Careers at Google data centers

Having spent 10 years in the military working with computers, night vision goggles, and chemical equipment, Amber was drawn to Google by the opportunity to deepen her technical knowledge. Today, at our Moncks Corner data center, the South Carolina native repairs and maintains Google machines that secure customer information, all while studying for her degree in information technology. “Knowing that I’m making a difference,” Amber says, “that I’m adding to technology each day I come to work, makes me proud to be a Googler.” Amber is also a member of a Google Employee Resource Group that volunteers in the community with A Father’s Place, which provides education, services, and resources to fathers to help them become successful parents.

“I love how Google values its employees, giving them the opportunity to grow and guiding them,” says Haikal. With diplomas in both machine technology and information technology, Haikal is responsible for keeping the data center network up and running, as well as keeping user data secure. He also enjoys occasionally playing table tennis at work. “Everyone’s a leader here at Google,” says Haikal. “Anyone can ask questions and also give their opinions. What we value is your contribution and your dedication.”

The ability to multitask is essential for Derek, a data center facilities technician and busy father of three. “We’re here 24/7 for the rare times when things go wrong,” he says. “We’re trained to respond promptly and efficiently to fix any issues as they arise. You get a great sense of satisfaction on a job well done.” In addition to daily operations, Derek is responsible for keeping the data center online and monitoring on-site standby generators. He appreciates the freedom to do his job, as well as the support from his colleagues. “Working at Google has been a very positive experience,” he says. “I have taken on new challenges and learned many new skills. You never know where the job is going to take you from one week to another.”

With a background in political science, Ryan spent time in construction operations before coming to Google. Responsible for making internal tools easier to use, his role requires skills in organization, writing, and communication, as well as a willingness to take on the status quo. ”It takes a lot of people from many backgrounds to keep Google up and running,” Ryan says. When not in the office, Ryan says you can often find him behind a camera trying to take the perfect picture.

Stephen loves coming to work, learning from his fellow employees, and discovering what innovations Google and Alphabet are working on. “Googlers don’t just see projects,” he says. “We see the impact our projects have on the lives of billions of users worldwide.” Stephen aligns people, processes, and technology to maintain Google data centers and help them scale. He says his first love is his wife and two kids, “closely followed by soccer,” as well as movies, reading, and learning new things. “Google is a journey, not a destination,” he says. “Be ready for the ride, you’ll totally enjoy it.”

Lazo works on various projects in hardware operations, such as verifying that new equipment is properly placed and connected. As the local lead of the Black Googler Network internal group, he enjoys working with a team of great people and says he’s learned that change is good. “You have to pay attention to details in my position,” he says. “Things change fast.” When not at work, Lazo is a musician, emcee, and music producer.

Prior to working at Google, James served 10 years in the Navy as a Nuclear Machinist’s Mate operating critical equipment. His training and experience have been invaluable in his role as a facilities technician at our data center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, helping ensure our servers remain running and our equipment and office buildings stay cool. He is proud to work for a company that invests in its employees and the community. “Having a feeling that you're a part of a greater goal and that everybody's aligned on that same goal is such a unique opportunity that doesn't exist in many workplaces.”

With an established background in environmental engineering, Rita first joined Google Data Centers as a sustainability program manager. She’s since transitioned into a portfolio manager role working with Google’s Energy and Location Strategy team, where she ensures new and existing sites are prepared for development or expansion. She credits her job with teaching her valuable cross-functional communication skills and says she greatly enjoys acting as the face of the organization during each project’s early stages. For those interested in following a similar trajectory, Rita advises, “Open your mind and come ready to learn.”

Boasting 15 years’ experience in the maintenance industry, Aishah has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, an MBA in finance, and four beautiful children. She values the variety her job provides, switching focus between finance, legal, and maintenance operations, as well as the opportunity it’s given her to make a large-scale societal impact. She emphasizes that her job has led her to an appreciation for the importance of team diversity. “Embrace the difference in opinion,” she says, “to ignite the imagination and continue learning.”

As a plant engineer at our data center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Paul makes high-level decisions for the automated systems that manage cooling and power — critical components for maintaining global internet uptime. Despite joining Google in 2019, he remains in awe of the facility’s scale. “I’ve never worked on such a large team, and we have such a large mission locally to take care of,” he says. “So it’s a lot of people doing a lot of work all together to make it happen.” Outside of work, Paul takes advantage of some of the volunteer opportunities Google provides within the community, like helping rebuild a local literacy center for children.

Nick views himself as a pit crew chief for Google’s data centers, fine-tuning the “engine" to ensure a seamless experience for every user. “One of the things that makes me proud to work at Google, and specifically in a data center, is the stuff that we do has a visible and immediate impact on what millions of users experience,” he says. “Being at the forefront of the latest technologies has just been incredibly rewarding.” Additionally, Nick and his coworkers at our data center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, give back by volunteering at the local animal shelter. “Google has a strong commitment to the local community here, and it’s not just about writing a check,” he says. “They actively encourage us to volunteer our time and our skills to local causes."

Soju’s favorite part about Google is getting to work with teammates who are incredible, wonderful people. “They inspire me every single day to do better, to learn more, and to be my best.” Soju has been a Googler at our Moncks Corner data center in South Carolina since 2022, fixing computer systems and coding tools so other data center technicians can be effective in their roles. She sees how Google benefits local K–12 education through tech events, classroom visits, and our internship program. “We invite local students from the tech schools to come intern and see how our processes are done,” she says. “Google invests a lot in this local community.”

Anne-France, whose job is to improve business operations in Google’s European data centers, enjoys the travel her job entails and the opportunity to interact with people in different sectors. “This is an environment where you touch different technical fields,” she says, “where you can go deep into any level of expertise and where you will work with a lot of experienced people. You will definitely learn a lot from it.” Outside work, Anne-France is an athlete who participates in short-distance triathlons.

Alain’s responsibilities include electrical operations and maintenance, as well as energy management and sustainability projects. With a background in electrical engineering and a multifaceted skill set that includes managing projects and people, Alain’s incredible co-workers are what he likes most about the job. “I’ve learned that what is sure one day, is no more the day after,” he says. “If you are passionate and not afraid to learn, come along!” Offline, Alain is also a scuba diving instructor with an affinity for playing vintage pinball games.

Jon, a security manager at our Moncks Corner, South Carolina, data center, joined Google with an impressive background. His career spans eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps alongside extensive experience in federal law enforcement and private sector classified programs. He demonstrates pride in his work, his co-workers, and the culture they’ve curated at Google. “As my six-year-old says, ‘Daddy works in the cloud!’ The people here are creative and bring creative ideas to life that people around the world can utilize in the data and cloud space,” Jon says.

Laura learned the value of embracing change at Google Data Centers. Responsible for buying data center capacity and identifying market locations, her role requires understanding of real estate market trends and dynamics impacting the data center industry. “We’re working in an industry that is constantly evolving and changing at lightning speed,” she says. “It’s exciting to see the progress made in a short amount of time.” Laura is also an avid downhill skier with a love for travel, cooking, and caring for her son.

Janine manages global and transformational business technology projects to automate business processes for Google Data Centers. “One day I could be in Singapore piloting a new technology,” she says. “Another day I could be conducting user experience and acceptance testing in Belgium.” She has a bachelor’s degree in managerial economics and an MBA, is an International Business Lecturer, and also a black belt in kung fu. “Be open-minded about your past work history and future career path,” she says. “There is no ‘one size fits all’ at Google Data Centers.”

Anu’s role requires a technical mind for strategic planning, team management, making sound decisions, and implementing solutions. She has multiple engineering degrees from the U.S. and India, and a background in leadership roles at hardware, networking, and internet search companies. She enjoys anticipating business patterns, problem-solving in high-pressure situations, and helping the team overcome obstacles. “Don’t optimize things based on the short term,” says Anu. “No matter what your role is, take calculated risks, aim for audacious goals, and learn from your failures along the way.” In her off time, Anu enjoys running, hiking, painting, and cooking.

Ruby’s passions and interests align with her career. The passion that drives her is her love of statistics. With degrees in statistics and data science, and a multifaceted analytic skill set including knowledge of programming languages and statistical methodologies, Ruby was excited to see the impact of her work at Google Data Centers. “People value data-driven decisions here,” she says. “At Google Data Centers, you have the opportunity to work where it all starts.”

Marisa manages internal customer relationships between hardware operations and partner organizations. She has a BA in mass media with a minor in theater, as well as an MBA with concentrations in organization, management, and leadership. Her role requires strong communication skills, working cross-functionally with multiple teams, and the ability to solve problems with innovative, outside-the-box thinking. ”You can really make great things happen when you bring together all different types of people and skill sets,” Marisa says. “Everyone has something to bring to the table to help solve problems and make things better.” Marisa enjoys spending time with her family, trying new restaurants, and attending concerts.

Matthew is a program manager in Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) at our data center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. He came to Google with an undergraduate degree in environmental science and a master’s degree in safety. He worked in several EHS roles before coming to Google in 2023. He says the data center in Moncks Corner is one of Google’s largest data center campuses and continues to grow. “We’re leading the AI revolution.” And he radiates joy when talking about his job and community. “I think this is one of Google’s coolest locations. Charleston’s a great town, near the beach, the weather’s nice year round. And we’re always doing fun stuff at work.”

Born in Vietnam and raised in California, Tanner spent 12 years in the U.S. Navy before a recruiter from Google contacted him about a job with the electrical team at Google’s data center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. “It was a very smooth transition as far as the technical side of the job itself,” Tanner says. He’s proud to be a Googler and to work with friendly, helpful co-workers. Tanner has also seen Google and Googlers make a difference with community outreach, in everything from helping people understand how Google runs our data centers efficiently to volunteering with the local schools and community.

Petra describes herself as a “super-hyper person with a sponge-like hunger for knowledge.” Originally from Slovakia, Petra worked as a teacher in Kuwait before relocating to Ireland, where she started taking online courses in networking and programming. Today she’s a data center technician and global subject-matter expert working with a team that maintains Google production servers and networking infrastructures. “It’s always challenging and it never gets boring,” she says. “I love to solve problems. Never stop learning.”

Tasked with bringing fun and culture to data centers, Sheleen’s work days vary widely. Her responsibilities include daily administrative work and planning site-wide outings and employee summits. “No two days are alike and you often have to switch gears,” she says. “However, our team motto is ‘Bring the Magic.’” Sheleen earned a bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in marketing. She took on various roles in the hospitality industry and worked as an executive assistant before coming to Google. “I’ve grown so much in the last two years,” she says. “Be patient with yourself, because the only person you’re in competition with is yourself!”

Jim spent 14 years as an officer in nuclear submarines before joining Google Data Centers. He now enjoys the challenge of working with a global team that designs large, globally scalable data centers and computers. “Even though I lived in Japan and Bahrain, Google has really taught me how to work and deliver globally,” he says. With a BS in electrical engineering, he attributes his success in part to his strong sense of teamwork and ability to keep learning. “Of course you need technical skills; look how the internet has evolved,” he says. “Imagine what will come next, and the data centers we’ll need to support it.”

“Join the party,” says Mathilde, a technical writer at Google Data Centers. “Every day is different. No time to get bored.” Mathilde, whose job consists of writing, editing, and archiving procedures for technicians, works for various sites around the globe, meets with all kinds of people, and is highly involved in Google’s thriving women’s community. “Google allows me to be who I am,” she says, “which I appreciate a lot.”

Nancy designs, implements, tests, and commissions electrical distribution systems that power the data center infrastructure. “I’m good at driving issues to resolution,” she says, noting she enjoys experiencing the transformation of her projects from conception to completion. A mother of two who loves spending time with her children, Nancy has rock-solid determination and is proud of her willingness to face new challenges. “I always exercise the freedom to make my own choices,” she says. “I’ve learned that if I don’t make a choice or a decision, I create a vacuum for other people to make that choice or decision for me. If the opportunity is available, it’s my responsibility to seize it.”

Alex earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice before teaching himself networking and programming languages. Responsible for overseeing machine deployments and troubleshooting network issues, at Google he found that there’s always something new to learn. He greatly appreciates the upward mobility his job provides. ”I enjoy coming to work, because my goal is to learn every day to grow my career,” says Alex. “I also love the environment, culture, and co-workers.” A music fan who does some carpentry on his days off, Alex advises would-be Googlers, “Be a good team player and have a passion for learning.”

“Be open-minded and stay true to who you are,” says Christina. Responsible for managing financial forecasting and risk reporting for data center delivery and engineering, Christina analyzes large data sets and interprets their story. She loves to travel and explore, and credits her job with teaching her to maintain a healthy work-life balance. “You’re the most impactful when you take care of yourself,” she says.

“Life at Google is colorful,” says Jiali, who received the Google Citizenship Award for embodying Google values. A master of reliability prediction models and simulations, Jiali oversees reliability engineering throughout the data center lifecycle. Among his accomplishments, he’s created a digital inventory of Google Data Centers, interpreting the physical buildings as computer-enhanced models. “Know that I won’t stop, I am building reliability models all over the world,” he says. “Join us, and the world’s infrastructure will be in your hands.”

Laquel served as an E-5 Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, with four years as a Multi-Channel Equipment Operator at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He also gained experience in computer electronics engineering technology, which brought him to our Moncks Corner, South Carolina, data center in 2015 where he works as a data center technician. He is impressed with the many opportunities available to employees, such as our Black Google Network in Moncks Corner, an Employee Resource Group that Laquel led from 2015 to 2024. He also expressed pride in the resources Google has provided to the community and local schools near the data center, including computer science education and technology classes. The job has other perks as well. “One fun fact for me since I’ve been here is that I was featured in a Super Bowl ad that Google sponsored, and I got to go to New York City for the photo shoot,” he says. “Hailing from New York City, it was a welcoming homecoming!"

Annemieke has a 20-year varied background in safety, health, training, ergonomics, industrial hygiene, and consulting in “all different kinds of industries.” Today she works in environment, health & safety at Google Data Centers, where she endeavors to create a zero-harm work environment. Although the challenges in her job are many and the pace can be vigorous, she sees these as opportunities and finds her work inspirational. “Always happy to get involved and engaged,” she says.

Mabell, Logistics Program Manager at Google’s Singapore data center, speaks five languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and German. With a bachelor’s in chemical engineering and a master’s in supply chain management, she enjoys the challenge of working with people across cultures. To those interested in working at Google Data Centers, Mabell says, “Welcome — join us in creating a world of possibilities!”

Alex’s chief role is to create documentation by converting technical information into comprehensible written content. “I’ve learned that I thrive in fast-paced environments,” he says. After studying biology and philosophy with the intention of pursuing a career in medicine and the biomedical sciences, Alex first joined Google as an operations engineer. Operations engineers are now the primary audience for his current work. ”Whatever your role may be, you have impact,” he says. “I’ve been amazed by the people I’ve met working here, and the accomplishments we’ve achieved together. It’s a great ride!”

Catherine grew up in Tokyo, Japan, and came to the U.S. to study political science and Chinese in college — but it was IT that kickstarted her career. After getting on-the-job training at military bases, Catherine jumped at the opportunity to join Google, where she has worked since 2012 in data security with Global Server Operations. “We have a lot of high-quality job roles here for entry-level IT work, so it’s a great place to start off for aspiring IT professionals,” she says. “I’ve seen people in my position who gain a lot of skills and knowledge and then go on to do really awesome things, both within Google and outside the company.” Outside of work, Catherine sits on the Junior Board of Directors at the South Carolina Aquarium, which Google partners with to support conservation work, outreach, and education.

“I never imagined that one day I would be working at Google,” Ana says, “but when the opportunity appeared, I decided to take a chance. Why not me?” Responsible for the Global Electrical Safety program, Ana spends her days developing and implementing procedures to optimize electrical safety and ensure that everyone gets home safely at the end of the day. She welcomes the challenges of her job and new life with enthusiasm. “I moved to another country, started a new life, and — besides being far away from family and friends — couldn’t be happier.”

Dale grew up near our Moncks Corner data center and has spent his whole life in South Carolina. The exception was when he was stationed elsewhere while in the U.S. Navy, where he worked as a Nuclear Electrician’s Mate on a submarine. Dale started at Google as a technician and eventually became a manager of the electrical team at the data center. He is responsible for all of the electrical infrastructure on our site, as well as overseeing the team that operates and maintains it. One of Dale’s many sources of pride working at Google? “Google sponsored my kids’ robotics classes, and we participated in an event called Storm The Citadel [Trebuchet Competition] at The Citadel in Charleston. For this event, students built a trebuchet [a type of catapult], launching watermelons to promote STEM.”

Mike spent 10 years as an Army officer and Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot before coming to Google Data Centers. Responsible for helping personnel respond effectively to facility power and cooling-related incidents, as well as processes, tools, and training that allow personnel to rapidly escalate issues, Mike attributes his success in part to his willingness to learn. “You can't be good at this job by sitting behind a desk,” he says. “You have to spend time learning from the people who are running our data centers. Cross-functional collaboration is critical to getting things done at Google.”

Stephen is in charge of technical direction to resolve issues for the data center engineering team. His job requires him to be good at listening, asking questions, and making decisions. He enjoys the scale and breadth of his work, and engineering optimal solutions. “‘Perfect’ is the enemy of ‘good enough’,” he says. “You will run the full range of human emotions working at Google Data Centers, but it is personally very rewarding.”

For John, there’s something thrilling about the magnitude of working at Google Data Centers. “The scale of what we are doing across the regions is nothing like what you might expect,” he says. “It’s an exciting program to become involved in.” Responsible for overseeing commercial aspects of new data center construction sites, John values the encouragement he receives to develop new processes, the opportunity it grants him to make a difference, and — most of all — the people on his team. “Google is a great company to work for,” he says. “Not just the places we work, the free food, and the great facilities, but mainly the people that we get to meet here and on the global program. You get to make friends!”

Organization, communication, and motivation to keep learning are essential skills in Bre’s role. Responsible for managing the CSA (Civil, Structural & Architectural) and ODC (Offices at Data Centers) programs, Bre enjoys working with a fleet of data centers that spans the globe. “It’s exciting to understand what makes each of our data centers unique,” she says. “I’ve learned to manage the chaos, not stifle it, as chaos helps breed innovation.” When not at work, Bre enjoys rock climbing, golf, and DIY projects.

Martin spent much of his career in the entertainment lighting industry before retraining to work at Google as a data center technician. He wasn’t expecting the size of the operation when he first joined and had never seen servers run on the scale Google’s do. “No day is the same,” says Martin. “Routine tasks can be executed easily, but when things go wrong, we have to prioritize our work.” Responsible for looking after data security operations, Martin’s role requires him to be good at organizing and troubleshooting. “It’s always satisfying when you can resolve or help resolve an issue that arises,” he says.

As a South Carolina native and registered EMT, Molly relies on her health and safety background to protect Google employees, the wider community, and the environment. “Emergency responder training is an obvious benefit that we hope we don’t have to put into practice very often,” she says. Molly joined the data center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, in 2025 and has already experienced the company’s culture of inclusivity. “I feel that Google wants our employees to be happy and for us to really enjoy working together to achieve goals,” she says. She actively engages with the local community, including volunteering for a robotics event that introduces schoolchildren to STEM. Molly says, “It’s getting kids excited about AI and technology and everything that Google wants to provide for the next generation.”

Responsible for warehouse inventory and the global logistics programs, Narissa’s skills include inventory management, data analysis, leadership, and reliability. She comes to the role with a bachelor’s in business administration and a minor in computer information systems, and enjoys cross-functional interaction with multiple teams. “Listening is invaluable,” she says. “There’s a lot to learn, so practice listening first.” Narissa also says spending time with her family is her first priority.

“Every day is different,” says Gerda. “Besides my daily work, there are so many exciting things to be done.” Among many other things, Gerda is responsible for procurement, contracts, and finance. Her job requires expertise in negotiation, vendor management, and cost control. “Being flexible is very important,” she says. “If you are ready to work in a fast-moving and growing environment, please join!”

Erik is responsible for creating the data center supply plan to meet Google’s capacity requirements, as well as designing new approaches to improve data center delivery performance. With degrees in mechanical engineering and experience in the aerospace and tech sectors, his role requires the ability to prioritize and make decisions from large sets of unclean and often conflicting data. “I learn something new and interesting every single day,” he says. “Embrace your curiosity. Open, eager minds are what make Google Data Centers an exciting place to work.”

Rachel leads a team that partners with a cross-functional group of technical leads to deliver effective North America data center product and program designs for efficient and reliable data centers. She drives the delivery of these designs, which are then localized by our site teams. “I love working with a team that thrives in solving problems and designing solutions for the impossible — it’s critical to embrace ambiguity and see change as an opportunity. To enable innovation and see it come to fruition keeps every day fun and exciting.”

“Right now, we’re at a very interesting phase in this industry,” says Sri, who manages the construction retrofit program for Google’s data center buildings at our data center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. “The construction, the scale, and the technology with which we’re working is amazing and mind-blowing, so I’m very excited to be a part of it.” Sri came to Google as a project management consultant after working on commercial real estate projects. She has now transitioned to a full-time role, keeping the data center buildings up and running through facilities improvements. “Google is a great company to work for that values their people, and I love the fact that what I do here actually has a direct impact on our community and economy.”

“At Google Data Centers, you have the opportunity to work where it all starts.” — Ruby, Program Manager, Business Information & Technology Solutions

“Life at Google is colorful.” — Jiali, Staff Engineer, Reliability

"Cross-functional collaboration is critical to getting things done at Google.” — Mike, Program Manager, Data Center Operations Incident Management