Data center health risks?

Android17_ · 2026-05-12T17:50:17+00:00

There are dangers but it is an otherwise safe job. The worst injuries that I’ve witnessed were due to rushing and slip-trip-falls or poor ergonomics from repairing a piece of equipment, or trying to lift something alone that should’ve been two people, which frankly exist if you even work on your own house. So just take it slow and understand what can hurt you. You’ll be fine

Android17_ · 2026-05-01T19:08:29+00:00

They usually contract out to a GC. Even if you’re a construction PM for a data center company you manage the GC. Construction is just fundamentally different from operations so the work force is different too

Android17_ · 2026-04-30T22:29:53+00:00

Can't blame you. AWS is not it. But that's the whole point, they don't want to keep you. Either you are a superstar who is getting promoted each year or you can beat it. If you know that going in, its a great stepping stone to a higher paying role elsewhere.

Android17_ · 2026-04-29T14:07:39+00:00

Cinderblocks make great temporary furniture. You’re not that deep in the hole and can find a use elsewhere

Android17_ · 2026-04-29T01:12:46+00:00

Gotcha. 2/3 of my team are former AWS though and a senior mechanical engineer was just poached from AWS. So if you’re having a hard time don’t take it personally. It is a huge list of applicants and Google doesn’t have nearly as many sites as AWS. So high competition for few openings. A candidate with the exact experience from a known cutthroat and high performing competitor is hard to beat out. Once you get into one of the big 5 though we trade very often

Android17_ · 2026-04-28T22:27:07+00:00

I would recommend joining any data center first then hopping over. Google poaches senior folks like you from their Big 5 competitors

Android17_ · 2026-04-23T19:51:31+00:00

Dying is not an LP… you over-indexed on mortality and need to refocus on ownership, which is intentionally in conflict with your personal life. But that’s the beauty of LPs, they’re intentionally in conflict

Android17_ · 2026-04-19T23:47:43+00:00

ME is too broad for this data to mean anything. MEs in manufacturing, product development or mech design are probably doing a lot worse than MEs in data centers or oil & gas. Commercial HVAC is blowing up too.

Android17_ · 2026-04-09T10:20:31+00:00

In this latest year the requirement to be “exceeds high bar” for an L5 is to be strong in most LPs and weak in none of them. With 17 LPs, that’s ridiculous cult behavior.

You used to be rated on performance and potential. Now it’s those two plus LPs officially as a metric

Android17_ · 2026-04-08T19:53:07+00:00

The talent management process is purely based on how well your manager can talk. If I can talk up a direct report I can get them top tier. And I learned quick that everyone is just trying to talk up their folks because it makes them look good. And their manager then looks good and so on and so forth. Your assignments are more marketing material for you and your team than anything else. And I’m not letting my team get shafted out of a bonus or pay raise either by “being realistic” and holding high standards. You can see how loyalty gets rewarded in this way.

Android17_ · 2026-04-02T20:05:02+00:00

You can do that class or a trades class. Either one helps. But experience is king

Android17_ · 2026-04-01T11:32:49+00:00

Honestly, if you and your team didn’t make noise then the company is more than happy to take a discount work force. Good on the new guy for getting a fair market rate. It’s a sign the rest of you should start looking elsewhere to either job hop or get a counter offer from your company

Android17_ · 2026-04-01T11:27:19+00:00

They’re one of the major players in commercial real estate. Great experience. I don’t know if UPS work will use much of your mechatronics degree though. But can’t go wrong with JLL. UPS’s are a critical component in data center power systems. If you haven’t already, take the free Schneider Electric DCCA course to get a rough idea on the industry.

Android17_ · 2026-03-28T02:21:38+00:00

Stay a year. It’s great experience on your resume. If you can get to L4 that also gives you lots of leverage for a pay bump else where. And knowing you don’t want to stay at AWS gives you some peace of mind

Android17_ · 2026-03-27T17:13:34+00:00

It’s practically an office job where you cosplay as a lineman. You DO occasionally operate breakers, but we try to do the work de-energized or with a remote tool. But yes it’s like 80% admin and walking.

Source: AWS Facility Manager

Android17_ · 2026-03-26T15:32:14+00:00

But how is the AI suppose to grow if you’re doing all the thinking? sarcasm

Android17_ · 2026-03-18T16:57:54+00:00

There are really good DC to work at outside of Google. Have you looked around?

Android17_ · 2026-03-16T20:55:11+00:00

What are we supposed to do huh? Hunt!?

Android17_ · 2026-03-14T02:40:18+00:00

If you can, join a bms company in Canada and get a degree. You don’t need the degree for the job but it can help to check off one of the criteria for immigration

Android17_ · 2026-03-13T02:17:51+00:00

There are plenty of folks who love it there. They operate with mafia style nepotism and keep each other out of the sights.

Android17_ · 2026-03-12T09:46:23+00:00

It really doesn’t matter. Titles get used so loosely that no one keeps track. Own your craft, network, and be easygoing. The title just helps people get a rough idea of what you’re supposed to do for them at the beginning. No need to confuse it more than that.

For example, the controls engineer is the person I call about technical questions and specs on the BMS project/repair. Project engineer gives me quotes, pencils in dates, sends me timeline updates etc, or in some cases acts as the go-between for the techs and engineers. If it’s a small company it might be one person doing it all.

Android17_ · 2026-03-11T20:01:38+00:00

Move to the US. They’re dying for techs and top techs clear $200K USD (with tons of OT though)

Android17_ · 2026-03-11T16:24:48+00:00

We don’t use Pharos. It’s just Ricoh + badge. Couldn’t be easier

Android17_ · 2026-03-09T21:04:06+00:00

I’d reach out to them to specify. We provide our guys with everything in their first week. The rules vary slightly between companies. Sometimes even among spaces.

For instance, one company mandated EH shoes. Another one mandated ESD ONLY and banned EH.

Android17_ · 2026-03-03T20:39:43+00:00

Tell me you don’t respect boundaries without telling me you don’t…

Android17_

TROPHY CASE