Step into a role where your technical expertise helps power the world’s largest cloud services. Microsoft’s Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) team is seeking a Mid-Level Critical Environment Technician (CET) to join our Auckland data center team. In this shift-based role, you won’t just monitor equipment you’ll be the on-the-ground expert ensuring the electrical, mechanical, and cooling systems operate without interruption. From coordinating with vendors to leading incident response, you’ll be the person keeping Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive, and Azure running smoothly for millions of users worldwide.
About the Company
Behind every click, search, and download in the Microsoft ecosystem is a massive, globally connected infrastructure. CO+I is the team responsible for that foundation managing over 200 data centers across 32 countries with millions of servers supporting more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. We’re not just about maintaining servers; we’re about innovating how data centers operate, with sustainability and efficiency built into everything we do. When you join Microsoft, you’re joining a company that values growth. We offer career rotation programs, professional certifications, and diversity training because we believe our people thrive when they’re supported. Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more including you.
Key Responsibilities
- Operate with Expertise: You’ll serve as the go-to specialist in one major area whether that’s electrical systems, mechanical equipment, controls, or generators handling advanced tasks independently and confidently.
- Inspect and Monitor: Regularly walk down critical environment equipment including HVAC systems, mechanical components, and building controls. You’ll spot unsafe or abnormal conditions early and escalate them following Microsoft’s standards.
- Track and Complete Work Orders: Use our internal computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to track equipment assets, log maintenance history, and complete work orders efficiently and accurately.
- Lead Incident Response: When alarms sound or abnormal conditions arise, you’ll step up to lead onsite incident response teams. You’ll coordinate with fellow critical facilities professionals to perform corrective repairs quickly and safely, without needing supervision.
- Refine Procedures: You’ll help develop and enhance emergency operating procedures (EOPs), methods of procedure (MOPs), and standard operating procedures (SOPs), ensuring every action taken aligns with safety and operational best practices.
- Perform Hands-On Maintenance: Whether it’s planned, predictive, or corrective maintenance, you’ll work directly on electrical, mechanical, and cooling systems, following established MOPs and SOPs while applying your deep understanding of how each component functions.
- Mentor and Guide: Your experience will be valuable to the team. You’ll provide consultation and guidance to lower-level colleagues, helping them troubleshoot complex systems and grow their own skills.
- Champion Safety: Every task begins and ends with safety. You’ll follow job hazard assessments (JHAs), participate in toolbox talks, and ensure all work meets Microsoft’s rigorous environmental health and safety (EH and S) requirements.
- Embody Our Culture: You’ll live out Microsoft’s values of respect, integrity, and accountability, contributing to a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive.
Required Qualifications
- Education and Experience: High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent AND 1+ year(s) of mission-critical services industry work or applied learning experience. This could include data centers, high-availability assembly/manufacturing, trades, oil and gas refineries, hospitals, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, or related fields. Equivalent industry experience will also be considered.
- Shift Work: Ability to work shifts, including assignments during non-standard business hours—evenings, nights, weekends, and/or holidays.
Background Check Requirements:
- Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and-or government security screening requirements.
- Microsoft Cloud Background Check: Required upon hire-transfer and every two years thereafter.
- Citizenship Requirement: This position requires verification of NZ Citizenship or NZ Permanent Residency due to citizenship-based legal restrictions. You will need to provide a valid NZ passport or NZ PR VISA.
Preferred Qualifications
- High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent AND 2+ years of mission-critical services industry work experience in environments such as data centers, trades, oil and gas refineries, hospitals, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, or related fields.
- OR an Associate’s Degree or technical trade certification (military, trade school, or higher-equivalent education) AND 3+ years of mission-critical services experience.
- OR equivalent experience.
Benefits and Perks
Benefits and perks may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work. As a Microsoft employee, you can expect:
- World-class career development opportunities
- Access to professional certifications and training
- Career Rotation Programs to explore different roles
- Diversity and Inclusion training and events
- Comprehensive health and wellbeing benefits
- Retirement savings plans
- And more details provided during the hiring process
Why Join Microsoft’s CO+I Team
- Global Impact: Your work directly supports services used by over one billion customers and 20 million businesses across more than 90 countries.
- Cutting-Edge Environment: Work in state-of-the-art data centers with sustainability and optimization at the forefront of design and operations.
- A competitive hourly wage of $15.
- Career Growth: Microsoft invests in your development with rotation programs, certifications, and training opportunities.
- Inclusive Culture: Join a team that values respect, integrity, and accountability, where everyone can thrive.
- Mission-Driven: Be part of empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
How to Apply
Ready to power the cloud with your technical expertise? We’d like to hear about your experience working in mission-critical environments. Please submit your updated resume and a brief cover letter highlighting your background in electrical, mechanical, or controls systems. Tell us about a time you responded to an equipment failure what happened, what you did, and how you kept things running.
This position will be open for a minimum of five days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the role is filled. If you’re a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident with the skills and experience we’re looking for, we encourage you to apply today.
Click apply now and start your journey with Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation team in Auckland.