If you have ever wondered what a long-term career in data center operations looks like, Jorge Perez's story is a good place to start. Over 17 years, Jorge has moved from hands-on network technician to assistant manager of customer operations at Equinix, working across multiple data centers in the Miami metro area and building a career that reflects what growth at the center of the digital economy can look like.
A career built on breadth and customer focus
Jorge joined Equinix as a data center network technician in customer operations. For the first two years, he was on the floor. Installing cabinets, running fibre optics, troubleshooting network circuits and deploying equipment. He was also completing his bachelor's degree in business management at the same time.
As the company grew, so did his role. He was promoted to supervisor, then took on responsibilities across multiple data centers - MI2, MI3, MI6 and eventually MI1, the flagship and largest data center in the Miami metro. Each move expanded his technical knowledge and his understanding of how operations connect to the broader business.
Leadership that empowers growth
Jorge’s path from technician to assistant manager did not happen by accident. It was recognised early and backed by leaders who were willing to act on that potential.
“Throughout the years, they saw that I was able to take on more than my normal role, and they empowered me to step in and support during their absence,” Jorge says. “They saw that I have potential. That I can represent the team, the organisation, our customers, and lead projects and teams.”
That kind of leadership matters. Not just recognising potential, but creating the conditions for people to grow into it.
At Equinix, internal mobility is not a policy on paper. It shows up in real careers, shaped over years through trust, opportunity and consistent investment in people.
Staying close to the customer
When asked what he enjoys most about his role, Jorge doesn’t hesitate to share that it is the customers.
“What I like the most is engaging with customers and finding solutions—not just short term, but long term,” he says. “That’s what Customer Operations really is. You’re not just maintaining infrastructure. You’re solving problems that matter to businesses running on that infrastructure.”
Today, Jorge is an Assistant Manager and spends more time coordinating across teams, guiding decisions, and ensuring service delivery stays consistent across the site. But the core of the role remains the same: understanding customer needs and responding in real time.
Operations is “heavily interconnected”
One thing Jorge is clear about: this isn’t a solo job. “Operations is heavily interconnected,” he says. On any given day, he works with the technicians on the floor, the sales engineers, account executive teams and the customer success managers to get the right outcome for our customers.
It’s never just one function, everything connects. People, systems, and decisions.
That interconnectedness is what makes operations both challenging and rewarding. It requires technical depth, but also communication, coordination, and trust across teams.
What 17 years in operations really looks like
Jorge started on the floor — installing equipment, troubleshooting issues, and responding in real time. Today, his role spans teams, sites, and decisions that shape how service is delivered across the operation.
That progression changes how you approach the work. The technical foundation stays with you, but the scope widens. The focus shifts from solving individual issues to ensuring teams respond consistently, decisions hold up under pressure, and customers get the outcomes they need.
Working across multiple data centers adds another layer. Every site runs with its own pace and complexity, and staying aligned requires constant coordination across technicians, engineers, and customer-facing teams. The work becomes less about a single task and more about how everything connects.
Seventeen years in operations have built that range over time. From hands-on experience, cross-team collaboration, and the judgment to lead in complex environments. It is a progression shaped by trust, consistency, and a deep understanding of how the work shows up for customers every day.
If you are looking for a career where your technical skills have room to evolve, where collaboration is built into the role and where leadership is something you grow into, explore roles on our data center operations team today.