Critical Environment Operations

As a Critical Environment Technician (CET) in Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) team, you will help to maintain the critical infrastructure that keeps our datacenters up and running. This could be anything from performing basic monitoring and inspection, performing various types of maintenance, participating in equipment troubleshooting, enforcing all safety and security requirements, and developing methods of operating procedures (MOPs) and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers our cloud services. As a CO+I Critical Environment Technician, you will perform a key role in delivering the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's online services including Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and the Microsoft Azure platform. As a group, CO+I is focused on the personal and professional development of all employees and offers training and opportunities including Career Rotation Programs, Diversity & Inclusion training and events, and professional certifications.

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 200 datacenters in 32 countries and millions of servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide.

With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our datacenter design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

In this environment, you may be asked to go on business travel to support other metros periodically, 0-25% of the time and have the ability to work 12-hour shifts, including shift assignments during non-standard business hours that may include evening, nighttime, weekends and/or holidays. 

Critical Environment Culture

• Understands, follows, and ensures safety and security requirements (e.g., job hazard assessments [JHAs], toolbox talks), and business processes and procedures are met, to properly perform work in a safe, quality, and reliable manner in accordance to applicable Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) regulations, and Microsoft requirements. Recognizes safe versus unsafe working conditions and responds accordingly (e.g., stop/pause tasks, stand down vendors where necessary). Escalates immediately when unsafe working conditions are observed. Participates in required meetings, trainings, and necessary handoffs. Assesses and identifies appropriate resources and equipment necessary to fully support environmental health and safety (EHS) objectives. Actively maintains safe working conditions at all times. Proactively ensures safety and security requirements are followed and met for the work of themselves and others.

• Working for extended periods under elevated levels of ambient noise, heat, and light due to necessary equipment and ventilation systems.

• Occasional climbing of ladders. Frequent climbing of stairs and/or ramps. Prolonged standing. Occasional lifting up to 25lbs / 11kg without assistance. Occasional lifting 25-50lbs / 11-22.5kg with lift assistance. Occasional push or pull 50-75 lbs / 22.5-34kg with assistive device. Normal visual acuity (near, far and peripheral with correction), defined via standard medical terms and applicable criteria. Normal color vision for electrical work, defined via standard medical terms and applicable criteria.

• May travel up to 25%, typically domestically for training and/or supporting another site. May work 12-hour shifts, including shift assignments during non-standard business hours such as evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Equipment and Systems Maintenance

• Provides necessary escort to third-party contractors, sub-contractors, vendors, and service providers on site based on the appropriate procedure levels of risk (LOR). Takes part in getting third-party work underway (e.g., making sure systems are properly energized/deenergized), ensuring the work is started and completed in a safe manner in accordance with standard practices, procedures, and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) regulations. Ensures work performed by suppliers/vendors is performed to scope, all documentation is performed correctly, and escalates as appropriate. Recognizes circumstances when to stop supplier/vendor work to address potential and/or identified concerns. Coordinates per appropriate LOR applicable to preventative and/or corrective maintenance. Identifies and recommends procedure corrections if/when errors are detected or when appropriate. Reviews and completes appropriate work orders to support approval of vendor supplier field service reports or invoices.

• Performs troubleshooting of equipment and systems independently within their trained discipline(s). Documents issues found in troubleshooting process within appropriate systems per process and procedure as needed. Ensures equipment and system settings are consistent with established parameters and designs. Communicates and/or escalates troubleshooting issues or anomalies with assistance from more experienced colleagues. Has a hands-on understanding of how equipment works within disciplines they have been trained.

• Performs various types of maintenance (e.g., planned, predictive, corrective) and repairs (e.g., basic replacements, changing of parts) for specific disciplines and equipment for which they have been trained, following methods of procedure (MOPs), standard operating procedures (SOPs), and digital methods of operating procedures (DMOPs) with minimal supervision - in consideration of Task Hazard Analysis (THA), Method Statement of Work (MSOW), or varying permit requirements. Communicates and/or escalates maintenance activities per established process and procedure. Prioritizes maintenance activities as required and/or appropriate. Documents tasks or issues during maintenance activities within appropriate systems per process and procedure as needed. Performs lower level maintenance with minimal supervision, and may resolve high level issues with support from more experienced colleagues. Follows recommended maintenance schedules. Maintains all systems and equipment in a safe and professional manner and understands levels of risk (LORs) associated with varying types of maintenance.

• Prepares and submits required reports (e.g., turnover, preventative maintenance [PM]) as assigned following preexisting scripts and templates. Develops methods of operating procedure (MOPs), standard operating procedures (SOPs), and/or digital methods of operating procedures (DMOPs) for appropriately leveled procedures to ensure safe and reliable execution. Documents completed work using approved tools and procedural templates for more experienced technician review. Completes and provides coaching to support less experienced technicians for mandatory, technical, and procedural training assignments.

• Develops an understanding of method statement of work (MSOW) documents. Coordinates activities and associated schedules with contractors. Performs inspections of equipment in a facility. Participates in testing and commissioning activities.

Equipment and Systems Operations

• Works on tasks (e.g., making rounds, initial assessments on equipment performance) as assigned with varying levels of supervision, sometimes minimal. Supports senior colleagues as an assistant. Builds knowledge in operating equipment and systems within a set discipline (e.g., electrical, mechanical, controls). Operates all systems and equipment in a safe and professional manner.

• Performs monitoring physical inspection of critical environment-related facility equipment (e.g., controls, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning [HVAC], mechanical systems), building, and grounds for unsafe or abnormal conditions. Understands critical system alarms for single discipline(s) of equipment, their meanings, and engages with appropriate escalation processes or procedures. Recognizes circumstances where execution would be considered safe to proceed. Performs various inspections and validations of equipment performance. Monitors the performance from central monitoring locations (i.e., Facility Operations Centers) of maintenance and operations of equipment (e.g., electrical, mechanical, fire/life safety) within the data center. Escalates per applicable policies and standards. Utilizes telemetry, control systems, and other platforms to monitor site status, analyze past and current events, as well as other processes, and can identify critical alarms. Advises less experienced colleagues on issues found while monitoring applicable CE systems.

• Safely responds to and stabilizes abnormal conditions within the required timeframes for various abnormal facility events within data center with minimal supervision, utilizing emergency operating procedures (EOPs). Gathers necessary information and participates in the creation of incident timelines/data, root-cause analyses, and/or action items following an abnormal condition as required. Identifies appropriate parties to mitigate incidents as they occur. Assists in developing emergency operating procedures (EOPs), methods of procedure (MOPs), standard operating procedures (SOPs), and digital methods of operating procedures (DMOPs) in relation to incidents. Assists in providing emergency monitoring response to irregular or malfunctioning conditions.

• Utilizes internal computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to track all equipment assets and to complete work order requests for maintenance work. Tracks hours for performed tasks within applicable task management systems. Adds required data, documents, logs changes, and upkeeps procedures related to building management systems and reports. Properly signals spare equipment and parts utilization within maintenance work orders.

Working Conditions

• Applies to but is not limited to US-based Data Center roles: Working for extended periods under elevated levels of ambient noise, heat, and light due to necessary equipment and ventilation systems.

• As indicated above, this role has a travel requirement of up to 25% which means you may be required to travel, from time to time, as part of this role.

• As indicated above, have the ability to work 12-hour shifts, including shift assignments during non-standard business hours that may include evening, nighttime, weekends and/or holidays

Other:

• Embodies our culture and values

Required Qualifications:

• Ability speak, write and understand fluent English 

Background Check Requirements:

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:

• Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

While not required, we also look for the following Preferred Qualifications:

• 4+ years mission critical services work/applied learning experience (e.g., high availability assembly/manufacturing/critical infrastructure environments such as data centers, oil and gas refineries, hospitals, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, or related fields) OR equivalent experience.

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.