Tieg cuts a piece of pipe to patch into a new cooling system at our Council Bluffs, Iowa data center.

Denise diagnoses an overheated CPU at our data center in The Dalles, Oregon. For more than a decade, we have built some of the world's most efficient servers.

Mike swaps out a motherboard at our data center in The Dalles, Oregon. When server parts break, we first try to repair them. If we can't, we break them up into raw materials (steel, plastic, copper, etc.) and recycle the components.

Here technicians Mounir and Ray conduct generator maintenance at our St. Ghislain, Belgium data center.

Patrick does a visual inspection of the water pipes running below the floor of our Douglas County, Georgia data center.

Norman makes visual inspections to ensure battery banks at our Douglas County, Georgia data center are charged and ready to be activated at any time.

Ash of our Douglas County, Georgia data center points out: “Working here has shown me how important the infrastructure is, from the location to utilities, weather and most of all, people.”

Jeff, who's an associate facilities manager in our Lenoir data center, burns some wire in a fabrication area.

Rachel preps a cart to repair the servers at our Lenoir, North Carolina data center that store Google's corner of the Internet.

Jon applies a floor-tile-grabber (actual name) to the floor of our Lenoir, North Carolina data center to check the status of pipes underneath.

Mitch tightens a valve coupling in our Hamina, Finland data center to ensure we keep seawater from the Gulf of Finland in the appropriate cooling pipes.

Neal uses special equipment to completely erase all of the data on old servers at our Berkeley County, South Carolina data center.

This control station in our Mayes County, Oklahoma data center monitors the building and power with the ability to take calls from the field, validate repair tickets and authorize repairs.

Roger takes care of the infrastructure in our Mayes County, Oklahoma data center "that allows Google to do what it does,” he says.

Our Hamina team enjoys ice fishing in the frozen Gulf of Finland.

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.”

“I enjoy being part of a team that completes major projects on time,” Mario says. “That’s a good feeling, knowing that everyone put in a good day’s work.” Offered over 30 different football scholarships, Mario was a three-year starter on his college football team and earned a BS in business marketing and education. He's now furthering his education by pursuing Google’s IT Support Professional Certificate. “You have to come in with a great attitude, ready to work,” he says. “Stay focused and be willing to learn on the fly, because the pace can be fast and you have to adapt to change. Just be yourself and give it your all.”

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 hundreds of 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.

"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.”

“Pick your passion and there is likely a place where it fits with data centers,” says Neha, whose background is in electric utilities. Leading the team that buys electric infrastructure and energy, Neha enjoys working on projects that span the globe. “One day I could be working in South America, the next in Europe,” she says. “This is unusual in the energy industry.” Neha comes equipped for the position with a BS in engineering and MBA in finance, and thorough knowledge of energy markets, utilities, electric infrastructure, and project development. For those interested in joining, Neha says, “Think big. And then multiply by at least ten.”

As a mechanical engineer, SL designs and builds critical data center facilities with a diverse team. “It starts with some design sketches. Then many healthy debates, planning, engineering, calculations, and reviews to reach a consensus,” he says. “The 'no blame culture' at Google helps us innovate by challenging the norm, challenging the industry, and taking risks.” SL is proud to be on the Google team and considers it a privilege to build and deliver data capacity at the unprecedented scale Google Data Centers offer. “We build data centers differently from the market,” he says. “We build our own cooling units and use machine learning controls to cool and run the data center in the most efficient way.”

Originally from Ohio, Rebekah’s eclectic career portfolio includes running a motorcycle dealership and working in film and music video production. Today she’s a data center technician in Google’s Eemshaven, Netherlands location, where she’s in charge of projects that increase the size and speed of the Google network. “Working in a data center is unlike anything else I have experienced,” she says. “It can be an exciting adventure!” Rebekah keeps occupied in her spare time baking, knitting, and lifting weights. She values the constant evolution of her job and the connections she makes along the way. “My favorite part of the job is working with amazing and fascinating people,” she 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.

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.”

Mario, Marisa and Alex work together to improve our Google Data Centers.

“My team acts as the final point of no return for media in regards to data,” says Dani, who protects user data by verifying that stored media is 100 percent clean. A team player and expert communicator, Dani’s education was in media communications before coming to Google Data Centers. She’s since taken multiple courses in operating systems and hardware, and says the experience has taught her to rely on other people. “My co-workers are the most enjoyable and exciting thing about my job,” she says. “I trust my co-workers to help with any problems, and hopefully they trust me. I pretty much work with friends.”

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.”

As an analytics program manager, Fidel is responsible for providing insightful and helpful data analysis to the Hardware Operations team.

Bre and Jason are program managers for our data centers.

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.

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.”

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 US 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.”

Robin prepares contractual agreements for data center facility operations, manages onsite vendor relationships, and is responsible for data center operations budgeting, forecasting, and accruals. Outside of work, Robin is a licensed funeral director and ordained minister who teaches the gospel throughout the US and abroad. She has an affinity for travel and a passion for helping the less fortunate. “I lend myself to the underdog,” she says, “as there is a part of me that can truly relate when what you do does not line up with where you’ve been.” Robin also loves writing and opportunities to share through motivational speaking.

Lazo works on various projects in hardware operations, such as verifying that new equipment is properly placed and connected. 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.

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.

"After more than 12 years at Google, each new project is still an adventure,” Gary says, “and the work we do has long-term impact around the world.“ Charged with leading the global team responsible for selecting data center sites and procuring the energy needed to run them, Gary attributes his success in his role to a sense of humility, listening to learn, and asking a lot of questions. A lover of the outdoors who calls swimming to San Francisco from Alcatraz a “magical experience,” he previously spent 10 years in management consulting. To anyone interested in following a similar path, Gary advises, “Have a sense of adventure, an eye for detail, a passion for solving complex problems, and an ability to maintain calm when the outcome seems uncertain.”

“Prepare to overcome the challenges,” welcomes Aung. Overcoming daily challenges is Aung’s favorite part of the job as he resolves all technical issues to maintain data center operations at optimal conditions. With multiple diplomas that include mechanical engineering and business administration, Aung recognizes the pertinence of critical thinking and problem-solving in his field of work. “Work smarter, live better,” he says.

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 Dublin, 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.”

Brian works on systems that monitor his data center’s electrical infrastructure, mechanical cooling infrastructure, and safety systems that keep the data center running. With 10 years' experience in controls and electricity, he enjoys the challenges of working with new designs and exercising outside-the-box critical reasoning. ”As members of the Data Center Operations team, we're responsible for keeping the servers powered up and cool,” he says. ”Working in the data center is exciting, fast-paced, and rewarding.” Brian is also a pilot who enjoys flying, and likes to build things in his spare time.

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.”

Kelsey never thought she’d be working on data centers. “I probably didn’t even know what a data center was when I graduated from college,” she says. Today she’s responsible for planning new data center sites foand designing data center buildings and the infrastructure needed to run them. “I’ve been given incredible opportunities to grow, push my comfort levels, and take on lots of responsibilities,” she says. “There’s no ‘right’ way to do something – everyone brings different backgrounds and experiences and skills to the table to help us solve big problems.”

Ryan and Ivey work together to support our Google Data Centers.

Tasked with bringing fun and culture to data centers, Sheleen’s workdays 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!”

Responsible for delivering new technologies and enhancements for data center construction and operations, Jason has learned how to build and maintain a collaborative work culture. He has a passion for travel and experiencing other cultures, and enjoys working with great people on diverse teams across multiple time zones. To those considering a similar position, Jason advises, “Study hard, be ambitious, and keep learning!”

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 in just the last five years,” 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 at the Douglas County, Georgia data center.

As Chief of Staff and Head of Business Operations, Heather coordinates near-term strategic objectives for Google’s global data center organization and is responsible for business systems, tools, annual planning, and org development. With a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and an MBA, she enjoys the variety of projects and people on the job and says the experience has been a valuable lesson in scaled problem-solving. For those interested in a career at Google Data Centers, Heather advises, “Determine what about the industry interests you, there's a variety of roles across the data center ecosystem."

Every day on the job introduces new people and different challenges for Mick, a technician working in data center operations. With a degree in mechatronics engineering and a background as an electrical and instrumentation technician, this subject matter expert for fire suppression systems is skilled at troubleshooting and updating systems to maximize performance. “There are always great people here to bounce ideas with and design new ways to make processes more efficient,” he says. “If you enjoy a challenge and meeting new people, Google is the place to be.”

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.

Jamie manages the pipeline of projects designed to promote diversity and inclusion within Google Data Centers, and is occasionally called upon to consult on projects and initiatives with a diversity and inclusion lens. She has both a bachelor's and a master's degree in business administration, and says she is perpetually learning in her role. “Someone in my role needs to be patient, persistent, and organized,” she says. “I love everything about what I do. I’m inspired by my son, my community, and the people within our data centers to do my job well.”

As a distinguished engineer at Google Data Centers, Chris is responsible for next-generation data center architecture, research & development strategy, and technology investments. With a PhD in mechanical engineering and a background in server hardware and data center research & development, he enjoys working with a fantastic team to develop cutting-edge data centers around the world. “Have a healthy disregard for the impossible,” he says. “Stay scrappy. Have fun. Google’s blameless culture allows us to transparently learn and fix systems and processes to better support people.” Outside of work, Chris enjoys golf, tennis, and basketball.

“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.”

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!”

“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 managing the environmental performance of the site, Ana spends her days developing and implementing procedures to optimize environmental performance 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.”

A former craft beer bartender, Ivey went to college to study English literature. “It’s the opposite of what I do now!” she says. As a data center technician in hardware operations, Ivey has a multitude of responsibilities including maintaining servers and network equipment, handling backup storage, and testing new software. ”Since we have to manage a variety of jobs, flexibility and quick learning are key,” she says. ”Expect the unexpected.”

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.”

Frank leads the team of engineers and technical program managers who conceive, design, develop, and support Google’s global fleet of data centers. “We have the opportunity to deploy technical infrastructure that serves billions of people,” he says. “If we do our jobs well, we can positively impact nearly everyone on the planet.” An entrepreneur and pilot who’s developed innovative aircraft avionics, Frank is also a husband and father.

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.

Responsible for managing quality rules and coordinating internal audits, Jerrimica leads continuous improvement activities at the Douglas County, Georgia data center and ensures that Google’s standards are met.

Responsible for ensuring the data center’s physical security, Alex cites communication, flexibility, and organization as essential components of her job. “Being able to provide the right information to the right people is critical,” she says. “Building connections, knowing who to loop in or reach out to, can make or break a program.” She holds a BA in communications as well as a professional project management certification, and says she learned to be “uncomfortably excited” on the job. “Don’t limit yourself,” she says. “You don’t need an IT background to be successful at Google.” Alex also loves to travel, with her experience hot-air ballooning in Turkey a “major highlight," and is co-founder of Google's Women@Data Centers internal group.

Kate manages executive communications, spending much of the day writing and working with media. With a bachelor's in film/TV, a master's in social work/psychology, and 20 years' experience in the communications field, she never expected she’d be working in the data center industry. “I love that every day is different. Learning about data centers and how they work is just fascinating. Especially since I come from a non-technical background.”

Ruby, Jiali and Mike work together to help improve our Google Data Centers.

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.

Ray enjoys the variety of his work and learning new things every day in Google’s unique environment. “The culture is like nowhere you will ever see,” Ray says. “There are huge opportunities for career development and strong encouragement for doing so, which makes this, I believe, a great place to work.” As a data center facilities technician, Ray is responsible for overseeing low voltage electrical systems and power monitoring. When not at work, he does some DJing on the side and loves running, electronics, and his wife and two little girls.

John plans and executes programs to make Google’s data centers safer and more environmentally sustainable. With a BS in physics and an MS in energy and resources, his position requires strong leadership abilities, project management skills, and technical knowledge. “Effective communication is something everyone has to work hard at, even at higher levels of management,” says John. “I’ve greatly enjoyed having the opportunity to learn new things and make a global impact at the scale Google offers.”

Maxim, an industrial mechanical engineer, worked on high-pressure gas transport pipelines before coming to Google. Now he’s in charge of data center maintenance, repairs, and development projects, with a focus on cooling equipment and generators. “I learned there are a lot of people with different skills and a lot of technical challenges behind the internet,” he says. “If you want to work in a company where you need to think further every day, this job is for you.”

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.

Joy wanted to be a paleontologist when she grew up. Today she’s a data center facilities technician responsible for operations and maintenance of mechanical systems that keep the data center running. Starting as an apprentice mechanical fitter at Dublin Airport in Ireland, she worked her way up by taking night classes to earn a degree in mechanical engineering while working at a bottling plant during the day. If you're interested in working at Google Data Centers, Joy says, “Go for it!”

As a data center technician and technical writer, respectively, Lazo and Alex combine their talents to help improve our Google Data Centers.

“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 contracting and budgeting for maintenance, as well as the daily operations for janitorial services and landscaping. Her job requires expertise in negotiation, communication, contracts, and procurement. “Being flexible is very important,” she says. “If you are ready to work in a fast-moving and growing environment, please join!”

Gert Jan is a technician in hardware operations responsible for data security. An expert analyst and troubleshooter, he says working at Google Data Centers has also taught him valuable skills in team leadership. His favorite part of the job is the opportunity to work on large-scale issues. “Don’t be afraid of making mistakes,” he says, “and focus on quality rather than quantity.” When not at work, Gert Jan enjoys sports, fitness, guitar, and chess.

A security officer monitors a Google employee using the circle lock and the retina scanner.

Security staff keep watch at the Security Operations Center (SOC) at our Singapore facility.

An employee at our Mayes County, Oklahoma data center inspects the cooling towers.

This family of deer have moved in next to our Council Bluffs, Iowa center.

Wildflowers bloom around cooling towers at our Council Bluffs, Iowa data center.

Steam rises above the cooling towers in The Dalles data center in Oregon. These plumes of water vapor create a quiet mist at dusk.

Plumes of steam rise above our cooling towers at our data center at The Dalles, Oregon. When you can see the water vapor – meaning humidity and temperatures are low – our cooling towers are at their most efficient.

Our data center in The Dalles, Oregon sits on the banks of the Columbia River. Here our team members enjoy rafting, wind surfing, fishing and hiking.

A sunset over St. Ghislain, Belgium illuminates our water storage tanks and cooling towers.

Dusk settles around our data center in Douglas County, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta.

A cool spring night falls on our Lenoir, North Carolina data center. From this beautiful location, we're able to provide our services – in the middle of the night – to the entire world.

A beautiful landscape forms during winter in Hamina, Finland, as the gulf ices over and creates a picturesque view.

Hamina, Finland is home to one of the data centers we maintain in Europe. Previously this location housed the Stora Enso paper mill.

Another view of our Hamina location, taken while standing on the frozen Gulf of Finland.

At our data center in Hamina, Finland, we converted an old paper mill and used its infrastructure. The tanks in this picture were previously used in the paper making process.

Different data centers offer different amenities. This conference room, inside our Hamina, Finland location, is just outside a sauna area which is available for employees whenever they like.

Dawn lights up the sky over our data center in Berkeley County, South Carolina.

A peaceful scene outside our data center in Berkeley County, South Carolina. We're currently experimenting with this rainwater retention pond as another source to cool our systems.

Bright lights and the moon light light up our Mayes County, Oklahoma data center. These modular units provide cooling for a portion of the center.

Google-colored lights illuminate steam rising from the cooling towers at our St. Ghislain, Belgium site.

This Google solar field draws power for our St. Ghislain, Belgium data center.

The sun shines over the Google solar field at our St. Ghislain, Belgium data center.

Solar panels line up side-by-side at our St. Ghislain, Belgium data center.

The natural energy drawn by our solar panels fits right at home with the green fields of our St. Ghislain, Belgium data center.

Our massive St. Ghislain, Belgium data center works hard to help keep the internet running smoothly.

The security station at our Eemshaven, Netherlands data center features a natural grass roof.

Clear waters reflect the beauty of our Eemshaven, Netherlands data center.

Wind turbines spin near our Eemshaven, Netherlands data center.

Our Singapore data center was our first to focus on building up instead of out.

Like all of our data centers, our Singapore facility employs strict security measures.

This multi-story Google data center is located in the heart of Singapore.

Only a bird's-eye view will spot these cooling towers atop our Singapore data center.

Our Singapore data center lights up the night.

This advanced air-cooling system at our Dublin data center takes advantage of Ireland's cool climate to keep our servers up and running.

Our Dublin, Ireland data center features murals by local illustrator and artist Fuchsia MacAree.

A colorful mural by digital artist Jenny Odell brightens up our Mayes County, Oklahoma data center.

The sun sets over our Mayes County, Oklahoma data center.

The cooling towers at our Mayes County, Oklahoma data center help keep our servers running efficiently.

This view from up high shows off our Mayes County, Oklahoma data center.

Blue LEDs on this row of servers in our Douglas County, Georgia data center tell us everything is running smoothly. We use LEDs because they are energy efficient, long lasting and bright.

Our pipes aren't the only colorful things at our data centers. These cables in our data center located in The Dalles, Oregon are organized by their specific hue. On the floor, this can make things less technical: “Hand me a blue one."

These colorful pipes in our Douglas County, Georgia data center send and receive water for cooling our facility. Also pictured is a G-Bike, the vehicle of choice for team members to get around outside our data centers.

Our Council Bluffs, Iowa data center provides over 115,000 square feet of space. We make the best out of every inch, so you can use services like Search and YouTube in the most efficient way possible.

These ethernet switches connect our facilities network at our Berkeley County, South Carolina data center. They help us communicate with and monitor our main controls for the cooling system.

These colorful pipes carry water. Three of our data centers, like this one in Hamina, Finland, run on 100% unprocessed or greywater. The idea behind this is simple: instead of depending on clean, potable water, we use alternative sources of water and clean it just enough so it can be used for cooling. This water still needs to be processed, but treatment for data center use is much easier than cleaning it for drinking.

An overhead view of one of our cooling plants in Hamina, where seawater from the Gulf of Finland entirely cools the data center there.

Plastic curtains hang in a network room inside our Council Bluffs, Iowa data center. Here we serve up cold air through the floor, and the clear plastic barriers help keep the cold air in while keeping hot air out.

Thousands of feet of pipe line the inside of our Douglas County, Georgia data center. We paint them bright colors not only because it's fun, but also to designate which one is which. The bright pink pipe in this photo transfers water from the row of chillers (the green units on the left) to an outside cooling tower.

These colorful pipes are responsible for carrying water in and out of our The Dalles, Oregon data center. The blue pipes supply cold water and the red pipes return the warm water back to be cooled.

Insulated pipes like these at our Douglas County, Georgia data center have a U-bend (called this due to their shape) so they can expand and contract as the fluid temperature inside the pipe changes.

Hovering above the floor in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the scale of our data center there begins to take shape. Huge steel beams both support the structure and help distribute power.

In case anything should happen to our data, we have it all backed up. One of the places we back up information is here in our tape library in our Berkeley County, South Carolina data center. Robotic arms (visible at the end of the aisle) assist us in loading and unloading tapes when we need to access them.

Server floors like these require massive space and efficient power to run the full family of Google products for the world. Here in Hamina, Finland, we chose to renovate an old paper mill to take advantage of the building's infrastructure as well as its proximity to the Gulf of Finland's cooling waters.

As part of our commitment to keeping our users' data safe, we destroy all failed drives on site, such as these at our St. Ghislain, Belgium data center.

We keep pipes like these in our Douglas County, Georgia data center ready with highly-pressurized water in case of a fire. This water, in particular, is cleaned and filtered so if we use it, we don't contaminate the facility.

Inside the campus network room in our Council Bluffs, Iowa data center, routers and switches allow our data centers to talk to each other. The fiber optic networks connecting our sites can run at speeds that are more than 200,000 times faster than a typical home Internet connection. The fiber cables run along the yellow cable trays near the ceiling.

This is a closer view of the backup tapes in our Berkeley County, South Carolina tape library. Each tape has a unique barcode so our robotic system can locate the right one.

Storage tanks like these at our Berkeley County, South Carolina data center can hold up to 240,000 gallons (900,000 liters) of water at any given time. This insulated tank holds water that we'll send to the heart of the data center for cooling.

Each of our server racks has four switches, connected by a different colored cable. We keep these colors the same throughout our Mayes County, Oklahoma data center so we know which one to replace in case of failure.

A rare look behind the server aisle at our Mayes County, Oklahoma data center. Here hundreds of fans funnel hot air from the server racks into a cooling unit to be recirculated. The green lights are the server status LEDs reflecting from the front of our servers.

Servers light up in our St. Ghislain, Belgium data center.

Racks of servers line up in our St. Ghislain, Belgium data center.

When the overhead lights in our St. Ghislain, Belgium center turn off, our servers continue to glow.

The overhead lights in our St. Ghislain, Belgium data center shut off to conserve energy.

The sprinkler riser room in our St. Ghislain, Belgium data center is integral to our fire suppression system.

These colorful lockers play a key role in our disk erase process at our St. Ghislain, Belgium data center.

These heat exchangers play a critical part in keeping our Eemshaven, Netherlands data center cool.

Servers line up in our Eemshaven, Netherlands data center.

These standby generators in our Singapore data center provide backup power.

These Auto Transfer Panels are one of the many components that make up our Singapore data center.

These colorful pipes live in the chiller room of our Singapore data center.

These tanks in our Singapore data center sit on platforms that use our classic Google colors.

Copper evaporator/cooling coils line up in our Singapore data center.

The ceiling space of the low-voltage room in our Dublin, Ireland data center features a striking view.

This PMDC transformer helps distribute power in our Dublin, Ireland data center.

We've added red, yellow, and blue colors to the transformers in our Dublin, Ireland data center.