Warren Delaney discusses the skills early-career goers should prioritise, if aiming for success in the evolving data space.
Whether it is the increased focus on efficiency, scaling strategies or a renewed commitment to sustainability, the data centre industry has changed significantly over the course of the past decade. That is according to Warren Delaney, the Ireland operations director at digital infrastructure company Equinix.
“That’s largely thanks to advances like cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and better infrastructure,” Delaney told SiliconRepublic.com and it is this shift towards a greener, AI-heavy skillset that young people should be paying particular attention to.
Data centres have long been criticised for the negative impact they can have on the environment, but according to Delaney, AI and other advanced technologies, now have an important role to play in limiting the environmental fallout.
“We’ve made big improvements in how we manage power and cooling in our data centres,” he said. “This helps reduce our environmental impact while improving performance. AI in particular has been a game-changer, helping us to run our operations smarter and faster.”
Launching a career
But for these systems to run as smoothly as possible and if they are to have a real-world impact, they will require oversight led by a workforce skilled in the use of modern, advanced and complex technologies.
This in turn is creating exciting opportunities, particularly for sector newbies and those who may not possess a computer science degree, which according to Delaney, is not necessary “to support the growth of cutting-edge industries such as AI or quantum”.
The beauty of the data centre profession, he explained, is that there are a number of key skills that you could use to launch a career, for example, the industry is primed for students and graduates skilled in engineering, especially electronic, electrical, mechanical and civil.
Anyone looking for a critical facilities or operational role would have to have some kind of background in HVAC or perhaps aviation mechanics. Network skills, including infrastructure cabling, cloud computing and operating systems are also in high demand.
No man left behind
But it isn’t only the incoming generation of workers that should be prioritised in the modernisation of workplace skills and expectations. In fact, younger people have much to learn from their older counterparts, in much the same way that more established employees also don’t know it all.
Organisations should be ready and able to onboard people with vastly different skills and outlooks, said Delaney, noting that the best teams are the ones that exhibit a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences.
“Combining fresh thinking with seasoned expertise helps us to stay ahead of trends. Many people don’t realise the vast range of roles available in tech and data centers, and how many transferable skills there are from other industries.”
This can range from careers in plumbing, electrics and fibre installation, to electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and project management, among others.
And because many young people are already very comfortable with technology, they expect that their place of employment will be reflective of their skills and capabilities. This makes it the job of the employer and those in leadership to challenge and stretch what is often already an extensive base of digital knowledge.
“This could include using AI to streamline tasks, embracing sustainability solutions, or helping to shape a more digital, connected future. [But] regardless of their generation, individuals must be equipped with the tools they need to succeed.
“For young people, those tools tend to be digital and by giving them the freedom to explore, we are investing not just in their future, but our own, too. To be a part of that, no matter how long a person has been in the job or workforce, is hugely empowering for an individual.”
Launching a career in the STEM space nowadays demands a level of commitment towards education that perhaps wasn’t there before, or at the very least, innovations seemed to occur further apart, which made learning on the job a more reasonable expectation.
But for anyone looking to forge a career in data, not only will a broad and diverse skillset aid you in the early days, but it will stand to you for the entirety of your professional life, no matter where you end up.
Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.