Critical Environment Operations Manager

Microsoft’s Cloud Infrastructure and Operations (MCIO) is the engine that powers our cloud services. As a Critical Environment Operations Manager, you will perform a key role in delivering the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's over 200 online businesses including Bing, Office 365, Xbox, OneDrive and the Microsoft Azure platform. 

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 200 datacenters in 32 countries and millions of servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide.

With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our datacenter design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities:

• Empower a culture of safety, security, and compliance in all aspects of datacenter operations, with a strong focus on mechanical and fire life safety systems.
• Lead a team of Mechanical, Electrical, and Control System professionals supporting Microsoft’s online services.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, maintenance, and reliability of mechanical infrastructure — including chilled water systems, air handlers, Computer Room Air Conditioning(CRAC)/Computer Room Air Handler(CRAH) units, pumps, and cooling towers — as well as associated fire suppression, detection, and life safety systems.
• Partner with electrical peers to maximize datacenter uptime and critical environment (CE) availability, ensuring optimal system redundancy and operational efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement in preventative maintenance, energy optimization, and risk mitigation for mechanical and fire systems.
• Lead incident reduction and root cause analysis efforts for mechanical-related events, driving a culture of accountability and learning.
• Deliver on cost and energy efficiency initiatives, ensuring alignment with sustainability and operational goals.
• Oversee routine reporting and data analytics related to power, temperature, humidity, and mechanical system performance to ensure SLA adherence.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering Groups (EGs) and regional peers to influence design improvements and operational best practices across the datacenter fleet.
• Establish strong partnerships with vendors and service providers, ensuring contract adherence, safety performance, and timely delivery of mechanical services.
• Embody our culture and values

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• High School Qualification or equivalent AND 6+ years experience of mission-critical service management (e.g., providing IT services, manufacturing, warehouse, retail, military, or managing physical operations in an IT and/or critical environment infrastructure)
• OR equivalent experience
• 1+ years’ experience leading a diverse, technical team in a critical or industrial environment.
• Ability to support a 24x7 datacenter environment, including participation in an on-call rotation and availability during non-standard business hours (evenings, nights, weekends, or holidays) as operational needs require.
• OR equivalent experience

Background Check Requirements:

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:

• Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Technical College certification in Mechanical Engineering, Facilities Engineering, or Building Services (or related field).
• 6+ years’ experience in Critical Environment infrastructure management, with a focus on mechanical systems, HVAC, and fire life safety.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale mechanical operations, including chilled water systems, economizers, air handling, and heat rejection systems.
• Familiarity with electrical infrastructure (UPS, generators, switchgear) and the ability to collaborate across technical domains.
• Experience leading commissioning, retrofits, or capacity upgrades of mechanical or fire life safety systems in a live datacenter or mission-critical environment.
• Budget management experience ($1M+ OPEX or CAPEX programs).
• Applicable certifications: HVAC, NFPA, PMP, CDCP, LEED, ITIL, or related leadership/technical certifications.
• Experience working on large-scale CE or building services projects and collaborating with global, virtual, or cross-functional teams.

Data Center Operations Management M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $127,600 - $229,200 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $168,900 - $253,300 per year.  

• Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
• Microsoft will accept applications for the role until OCT ,31 2025.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.