Data Center Engineer at Meta - On-Site USA — Columbus
Traveler-Friendly Insight
This role is not compatible with a digital nomad or remote-work lifestyle. As a Critical Facility Engineer at Meta's data centers, you are required to be physically present on-site at all times — performing hands-on equipment maintenance, inspecting infrastructure, operating control room systems, and responding in person to emergencies.
Key constraints for travelers:
- Mandatory shift schedule, including nights and holidays — no async flexibility.
- Physical presence is non-negotiable: lifting 45+ lbs, working at heights, traversing uneven terrain.
- You are tied to a specific U.S. data center location full-time.
- Emergency response duties mean you must be on-call and geographically close to the facility at all times.
If you value location independence, this is not the role for you. Instead, consider looking for remote data center monitoring roles, NOC (Network Operations Center) analyst positions, or cloud infrastructure engineering roles that can be performed fully remotely. Those roles often allow async work arrangements and are far more compatible with a nomadic lifestyle while still building expertise in data center ecosystems.
Meta is seeking a Critical Facility Engineer to join our Data Center Facility Operations team. Our data centers serve as the foundation upon which our software operates to meet the demands of our customers. The Critical Facility Engineer will be part of the Facility Operations team responsible for operating and maintaining critical systems in our data centers.
Responsibilities
- Perform hands-on operations and maintenance including all physical and administrative tasks, service, and maintenance in accordance with site processes and procedures to ensure the highest levels of uptime, efficiency, and safety without disruption to the business.
- Complete work order requests accurately and on time in a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
- Achieve and maintain a high level of technical knowledge regarding data center infrastructure and operations; successfully complete personnel qualification standards (PQS) training.
- Provide technical expertise and assistance as required.
- Respond quickly, using Meta procedures or emergency operating procedures, to data center facility emergencies.
- Regularly inspect equipment, buildings, safety routes, and grounds to check for or identify abnormal/unsafe conditions or faults.
- Troubleshoot, evaluate, and recommend system upgrades.
- Order parts and supplies for maintenance and repairs.
- Work with vendors and contractors to ensure work is in accordance with agreed Meta processes, procedures, and standards.
- Escalate issues to facility management appropriately and in a timely manner.
- Assist in scheduling and supervising vendors/subcontractors during equipment/systems maintenance and service.
- Provide ongoing recommendations for improvements to the operations and maintenance program.
- Required to work on a shift schedule, which may include nights and holidays.
- Utilize computerized tooling in a control room environment to operate remote equipment, monitor system alerts, centralize communications, diagnose faults, and prioritize dispatching of resources.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in electrical, HVAC, mechanical, controls, or other technical maintenance fields.
- An Associate's degree in engineering plus 3+ years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree in a related field plus 2+ years of experience in electrical, HVAC, mechanical, or controls, may be considered in lieu of the 5+ years experience requirement.
- Ability to regularly walk job site areas of flat and uneven terrain, work at varying heights and from ladders, use hands and fingers, reach/push/pull with hands/arms/shoulders, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl.
- Ability to lift and/or move 45 pounds or more.
- Ability to sit or stand at a workstation for extended periods of time.
Preferred Qualifications
- Broad experience across industries such as electrical generation, electrical distribution, cooling technologies, building control, and fire protection systems.
- 3+ years of experience in a data center or other critical environment (pharmaceutical, clean room, medical, power production, etc.).
- Trade certification or state license in Electrical or Mechanical (HVAC).
- Professional affiliations (7x24 Exchange, IFMA, Data Center Pulse, etc.).
- Knowledge of CMMS systems and critical facilities operations.
- Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and life safety monitoring and control systems typically used in critical environments.
- Experience interpreting blueprints/CAD drawings.
- Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact (e.g., efficiency gains, quality improvements).
- Experience adhering to and implementing responsible, ethical AI practices (e.g., risk assessment, bias mitigation, quality and accuracy reviews).
- Demonstrated ongoing AI skill development (e.g., prompt/context engineering, agent orchestration) and staying current with emerging AI technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a remote or hybrid position?
No, this is a fully on-site role. The position requires physical presence at a Meta data center facility, including hands-on equipment maintenance, emergency response, and shift-based scheduling including nights and holidays.
What qualifications are required to apply?
A minimum of 5 years of experience in electrical, HVAC, mechanical, controls, or a related technical maintenance field is required. An Associate's degree plus 3 years, or a Bachelor's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, may be substituted for the experience requirement.
Does this role require any certifications or licenses?
While preferred rather than strictly required, a trade certification or state license in Electrical or Mechanical (HVAC) is listed as a preferred qualification, along with professional affiliations such as 7x24 Exchange or IFMA.
What are the physical demands of this job?
The role requires the ability to lift 45+ pounds, work at varying heights from ladders, walk on uneven terrain, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and stand or sit at a workstation for extended periods.
Why does a facilities engineering role mention AI skills?
Meta explicitly seeks candidates with experience integrating AI tools to optimize workflows, ethical AI practices, and skills like prompt engineering — reflecting the company's push to modernize data center operations using emerging technologies.
