Getting to know datacenter employees: Brian Satterfield
Microsoft’s success depends on our people. We are proud to introduce some of the talented folks in your community who work in our global datacenters. Discover what inspired them to seek a career in the tech industry, the different pathways they pursued, and what a day in the life of a datacenter employee looks like.
Introducing Brian Satterfield
Datacenter Technician
Boydton, Virginia
Employee since January 2020
Early days
Brian grew up in South Boston, Virginia. He faced his first major life challenge as an infant, when a brain hemorrhage left him with cerebral palsy on his right side. The condition affects his grip, fine motor skills, and mobility—but Brian hasn’t let these challenges stop him from enjoying his life or developing his career. “I’ve always tried to do the best job I can, and I’ve never been shy about trying new things.” After graduating high school, he went to community college and completed IT degrees in programming and networking. He then followed his passion for car racing into a job at the Virginia International Racetrack: “I got to see all sorts of exotic cars,” he recalls. “It was a fun experience.”
The path to technology
A self-described “people person” with an interest in technology, Brian went on to a case management role helping people achieve their career goals at the nonprofit Virginia Workforce Center, followed by a role at the local hospital managing the printers and copiers on the IT network. “I always liked computers and technology as a kid. They’ve always fascinated me,” he recalls. That interest led him to apply for a job at the Microsoft datacenter. Now several years into this job, Brian mentors and trains new hires as shift sponsor. The role combines his interest in technology with his commitment to helping people. “I like being around people and I always try to help others achieve what they want,” he reflects. “I’m just like my dad; he loved being with people and working with people. I take after him a bit there.”
Superpowers
Brian’s positive attitude and determination to see through challenges to the opportunities has led him to excel in his technical role and grow into a leadership position as shift sponsor for his team. “I’ve had my challenges, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve always pressed forward in whatever I want to do. I want everyone to know that anything is possible, including working at Microsoft datacenters.”
In 2021, Brian joined the Global Datacenter Accessibility Program where he gets to determine ways to make work better for everyone at the datacenters. He is always thinking about ways to improve accomplishing tasks while he’s working, as well as help someone else do their job more easily. Brian says, “I feel so empowered that I can use my personal situation and the challenges that I face daily to improve and help others here and across other datacenters around world. We all can make a difference!”
A day in the life
A day in the life is a night in the life for Brian, who starts at 7 PM to help provide around-the-clock coverage for the datacenter. Each night is different: “We don’t know exactly what’s going on until we get here. Some nights we might do parts replacement, other nights we do investigations.” The team meets to discuss any special projects and divide the service tickets. After some quiet time in his office to review his tickets, Brian diagnoses and troubleshoots issues with the network hardware—servers, network equipment, cabling—and completes the repairs. Much of the service work is solo, but team members are always ready to lend a hand: “We help each other here. That’s one of the things I like about this place. You get to meet all sorts of people working at Microsoft and get involved in all sorts of different projects. It’s a fun job.”
Favorite childhood food
Brian’s favorite food as an adult is the same as it was as a kid: pizza. “I love pizza. I like pepperoni, sausage, bacon… meat lovers. I’m not hard to please.”
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