I'm a 24-year-old Data Center Engineer Making Six Figures. There Are Pros and Cons, But My Career Has Advanced Faster Than I Thought.
By Joseph LeGare, as told to Kaila Yu
My Journey So Far
I studied philosophy for two years at The Catholic University of America before dropping out and transitioning into construction work. After a year, I moved into residential construction, handling administrative tasks like daily reports, inspection scheduling, quality verification, and safety meetings. I also worked as a materials management specialist at a residential home manufacturer.
A Game Changer: Data Centers
During my night classes in construction management at Frederick Community College, I realized my passion lay in commercial construction. My professor suggested the data center industry as a game changer for gaining field experience.
Rowan Digital Infrastructure, a data center builder, offered an internship program through my school, and I was hired full-time after six months.
The Fast-Paced World of Data Centers
The data center industry captivates me with its cutting-edge technologies—from safety equipment to heavy machinery and tools. It's exciting to be part of a sector that builds the infrastructure crucial for the world's operations.
As an intern, my mornings began with reviewing data center drawings, and I learned to navigate construction drawings and specifications while gaining practical field experience, skills transferable from general commercial construction.