Quick Facts ⬇️

Career Switch: Leading Engineering Technician → Manager of Engineering Operations
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Transferable Skills: Critical systems management, team leadership, technical fault-finding, strict process adherence → Infrastructure oversight, people development, compliance management, operational excellence
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After nearly a decade as a Leading Engineering Technician in the Royal Navy, Joseph thought he'd have to start from scratch in civilian life. Spoiler alert: he didn’t. Nine years later, he's running engineering operations at Digital Realty.

Military Life

Joseph served just under 10 years in the Royal Navy as an Engineering Technician, rising to the rank of Leading Engineering Technician. His service ended in 2015 with a medical discharge, leaving him feeling completely lost about what was next.

"I was downgrading my skills, thinking civvy street was probably high tech and a lot more advanced than the military," Joseph reflects. "I had no idea what was going to be like out there or the skill sets required."

A classic veteran move, and one that Redeployable sees many veterans doing: underestimating the value of what he'd learned in uniform. 

The Recruiter Who Saw His Potential 

Joseph's transition was far from straightforward. 

After leaving the Navy, he completed an electronic and communication engineering degree through ELCAS while doing physiotherapy for his injury. He also bagged a fibre optic installation course, thinking he needed every qualification possible to be employable.

Then a recruiter spotted his CV on Indeed, and despite Joseph having no building services experience, he saw his potential. 

"I told him I'd never worked in buildings before, and he said 'don't worry, you have the skill set,'" Joseph recalls.

The recruiter wasn't wrong. What started as temp work quickly highlighted what Joseph was capable of. While the civvy engineers were changing light bulbs and unblocking toilets, Joseph was getting sent to fix hospital equipment, boilers, generators, pneumatic systems.

"I soon realised the knowledge I have is far more advanced than what's being offered in civvy street."

Sound familiar? Redeployable's AI platform can show you exactly where your military experience fits in the civilian world. No more second-guessing yourself.

The Move to Digital Realty 

After building his confidence, Joseph moved through various jobs. But like loads of veterans Redeployable works with, he never quite felt like his skills were being properly used. 
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When Digital Realty came calling through a former colleague, Joseph spotted what he'd been hunting for. The company was global and in-house… for engineers, this is the holy grail.

“As engineers in civvy street, that's the prime place you want to be, better benefits, bonuses, the entire package is better."

​​Finally. A company that didn't outsource everything to the lowest bidder.

Smashing it at Digital Realty

Now Manager of Engineering Operations, Joseph oversees site infrastructure, manages statutory compliance, maintains accreditations, and develops his team of five engineers from newbie to HV-approved status.

"This role is equivalent to a Leading Engineering Technician," he says. "I feel like I was starting at the bottom and slowly working my way back to where I belonged."

Joseph's particularly chuffed with the project opportunities that let him develop beyond his day-to-day management role. Recent gigs include delivering workshops at schools about data centres, developing VR training scenarios, and now helping other veterans transition into the industry. Joseph's sights are set on climbing the ranks, and in a company with so much opportunity, we’re backing him to go all the way.  

Veterans: The Perfect Fit

For Joseph, the connection between military service and data centre operations is blindingly obvious.

"It will be very familiar, the technology, the plant, the systems, the electrical infrastructure, switching, the mechanical plants. It's very similar, and your skill set will be highly valued."

But it's not just about knowing which end of a spanner to hold. Military people are used to working in critical environments with strict processes and guidelines. Translation: while civvy street spends years learning one thing, you've already mastered five.

"Our core values are teamwork, result-driven, and customer focus. Military staff bring that with flying colours."

His Advice to You

Joseph's message to veterans considering Digital Realty is simple: 

"Your skills definitely, 100%, even 110%, translate”

The place is actually inclusive and welcoming, and you'll find it's basically what you just left: critical operations, proper processes, teamwork that actually works.

His biggest regret? Not backing himself earlier. 

"If leading engineering technicians in the military knew what their skills were transferable to in civvy street, they'd probably start around manager level. Don't underestimate what you bring to the table."

Joseph's journey proves military engineering skills aren't just transferable to the data centre industry, they're exactly what companies like Digital Realty are hunting for. Sometimes you just need someone to point out the obvious.
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