How to get into data centre work
There are two broad kinds of job inside a data centre: looking after the IT equipment, and looking after the building systems that keep it running. Both have entry routes for people without data centre experience.
The main entry roles
Equinix describes its UK operations roles in three groups:
- Critical facilities engineers "maintain and repair electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and plumbing systems" and support controls such as BMS and SCADA. This is the route for electricians and maintenance engineers.
- Customer operations staff "install and maintain physical hardware like servers and cabling" and provide 24/7 support. This is the usual route from IT support. Elsewhere it's called a data centre technician.
- Apprentices: Equinix says its apprenticeship programme needs "no prior experience".
Sites also employ security staff and operations managers, and new builds need large construction and commissioning teams. For example, QTS expects its Cambois campus in Northumberland to create about 1,200 construction jobs and 400 operational jobs, and says it will recruit within 25 miles of the site where possible.
Routes in
- An apprenticeship. The Level 3 Information communications technician apprenticeship (ST0973) lists "data centre support technician" as a typical job. It usually takes 18 months. A revised version replaces it for new starts from 28 January 2027.
- From a trade. Electricians and mechanical maintenance engineers move into critical facilities roles. What employers ask electricians for.
- From IT support. Helpdesk and desktop support experience carries over to hardware and cabling work. More on this route.
- From the forces. Equinix's Level III critical facilities adverts accept maintenance experience from "the armed forces". Resettlement support and programmes.
Do you need a data centre qualification?
Usually not to start. The adverts we checked ask for trade or IT qualifications plus relevant experience, and treat data centre experience as a bonus. Equinix's "Get into Data Centres" engineer advert says previous data centre experience "is beneficial". Data centre courses such as CDCP are more common once you're in, or for people moving across from related work. Compare the main courses.