EXPERT OPINION
Recently, the data centre has begun
evolving again. Increasingly it is now
software defined, as management and
control systems drive the integration
and collective automation of plant and
equipment, responding to varying IT
services demands. Many engineers of
the future that will blend electrical and
mechanical engineering with strong
systems and software engineering don’t
exist today. Current modules of study
at schools, colleges and universities are
ill-equipped to provide the necessary
technical blend of education.
Greater cross-discipline education is
needed, to cope with the AI-led innovation
that will drive higher efficiencies and
greater utilisation of IT in the future.
Orchestration and automation are key
enablers to the future enterprise, with
the focus on getting more from less and
www.intelligentdatacentres.com
reducing the overall complexity and cost
of their IT estate.
When I talk to my industry peers,
more often than not, they state that
they ‘fell into’ the data centre sector,
but as a recruiter of people within my
own organisation, I know the kind of
salaries they command and therefore
the desirability of these high levels of
remuneration as a career goal. Plus –
this is a highly innovative, technically
interesting sector to work in. There
is room in this sector for people with
all kinds of skills and interests, from
finance and accounting, through sales
and marketing, IT support, and technical
problem solving.
The bald fact that we have to deal with
is that many of the sector’s leading lights
are due to retire within the next five
MANY ENGINEERS
OF THE FUTURE
THAT WILL BLEND
ELECTRICAL AND
MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
WITH STRONG
SYSTEMS AND
SOFTWARE
ENGINEERING
DON’T EXIST
TODAY.
Issue 10
41