Also called: Critical Facilities Engineer, Data Center Engineer
Keeps the power, cooling, and backup generators running in the giant buildings that house the internet and AI.
You walk rows of humming servers checking temperatures, test diesel generators, and plan how to cool new AI racks that use as much power as a small town. If cooling fails, millions of dollars of equipment cooks.
Estimate; AI data center boom has pushed pay up.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in electrical or mechanical engineering, or military/trade background in power systems.
Ways in: 4-year college, Military, Trade school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Facilities Engineering.
Growing much faster than average. Booming with AI data center construction.
Low risk for 10 years. AI is driving a data-center building boom; keeping power and cooling running safely needs engineers on-site.
Classes: Physics, AP Calculus, Electrical CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2071.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.