A day in the life: Data Center Engineer

DigitalOcean's data center engineers maintain the physical infrastructure in their data centers. Their work includes racking servers, swapping parts, and troubleshooting hardware and software issues. They also participate in planning new builds and creating infrastructure tools. A typical day involves updating old tickets, checking for incoming hardware, and prioritizing tasks based on impact. The team collaborates to solve problems and relies on each other's expertise. Priorities are determined by the effect on customers, with server downtime being critical and capacity expansion being a high concern. The job remains fun due to constant learning opportunities and working with diverse teams. Advice for aspiring data center engineers includes flexibility, teamwork, and a passion for maintaining critical infrastructure. DigitalOcean's work environment fosters growth and collaboration among employees.