Data Centre Technician

**Diagnose and exchange field replaceable computing components**
- Investigate and diagnose hardware failures, as well as test and replace components, such as but not limited to disks, motherboards, memory modules on the client’s IT servers and other equipment which the IT department supports. With these instructions and additional information provided in the work ticket, the Technician will identify the broken part and replace it in the specified equipment;
- Additionally, as included in the instructions, and regardless of equipment location, the Technician will perform all the actions required prior to the intervention (e.g. software commands, communication,) and restore the equipment to a production state after completion of the post-intervention actions (e.g. databases updates, software commands ).

**Manage the stock of spare parts**
- Maintain an inventory for all parts (including, but not limited to, disks, memory modules, fans and power-supply units) used in the Central Computing Facilities for hardware repairs. The Technician will verify the inventory regularly in order to ensure it is always up to date, based on the different hardware types deployed in the Central Computing Facilities;
- When necessary, prepare stock orders for client’s signature for any missing parts or parts below their specified minimum stock level. For hardware out of warranty but still supported, the Technician will identify similar equipment, verify and coordinate with the owner for its retirement from production, with a view to reusing the parts for stock refilling;
- Manage the recycling of out of warranty spare parts, which includes the corresponding inventory updates.

**Transport the spare parts to and from the intervention sites**
- In case of computing equipment failure located outside the Data Centre, transport equipment between Computing Facilities as required.

**Handle spare parts exchange with suppliers (Returned Materials Authorization - RMA)**
- Manage the replacement of spare parts covered by hardware vendor warranty. This activity includes testing every component prior to the vendor return. The Technician will take note that some of these tests may need to run unattended for long periods (24/7), but only require attention at the test start and end, which will always be during working hours;
- For each component with a confirmed failure, organise its exchange with the supplier. The Technician will prepare the appropriate packaging and pack the parts, create the documents necessary for the shipping, including administrative documents and the list of defective parts with the failure reasons;
- Upon reception, make a complete inventory of the replacement parts received and test (validate) each of them. In case of wrong or partial delivery, they follow up with the supplier. The Technician will archive all the documents involved in the process once the spare parts exchange is complete.

**Work orders**
- Perform dedicated tasks upon request, such as upgrading a batch of servers with faster disks, after mutual agreement on their scope and duration. After due explanations, document the tasks for future reference.

**Tape Media Tasks**
- Operations: perform simple tape media tasks such as removing a tape cartridge from a drive, changing the state of tape cartridges (e.g. mark them as FULL or DISABLED). Also, investigate anomalies, for example: too many tape mounts for a single tape cartridge, media read and write errors and determine if a “Repack” operation is necessary (see next section);
- Repacking: attempt to recover data from a tape cartridge showing problems. Occasionally, the operation needs to be repeated on different tape drives, as multiple files are often unreadable;
- Handling: receive, unpack, store and perform movements of tape cartridges (sometimes in large quantities). These movements include insertions into a tape library, removals from and transport between tape libraries. In case a cleaning cartridge has expired in a library, eject the expired cleaning cartridge and insert a new one taken from the storage room. The Technician will transport cartridges between the two tape robot locations. They will also pack and prepare equipment leaving the site for transportation;
- Labelling: logically label tapes using a script provided by the client. Occasionally, physically label tape cartridges by printing barcode labels and sticking them onto the tape cartridges.

**Tape Drive Tasks**
- Operations: liaise with tape equipment vendor engineers (usually by using the vendor’s specific ticketing system), which may include preparatory work prior to the vendor intervention (e.g. removing relevant tape drives from production, gather basic failure statistics and logs) and directing the vendor engineers to the exact location of the equipment. After the vendor interventions, follow up through to problem resolution, which includes testing the drives and putting them back into production. The Technician will al