Data Center Operations Jobs for OPT Students
Data Center Operations jobs on OPT involve hands-on infrastructure work, server maintenance, network monitoring, and physical hardware support. Most roles qualify as STEM OPT extensions under CIP codes like Computer and Information Sciences, giving you up to 36 months of authorized work experience in a field with strong employer demand.
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Manage a team that maintains cloud infrastructure for global data center operations! As a Data Center Manager, you will solve complex technical challenges and drive operational excellence across our global data center network. Manage high-performing technical teams that operate critical infrastructure. Develop and optimize processes to improve operational metrics. Drive performance to meet Amazon's rapid data center growth demands. Build strong relationships with internal teams and external vendors. Implement innovative solutions to complex infrastructure challenges.
AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain — and we’re looking for talented people who want to help.
You’ll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You’ll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.
Effective May 15, 2017, logical access to the AWS GovCloud region will be restricted to Amazon employees who are U.S. Citizens. (GovCloud may NOT be accessed from outside of the United States)
Key job responsibilities
- Managing and developing teams of engineers, providing both technical and leadership expertise and ensuring the highest levels of performance.
- Maintaining existing Data Centers
- Helping build and bring online new Data Centers
- Constantly improving all our processes and procedures. We believe there is nothing we cannot improve
- Assisting & managing relationships with external vendors & contractors
- Liaising with internal teams & management groups
- Ensuring we adhere to and exceed local Health & Safety standards in all our Data Centers
- Creating and maintaining metrics on all aspects of our Data Centers and utilizing those metrics to drive positive changes
- Assisting in implementing service methodologies including incident management, problem management, change management, capacity management, etc.
This role supports data centers in various operational stages. The position may be assigned to a facility still under development, which could require travel to established locations for training until your designated site becomes fully operational.
Essential Requirements:
- Ability to travel to or commute between data center locations as needed
- Willingness to temporarily work at alternative sites during training periods or until assigned facility is operational
- Travel frequency will vary based on business needs and operational status of assigned facility
Candidates must be able to travel (over 50 miles) or commute (less than 50 miles) to active data center sites as required by business needs.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 4+ years of technical team management experience
- 4+ years of experience in a data center technology role and/or 4+ years of knowledge with Networking or Computer hardware.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Work a flexible schedule/shift/work area, including weekends, nights, and/or holidays
- 2+ years of previous Data Center Management experience.
- Behavioral interviewing and hiring experience
- Experience in technical writing in a relevant field
- Experience contributing to the definition and implementation of automation opportunities within an operations environment
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, PA, Berwick - 107,700.00 - 188,500.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
Manage a team that maintains cloud infrastructure for global data center operations! As a Data Center Manager, you will solve complex technical challenges and drive operational excellence across our global data center network. Manage high-performing technical teams that operate critical infrastructure. Develop and optimize processes to improve operational metrics. Drive performance to meet Amazon's rapid data center growth demands. Build strong relationships with internal teams and external vendors. Implement innovative solutions to complex infrastructure challenges.
AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain — and we’re looking for talented people who want to help.
You’ll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You’ll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.
Effective May 15, 2017, logical access to the AWS GovCloud region will be restricted to Amazon employees who are U.S. Citizens. (GovCloud may NOT be accessed from outside of the United States)
Key job responsibilities
- Managing and developing teams of engineers, providing both technical and leadership expertise and ensuring the highest levels of performance.
- Maintaining existing Data Centers
- Helping build and bring online new Data Centers
- Constantly improving all our processes and procedures. We believe there is nothing we cannot improve
- Assisting & managing relationships with external vendors & contractors
- Liaising with internal teams & management groups
- Ensuring we adhere to and exceed local Health & Safety standards in all our Data Centers
- Creating and maintaining metrics on all aspects of our Data Centers and utilizing those metrics to drive positive changes
- Assisting in implementing service methodologies including incident management, problem management, change management, capacity management, etc.
This role supports data centers in various operational stages. The position may be assigned to a facility still under development, which could require travel to established locations for training until your designated site becomes fully operational.
Essential Requirements:
- Ability to travel to or commute between data center locations as needed
- Willingness to temporarily work at alternative sites during training periods or until assigned facility is operational
- Travel frequency will vary based on business needs and operational status of assigned facility
Candidates must be able to travel (over 50 miles) or commute (less than 50 miles) to active data center sites as required by business needs.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 4+ years of technical team management experience
- 4+ years of experience in a data center technology role and/or 4+ years of knowledge with Networking or Computer hardware.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Work a flexible schedule/shift/work area, including weekends, nights, and/or holidays
- 2+ years of previous Data Center Management experience.
- Behavioral interviewing and hiring experience
- Experience in technical writing in a relevant field
- Experience contributing to the definition and implementation of automation opportunities within an operations environment
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, PA, Berwick - 107,700.00 - 188,500.00 USD annually
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Data Center Operations
Target employers with existing OPT infrastructure
Large cloud providers and colocation companies like Equinix, Digital Realty, and CoreSite regularly hire OPT students. Look for postings that mention E-Verify compliance, which is required for STEM OPT extensions and signals an employer already understands the process.
Confirm your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Data Center Operations roles typically qualify under CIP codes for Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Information Technology. Verify your specific degree's CIP code with your DSO before accepting an offer, since your 36-month extension depends on that match.
Emphasize certifications that reduce employer hesitation
CompTIA A+, Network+, and CCNA certifications signal technical competency and reduce perceived hiring risk. Employers unfamiliar with OPT often worry about ramp-up time, so credentials that prove job-readiness make the authorization conversation much easier to have.
Address shift work flexibility early in interviews
Data center roles frequently involve rotating shifts, nights, and weekend coverage. Proactively communicating your availability for non-standard hours removes a common objection and positions you as a reliable candidate who understands operational realities of 24/7 infrastructure environments.
Document your training plan carefully for each employer
STEM OPT requires a signed Form I-983 training plan connecting your daily tasks to your degree field. For data center roles, map responsibilities like capacity planning, virtualization, and systems monitoring directly to coursework or technical competencies from your program.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Data Center Operations jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most Data Center Operations roles do qualify, provided your degree falls under an approved STEM CIP code such as Computer and Information Sciences, Electrical Engineering, or Information Systems. The job itself must also involve work that directly relates to your field of study. Confirm your specific degree's CIP code with your Designated School Official before accepting an offer, since qualification is degree-dependent, not just title-dependent.
How do I find Data Center Operations employers who accept OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters Data Center Operations jobs by employers who are E-Verify certified and actively open to hiring on OPT. Browsing there saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering the authorization barrier late in the process. Focus on mid-size colocation companies and managed service providers, which tend to have more flexible hiring processes than hyperscalers.
Can I work rotating or night shifts in a Data Center Operations role while on OPT?
Yes. OPT work authorization has no restrictions on shift type, hours worked per shift, or schedule structure, as long as you are working at least 20 hours per week for a legitimate employer in your field of study. Night shifts and rotating schedules are standard in data center environments, and your OPT status does not create any special compliance issue for those arrangements.
What should my STEM OPT training plan include for a Data Center Operations job?
Your Form I-983 training plan should map specific job responsibilities to learning objectives tied to your degree. For a Data Center Operations role, this might include server rack management, network infrastructure monitoring, incident response procedures, and capacity planning. Each task should be connected to a technical competency or course from your academic program. Your employer's supervisor and your DSO both need to sign the plan before your extension is approved.
What happens to my OPT authorization if my data center employer is acquired or restructures?
A corporate acquisition or restructuring that results in a new legal employer entity requires you to update your OPT documentation promptly. If the EIN changes or you are technically employed by a new company, your DSO needs to update your SEVIS record to reflect the new employer information. Continuing to work without that update can jeopardize your STEM OPT extension eligibility. Contact your DSO immediately when any material change to your employment arrangement occurs.
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