“I would recommend NOVA’s Data Center Operations and Engineering Technology programs to students who want to excel in technical careers and stay in the area. There are plenty of job opportunities in the data center field, from IT, engineering operations, HVAC, electrical, security, to sales. There is an abundance of opportunity for growth and prosperity in the tech industry.”
In May, Justin Nagle completed two certificates from NOVA: one in Data Center Operations and the other in Engineering Technology. Recently promoted to Senior Associate Engineer at Digital Realty, Justin’s journey with the company began as an intern two years ago, in July 2022.
His path to this career shift started while studying for the LSAT. Justin discovered his interest in STEM through his success in the logic games section. After some soul-searching, he decided to pursue education and training in the STEM field. Enrolling in a few courses at NOVA, he found a talent for math and consistently remained on the dean’s list throughout his studies, prompting Assistant Professor of IT and Engineering Technologies Ronnie Dasgupta to recommend that Justin take the DCO program.
“NOVA gave me the basic knowledge necessary to enter this career path. With these fundamentals in place, it was easy to transition into my engineering duties and build on that knowledge,” Justin said.
When asked about the biggest difference between being an intern and being employed at Digital Realty, he explained that interns are there to learn through training, mentorships, and exposure to various departments. They handle entry-level tasks under supervision and receive feedback. In contrast, employees are proficient in their roles, contributing to the company’s operations with defined responsibilities and greater autonomy. Full-time employees are more integrated into the company culture, participating in meetings, decision-making, and initiatives.
Justin explained that his increased experience from the internship made a significant impact on his professional role. He recognized the vast amount of expertise required at a data center, from building and equipment understanding to customer and management relations.
He also mentioned that the work pace can vary from slow to very fast, requiring vigilance and quick responses when needed. He encourages interns to pay close attention to what they are shown, engage with engineers and vendors, take copious notes, and get involved.
This hands-on approach served him well when, in November 2022, he began working the night shift at Digital Realty, a role he didn’t have difficulty with having previously worked in security and being accustomed to it.
“If you’re new and haven’t worked in data centers at all, the night shift is ideal for learning the campus, our systems, and completing necessary training. We don’t want someone inexperienced involved in high-risk critical operations due to the many variables and potential issues. Missing any step could lead to serious problems, like a yellow or red event, resulting in a loss of utility or customer equipment, which could be very costly,” he explained.
“At the end of my first week, we had a massive yellow event, which means a serious reduction in redundancy for our electrical systems. A vista switch blew up in the generator yard, putting seven suites on the generator. We had to respond quickly because the generators were burning fuel, and we needed Dominion Energy to restore our electrical utility as soon as possible. They arrived within 20 minutes. They brought in cranes, dug up the old vista switch, installed a new one, coupled it together, and brought the utility back online. Then we were able to shut down the generators and restore normal utility service.”
Justin eventually switched to the day shift. In his current role as a Senior Associate Engineer and the primary engineer for IAD35, he assists the building lead with daily operations. Mornings start fast with a turnover meeting to review the day’s activities and assignments. He then handles work orders, sets up vendor access, escorts vendors to their tasks, attends meetings, gathers parts from inventory for maintenance, writes Methods of Procedure (MOPs), and executes them in the afternoon.
Looking ahead, Justin is considering several paths. He may pursue a master’s in data analytics, continue advancing in engineering, or move up the ranks within the company. He could also become a building lead in two years or even a manager of engineering operations.
In addition to planning his future, he encourages NOVA students to apply to Digital Realty.
“NOVA is a really good school with strong programs. We get many good applicants from there, which I’ve been telling our operations manager. I promote NOVA students as much as I can, even if they haven’t graduated yet.”
Justin believes the data center operations field offers promising opportunities for aspiring professionals. “This is a rewarding career for anyone interested in engineering or data center work. Digital Realty is a great company, and there are many good firms where you can apply your skills and advance your career. For those unsure of their path but with good electrical or HVAC skills, we can train you and prepare you for a fulfilling career in this field.”
