A typical day in the data centre
What does a typical day look like for the people working behind the scenes of a data centre? From hardware installations and cabling to troubleshooting, customer requests and supporting critical works, every shift brings something different. In this 'day in the life', Leon Strong, Data Centre Services Engineer for Maidenhead, shares what it’s like to work in a hands-on technical role, what they enjoy most and their advice for anyone considering a career in data centre engineering.
Morning
I start my day by arriving on site and going through handover from the previous shift. I review any ongoing tasks or planned works so I’m clear on what needs to be prioritised. This helps me plan my workload and stay organised for the rest of the shift.
From there, I move into a mix of planned and unplanned work. This can include hardware installs, cabling or remote hands requests. I also support contractors when critical works are taking place within the data centre, ensuring tasks are completed safely and correctly.
Midday
Lunch breaks are taken when operationally possible, using the onsite kitchen and rest areas. It gives me a chance to step away from the floor, reset, and recharge before continuing with the rest of the shift.
When I’m not on break or actively working on tasks, I often use quieter periods to focus on learning and improving my technical knowledge. I also take the opportunity to review what I’ve done earlier in the day so I can become more efficient and confident in handling similar tasks in the future.
Afternoon / End of Shift
In the afternoon, I focus on completing any outstanding tasks and making sure everything I’ve worked on is properly updated and documented. I ensure tickets are accurate and detailed, so nothing is missed and everything is clear for follow up if needed.
Before the end of my shift, I make sure all work is fully logged and anything still open is clearly handed over so the next shift has everything they need.
What I enjoy most
What I enjoy most is the variety and hands on nature of the role. I’m constantly working on different tasks, whether that’s installing hardware, troubleshooting, or dealing with live infrastructure. It keeps the job interesting and helps me build my technical skills through real experience.
Advice for someone considering the role.
My advice would be if you want to learn and get involved, it’s a great opportunity and you’ll be working on a variety of different jobs. A lot of the skills develop through doing the role, so being practical, asking questions, and being proficient is important. It can be fast paced at times, but if you enjoy hands on technical work and problem solving, it’s a really rewarding role.
For those who enjoy hands-on technical work, problem solving and learning by doing, a career in data centre engineering offers plenty of opportunities to develop new skills and take on different challenges.
Interested in finding out where career at Pulsant could take you? Explore our current opportunities and become part of the people keeping the UK's digital infrastructure running.
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