Data Center Engineering Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Data center engineering roles attract strong H-1B visa and E-3 visa sponsorship from hyperscalers and colocation providers. Employers filing for these positions typically require a degree in electrical, mechanical, or computer engineering, and sponsorship approval rates are high for qualified candidates. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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At Amazon, we're working to be the most customer-centric company on Earth. To get there, we need exceptionally talented, bright, and driven people.
Amazon’s AWS Data Centers are a major component of worldwide cloud-computing infrastructure and are industry leading examples of mission critical facilities. The pace, scale, and growth of Amazon’s data center platform will challenge you. Our uncompromisingly high standards as we continually seek to innovate on behalf of our customers will push you to new levels of creativity.
The Infrastructure Operations organization is looking for an extraordinary individual with proven and tested technical acumen and leadership skills to lead our Data Center Engineering Operations (DCEO) for AMER. The position will help ensure overall availability and reliability to meet or exceed defined service levels of data center operations.
A DCEO Principal Engineer is one of our most senior leadership roles in the data center environment. As engineers at Amazon we are responsible for achieving a world class uptime for our customers. In this role you will be responsible for leading the overall infrastructure management (e.g. electrical, mechanical, and HVAC systems) and be accountable for delivering operational excellence in the areas of safety, security, availability of an expanding portfolio of AWS data centers. The role requires a highly driven, self-managed individual who demonstrates initiative and proactively seeks innovative solutions to highly complex technical problems. This role reports directly to the Director of AMER Operations.
The DCEO Principal Engineer is a leader and evangelist, working with and leading cross-functional teams which include: technical program management, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, control engineering, supply chain management, operations, end users as well as safety and security teams.
The ideal candidate should be able to operate comfortably at a strategic and tactical level. It requires the individual to be able to see the big picture, guide, direct, educate, and develop members of the team while at times shifting to being hands-on on electrical and mechanical equipment troubleshooting. They will maintain, operate, and troubleshoot mission-critical data center facility equipment including electrical support equipment such as stand-by diesel generators and related fuel systems, 3 phase electrical systems that include but not limited to switchgear, transfer controllers, UPS units, PDUs, battery technologies and associated systems. Mechanical equipment includes CRAC units, centrifugal chillers, EVAP, cooling towers/water chemical system, air handlers and associated systems, pumps, and motors. Additional support equipment includes fire suppression systems, building automation systems, and general facilities equipment.
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
- Drive a safety-first culture that is underpinned by Amazon Leadership Principles and the utmost regard for adherence to standard operating procedures, operational excellence, and continuous improvement mindset;
- Be a leader within the Data Center engineering staff across the region, including engineering technicians, chief engineers, facility and area managers;
- Partner with senior leaders and DCEO cluster managers to drive prevention of Large Scale Events and Critical Site Events. Review and advise on technical work, support with event management, and help lead the strategic direction and improvements of our DCEO organization;
- Work with construction and commissioning teams to properly test and validate installation, operation, and performance of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems.
- Maintain existing IT, mechanical, electrical infrastructure as well as pioneer new technology and processes. Work with internal teams to understand design requirements, solicit customer input, and drive innovative infrastructure solutions within business constraints;
- For issues that arise in data centers, provide support and guidance to the teams involved in root-cause analysis, mitigation and remediation strategies, sharing lessons learned with global partners, and support with long-term corrective measures including reporting and documentation.
- Act as a mentor and subject matter expert to operations staff through one-on-one coaching and mentoring.
- Actively oversees and plans infrastructure goals for key initiatives and metrics that support service availability and Data Center management
- Works independently and has frequent reviews with business leadership, other Principal Engineers and Senior Engineers across AWS.
- Communicate clearly and effectively at the appropriate level of detail with people from a wide range of technical abilities and backgrounds.
- Have fun while offering creative, out of the box solutions.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of electrical and mechanical facilities maintenance, or 10+ years of data center or mission critical facilities (example: hospital, military facility, public safety facility, etc.) experience
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or a related field
- Professional Engineering registration, or 5+ years of managing, analyzing and communicating results to senior leadership experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience motivating others to meet the daily challenges of an extremely deadline-driven environment
- Experience that includes strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication abilities, or experience working with customers with a passion for delivering exceptional service
- Experience with large-scale technical operations or large-scale compute farms
- Experience performing complex business case analysis to justify technical decisions and presenting the justification to management in a high-level review
- Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and controls systems for critical infrastructures
- Knowledge of IT system hardware and network concepts
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, OR, Hermiston - 165,700.00 - 260,000.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
At Amazon, we're working to be the most customer-centric company on Earth. To get there, we need exceptionally talented, bright, and driven people.
Amazon’s AWS Data Centers are a major component of worldwide cloud-computing infrastructure and are industry leading examples of mission critical facilities. The pace, scale, and growth of Amazon’s data center platform will challenge you. Our uncompromisingly high standards as we continually seek to innovate on behalf of our customers will push you to new levels of creativity.
The Infrastructure Operations organization is looking for an extraordinary individual with proven and tested technical acumen and leadership skills to lead our Data Center Engineering Operations (DCEO) for AMER. The position will help ensure overall availability and reliability to meet or exceed defined service levels of data center operations.
A DCEO Principal Engineer is one of our most senior leadership roles in the data center environment. As engineers at Amazon we are responsible for achieving a world class uptime for our customers. In this role you will be responsible for leading the overall infrastructure management (e.g. electrical, mechanical, and HVAC systems) and be accountable for delivering operational excellence in the areas of safety, security, availability of an expanding portfolio of AWS data centers. The role requires a highly driven, self-managed individual who demonstrates initiative and proactively seeks innovative solutions to highly complex technical problems. This role reports directly to the Director of AMER Operations.
The DCEO Principal Engineer is a leader and evangelist, working with and leading cross-functional teams which include: technical program management, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, control engineering, supply chain management, operations, end users as well as safety and security teams.
The ideal candidate should be able to operate comfortably at a strategic and tactical level. It requires the individual to be able to see the big picture, guide, direct, educate, and develop members of the team while at times shifting to being hands-on on electrical and mechanical equipment troubleshooting. They will maintain, operate, and troubleshoot mission-critical data center facility equipment including electrical support equipment such as stand-by diesel generators and related fuel systems, 3 phase electrical systems that include but not limited to switchgear, transfer controllers, UPS units, PDUs, battery technologies and associated systems. Mechanical equipment includes CRAC units, centrifugal chillers, EVAP, cooling towers/water chemical system, air handlers and associated systems, pumps, and motors. Additional support equipment includes fire suppression systems, building automation systems, and general facilities equipment.
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
- Drive a safety-first culture that is underpinned by Amazon Leadership Principles and the utmost regard for adherence to standard operating procedures, operational excellence, and continuous improvement mindset;
- Be a leader within the Data Center engineering staff across the region, including engineering technicians, chief engineers, facility and area managers;
- Partner with senior leaders and DCEO cluster managers to drive prevention of Large Scale Events and Critical Site Events. Review and advise on technical work, support with event management, and help lead the strategic direction and improvements of our DCEO organization;
- Work with construction and commissioning teams to properly test and validate installation, operation, and performance of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems.
- Maintain existing IT, mechanical, electrical infrastructure as well as pioneer new technology and processes. Work with internal teams to understand design requirements, solicit customer input, and drive innovative infrastructure solutions within business constraints;
- For issues that arise in data centers, provide support and guidance to the teams involved in root-cause analysis, mitigation and remediation strategies, sharing lessons learned with global partners, and support with long-term corrective measures including reporting and documentation.
- Act as a mentor and subject matter expert to operations staff through one-on-one coaching and mentoring.
- Actively oversees and plans infrastructure goals for key initiatives and metrics that support service availability and Data Center management
- Works independently and has frequent reviews with business leadership, other Principal Engineers and Senior Engineers across AWS.
- Communicate clearly and effectively at the appropriate level of detail with people from a wide range of technical abilities and backgrounds.
- Have fun while offering creative, out of the box solutions.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of electrical and mechanical facilities maintenance, or 10+ years of data center or mission critical facilities (example: hospital, military facility, public safety facility, etc.) experience
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or a related field
- Professional Engineering registration, or 5+ years of managing, analyzing and communicating results to senior leadership experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience motivating others to meet the daily challenges of an extremely deadline-driven environment
- Experience that includes strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication abilities, or experience working with customers with a passion for delivering exceptional service
- Experience with large-scale technical operations or large-scale compute farms
- Experience performing complex business case analysis to justify technical decisions and presenting the justification to management in a high-level review
- Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and controls systems for critical infrastructures
- Knowledge of IT system hardware and network concepts
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, OR, Hermiston - 165,700.00 - 260,000.00 USD annually
See all 2,688+ Data Center Engineering Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Data Center Engineering roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Data Center Engineering Jobs
Target hyperscalers and colocation operators first
Companies like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google operate large data center portfolios and have established immigration programs. These employers sponsor H-1B and E-3 visas regularly and have dedicated legal teams to handle the process efficiently.
Match your degree field to the job description
H-1B and E-3 eligibility requires a specialty occupation tied to a specific degree field. Electrical, mechanical, or computer engineering degrees align most cleanly with data center roles, which strengthens your petition and reduces the risk of a USCIS denial.
Emphasize hands-on infrastructure credentials
Certifications such as CDCP, CDCE, or vendor credentials from Schneider Electric or Vertiv signal operational competency. Employers sponsoring data center engineers often use these credentials to justify the specialty occupation classification in H-1B petitions.
Understand the LCA before you sign your offer
Your employer must file a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor before submitting your visa petition. The LCA locks in your work location and wage level, so verify that both accurately reflect your actual role before the offer is finalized.
Account for the H-1B lottery timeline in your planning
H-1B cap-subject petitions are selected in April for an October 1 start date. If you need to begin work before October, discuss cap-exempt employer options or alternative visa categories like the O-1A with your employer during the hiring process.
Australian nationals should ask about the E-3 specifically
The E-3 visa is available exclusively to Australian citizens and has a 10,500 annual cap that has never been exhausted. It processes faster than the H-1B, skips the lottery entirely, and is well suited to data center engineering specialty occupation filings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do data center engineering jobs qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Yes, most data center engineering roles qualify as specialty occupations because they require at least a bachelor's degree in electrical, mechanical, or computer engineering. Roles focused on critical infrastructure design, power systems, or cooling systems have a documented track record of H-1B visa approval. General facilities management roles without a degree requirement can face challenges, so confirming the job description specifies a required degree is important before filing.
Which visa categories are most commonly used to sponsor data center engineers?
H-1B is the most common sponsorship vehicle for data center engineers in the U.S. Australian citizens have access to the E-3 visa, which skips the lottery and processes faster. Engineers with extraordinary ability or achievement records may qualify for the O-1A. TN visa status is available to Canadian and Mexican nationals in engineering roles explicitly listed under USMCA. Browse current openings on Migrate Mate to find employers actively filing for these categories.
Does my specific engineering degree matter for data center sponsorship?
It matters significantly. USCIS evaluates whether your degree field is directly related to the duties of the role. Electrical and mechanical engineering degrees align most clearly with data center infrastructure work involving power distribution, UPS systems, and HVAC. Computer engineering or computer science degrees support roles with a heavier systems or controls focus. A general business or unrelated degree will make the specialty occupation case harder to win, regardless of work experience.
Can a data center engineering role be sponsored for a green card?
Yes. Data center engineers are typically sponsored through the EB-2 or EB-3 employment-based green card categories, both of which require PERM labor certification. The employer must demonstrate that no qualified U.S. worker is available for the position. Because data center engineering is a specialized technical field, PERM applications for these roles have a reasonable approval rate, though wait times vary significantly by country of birth due to visa backlogs.
What experience level do most sponsoring employers expect for data center engineering roles?
Most sponsors filing H-1B or E-3 petitions for data center engineers expect two to five years of hands-on experience with critical infrastructure systems, including power, cooling, and physical security. Entry-level sponsorship does occur, particularly at large hyperscalers with established immigration programs, but competition is higher. Candidates with operational technology experience, familiarity with DCIM platforms, or exposure to Tier III and Tier IV data center standards are consistently more competitive in the sponsorship pipeline.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Data Center Engineering jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.