Data centre technician
Keep the servers behind the internet running: install racks and hardware, fix faults and monitor systems in secure data centres.
- SalaryNo official figure
- HoursNo official figure published - check job adverts
- Working for yourselfUsually employed
What the job is like
Data centres are the secure buildings that store and process data for everything from phone photo backups to NHS records. In September 2024 the government classed UK data centres as Critical National Infrastructure, alongside energy and water. Technicians keep the equipment inside them healthy - installing and cabling servers, replacing failed parts, responding to support tickets and helping with planned maintenance.
It's a good match if you like building PCs, tidy cabling and methodical troubleshooting, and you're happy working in a secure, rules-driven environment. There's no National Careers Service profile specifically for this job yet, so the routes below come from the apprenticeship standards that cover data centre support work.
What you'll do
- Install and set up server racks and network equipment
- Diagnose and fix hardware, network and system faults
- Replace faulty hardware components
- Respond to and prioritise support tickets within agreed service levels
- Monitor system performance and carry out preventative maintenance
- Install, terminate and test data cabling
- Follow strict security, safety and change-control procedures
- Work with facilities teams during maintenance on power and cooling systems
Where you'll work
- Indoors
- In a team
Skills and hobbies that help
Weighted by how much they matter in this job, from the official job profile's skills and tasks. Tap one to see other careers that use it.
Key skills
Used a lot
Handy to have
Hobbies that give you a head start
How to become a data centre technician
Apprenticeship
Information communications technician (Level 3, typically around 18 months) - "data centre support technician" is one of the typical job titles listed in this standard, and at least one major cloud provider runs its UK data centre operations apprenticeship on it.
Network cable installer (Level 3, typically around 15 months) - the standard covers cabling in data centres and other buildings.
College
IT courses such as the T Level in Digital Support and Security (listed by the National Careers Service for IT support roles) build relevant skills.
Skills Bootcamp
Free Skills Bootcamps for adults aged 19 and over run in digital subjects and last up to 16 weeks - check the course finder for infrastructure or networking courses.
Qualifications, licences and cards
- English and maths must be completed in line with apprenticeship funding rules
Where it can lead
- Senior or shift-lead data centre technician
- Network engineer
- Cloud or infrastructure roles
Good to know
- The National Careers Service does not have a profile for this job, so no official salary figure is shown.
- The Information communications technician standard was in a notice period and under revision as of September 2026 - check the standard page for the current version.
Courses and training
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Skills Bootcamp
Skills Bootcamps – Skills for Careers (Department for Education)
Free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for adults aged 19 or over in England, ending with a guaranteed job interview. Subjects include construction, engineering, heat pump technology and HGV driving.
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Apprenticeship search
Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
The official GOV.UK service for searching and applying for apprenticeship vacancies in England.
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Course search
Find a course – National Careers Service
The National Careers Service search for college and training provider courses in England, including Skills Bootcamps.
Official information
Sources
We checked these pages in September 2026. Rules, pay and courses change, so always confirm with the official source.
- Skills England apprenticeship standard: Information communications technician skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0973-v1-2
- skillsengland.education.gov.uk skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0485-v1-2?view=standard
- GOV.UK: data centres classed as Critical National Infrastructure (12 Sept 2024) gov.uk/government/news/data-centres-to-be-given-massive-boost-and-protections-from-cyber-criminals-and-it-blackouts
- amazonapprenticeships.co.uk amazonapprenticeships.co.uk/our-programmes/date-centre-operations-it
- National Careers Service: IT support technician job profile nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/it-support-technician
- Skills Bootcamps (Skills for Careers) skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/training-choice/skills-bootcamp