switchgear, generators, uninterruptible power supplies, power distribution equipment, chillers, cooling towers, and air-handling systems.
- Troubleshoot equipment failures and conduct root cause analysis.
- Coordinate routine maintenance and emergency responses.
- Provide technical guidance and training to Engineering Operations Technicians.
- Work with facility management to support team development and operational standards.
- Develop and implement procedures for engineers, technicians, and vendors.
- Support new facility construction and projects to improve existing infrastructure.
- Coordinate with IT managers, business leaders, and other engineering teams.
- Monitor facility performance, reliability, safety, and efficiency.
- Maintain operational reports and performance benchmarks.
- Use Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and other administrative tools.
- Ensure employees and contractors follow relevant safety procedures.
- Manage projects, costs, milestones, quotations, and project documentation.
Qualifications and Requirements
The listing specifies the following basic qualifications:
- At least three years of vendor management experience.
- At least four years of relevant experience in a data center or other critical environment.
- At least five years of data center engineering or operations experience.
- At least five years of experience using Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
Preferred qualifications include:
- Three or more years of construction or project management experience.
- An electrical or mechanical journeyman licence.
- An operating engineering licence, such as DC II, DC III, or an equivalent qualification.
- Experience managing construction or engineering projects.
Applicants should also be comfortable leading technicians, communicating technical information to non-technical audiences, and responding to urgent equipment issues.
The physical requirements include lifting or moving equipment and materials, climbing ladders, and performing other facility-related tasks. Reasonable accommodations may be available where applicable.
Salary and Benefits
The advertised annual base salary range is $96,000 to $166,300. Amazon states that final compensation depends on factors such as experience, qualifications, and location. The listing also mentions sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs) as part of the compensation package.
Listed benefits include:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Prescription coverage.
- Basic life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
- 401(k) matching.
- Paid time off.
- Parental leave.
- Flexible spending accounts.
- Employee assistance and mental health support.
- Adoption and surrogacy reimbursement coverage.
Specific compensation and benefits should be confirmed during recruitment.
Who Should Apply
This position may suit senior data center engineers, critical facilities engineers, electrical or mechanical operations specialists, and experienced facilities managers.
Candidates should have substantial experience maintaining critical infrastructure, troubleshooting electrical and mechanical systems, supervising technical teams, and coordinating vendors. People with relevant licences and project management experience may also be well suited to the position.
Applicants should be prepared for occasional out-of-hours maintenance and emergency calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is the Data Center Chief Engineer job located?
The position is based in Avondale, Arizona, USA.
2. What is the salary range?
The advertised base salary is $96,000 to $166,300 per year.
3. How much experience is required?
The listing includes several experience requirements: five or more years in data center engineering or operations, four or more years in a data center or other critical environment, and three or more years of vendor management experience.
4. What technical systems does the role cover?
The role covers electrical distribution, generators, UPS systems, cooling equipment, air-handling systems, fire and life safety equipment, and building automation systems.
5. Are engineering licences required?
The listing identifies electrical or mechanical journeyman licences and operating engineering licences as preferred qualifications, rather than basic requirements.
6. What benefits does Amazon offer?
The advertised benefits include health insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, parental leave, life and AD&D insurance, flexible spending accounts, and additional employee support programmes.
7. Does Amazon confirm visa sponsorship for this position?
The supplied job advertisement does not explicitly confirm visa sponsorship for this vacancy. Applicants who need US work authorisation should verify sponsorship availability with the recruitment team.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience criteria should submit their application.
Post Disclaimer: International Jobs Recruitment (IJR) is a global career platform that connects job seekers with employment opportunities from trusted employers worldwide. IJR is not the hiring organization and does not influence recruitment decisions. For any specific inquiries regarding job status or application requirements, please contact the official hiring organization directly via the links provided.