Chief Engineer, DCEO, Data Center Engineering Operations

Amazon is hiring a Chief Engineer, DCEO, Data Center Engineering Operations in Cape Town, South Africa. Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

Level's read on this job

Little AI ●○○○ is how Level rates this role: aI is not part of the work.
Tools and skills the posting cites include data center operations, mep and facility management.
Level classifies it as a lead role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Oversee data center engineering operations, ensuring electrical, mechanical, and safety equipment operates at peak efficiency.

data-center-operationsmepfacility-managementelectrical-systemsmechanical-systems

Amazon is looking for an energetic, detail-oriented individual to join our Data Center Engineering Operations Team in the Cape town Area. This committed group works to maintain the critical physical infrastructure that supports Amazon Web Services. Specifically, this team works to ensure that the data center's MEP operates at 100% availability while maintaining first-class customer service to the teams and groups within the data centers.

The Data Center Chief Engineer (CE) is responsible for ensuring that all electrical, mechanical, and fire/life safety equipment within the data center is operating at peak efficiency. This involves both planned preventative maintenance of equipment, daily corrective work, and emergency response to emergent issues. The CE serves as an expert technical resource interacting with onsite Engineering Operations Technicians (EOT) and any third party vendors. They are expected to be a singular focal point for all facility operations and to support Amazon within its owned and operated data centers.

Also expected from the CE is the ability to manage large scale impacting projects and new region support from conception to completion. These projects involve large amounts of independent work as well as collaboration with external support groups including engineering, automation, procurement, and finance in both local and global settings. The CE will be tasked with creating and delivering on key milestones, obtaining and tracking quotes for all necessary costs, and documenting project results for future implementation at other facilities. The goals of such projects are for the CE to drive innovation and resiliency while reducing operational costs in the facilities.

The CE directs, trains and supports EOTs in their role of providing hands-on electrical and mechanical equipment troubleshooting and operations. Implementation and execution of site/equipment-specific training exercises is also expected. This equipment includes, but is not limited to, stand-by diesel generators, switchgear, UPSs, PDUs, AHUs, chillers, cooling towers, chemical treatment systems, pumps, motors, VFDs, and building automation systems.

The role will be based in the Cape town area, however flexibility is required to travel to other locations within the EMEA region if required.

Key job responsibilities
· Oversee the day-to-day operations and maintenance of mechanical and electrical equipment in data centers
· Operate independently with limited direct management
· Assist in the design and build out of new facilities
· Act as an escalation point for all facilities-related issues within the data center region and work OT hours as needed to support site stability
· Perform root cause analysis of equipment failures
· Troubleshoot and report of facility and data sever-level events within internal SLA
· Create and deploy new standard practices for Engineering Operations Technicians, Chief Engineers, and vendor support teams
· Provide training and guidance to Engineering Operations Technicians and assisting in recruiting efforts for the same
· Ensure all safety procedures are adhered to by vendor and Amazon staff
· Utilize internal Change Management Systems to manage building workflows
· MV/LV Isolation to facilitate MV maintenance
· Provide metric availability reporting on a weekly basis
· Communicate complex technical information to a non-technical audience

About the team
AWS Infrastructure Services owns the design, planning, delivery, and operation of all AWS global infrastructure. In other words, we’re the people who keep the cloud running. We support all AWS data centers and all of the servers, storage, networking, power, and cooling equipment that ensure our customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on. We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the supply chain — and we’re looking for talented people who want to help.

You’ll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, supply chain specialists, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You’ll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you’ll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.

Basic qualifications

- 3+ years of vendor management experience
- 4+ years of relevant work in a data center or other critical environment experience
- 5+ years of data center engineering or operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field

Preferred qualifications

- 3+ years of construction or project management experience
- Electrical or mechanical Journeyman License
- operating engineering license such as DC II, DC III, or equivalent

Amazon is an equal opportunities employer, and we value your passion to discover, invent, simplify and build. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. Amazon is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from South African citizens who are members of designated groups who may contribute to Employment Equity within the workplace and the further diversification of ideas. In this regard, the relevant laws and principles associated with Employment Equity will be considered when appointing potential candidates. We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. Amazon requires that you submit a copy of either your identity document or your passport and any applicable work permit if you are a foreign national, along with an updated curriculum vitae.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

How we rate this

Chief Engineer, DCEO, Data Center Engineering Operations at Amazon rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Chief Engineer, DCEO, Data Center Engineering Operations is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The role is based in ZA, Cape Town.
The job was posted on September 23, 2026.
Seniority: lead.
Applications are handled by Amazon. Apply on Amazon

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Data Center OperationsMepFacility ManagementElectrical SystemsMechanical Systems

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where data center operations was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where mep was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where facility management was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where electrical systems was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where mechanical systems was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Data Center Operations, Mep, Facility Management, Electrical Systems, and Mechanical Systems. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.

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