Joseph Maxwell

Career

Experience

Selected work from my career in hyperscale datacenter operations at Google.

Datacenter Technician — Google

Oct 2023 – Present

  1. TPU Cluster Commissioning and Turn-Up

    Google Cloud AI/ML Infrastructure

    Commission and maintain Google Cloud TPU accelerator clusters. Travel for multi-site deployments to handle physical installation, rack-level integration, and cluster turn-up for AI/ML training and serving infrastructure.

    • Physical installation and rack-level integration of TPU v5e and TPU v5p nodes
    • Multi-site cluster turn-up coordination with remote deployment engineers
    • Status handoffs during maintenance windows to protect cluster availability SLOs
    • Coordination with network operations and site logistics leads
    • TPU v5e / v5p
    • Rack Integration
    • Cluster Commissioning
    • AI/ML Infrastructure
    • Multi-Site Coordination

  2. AI-Assisted Hardware Diagnostics & Team Mentorship

    Hardware Diagnostics & Root-Cause Analysis

    Perform root-cause failure analysis across 23+ production architectures (accelerator, compute, high-density storage) by pairing hands-on systems knowledge with agentic AI tooling. Actively share techniques and train teammates on practical AI workflows to accelerate triage and reduce incident resolution time.

    • Triage and diagnose hardware failures across 23+ production accelerator, compute, and storage architectures
    • Integrate agentic AI into daily diagnostic workflows to parse complex error signatures and isolate component faults faster
    • Mentor and train fellow technicians on practical AI workflows and prompt patterns for hardware troubleshooting
    • Update centralized repair documentation based on diagnostic findings to eliminate recurring failures
    • Agentic AI
    • Hardware Diagnostics
    • Root-Cause Analysis (RCA)
    • Team Mentorship
    • 23+ Server Architectures

  3. Area Logistics Tooling & Workflow Optimization

    Operations Workflow & Automation

    Adapted an internal logistics request tool originally created by a mentor, then extended and improved it using Google Apps Script, Google Forms, and Google Sheets for a specific functional area of the site. Streamlined daily technician workflows, reduced handoff errors, and eliminated repetitive manual data entry across shift rotations.

    • Adapted and extended a mentor's initial tracking template into a reliable logistics workflow for a key site functional area
    • Implemented automated state transitions, notifications, and data validation using Google Apps Script to eliminate repetitive data entry
    • Standardized hardware intake forms and streamlined technician handoffs, reducing missing details between shifts
    • Maintained the tool across shift rotations to keep parts tracking auditable and real-time
    • Google Apps Script
    • Google Workspace
    • Workflow Optimization
    • Agent-Assisted Tooling
    • Operational Logistics

  4. Optical Network Fault Isolation

    Network Physical Layer

    Isolate optical transport faults using power meters, Visual Fault Locators (VFL), and loopback plugs across fiber patch infrastructure and Optical Circuit Switches (OCS).

    • Physical-layer fiber testing and fault isolation using optical test tools
    • OCS routing troubleshooting and verification
    • Fiber infrastructure repair and cable plant documentation
    • Optical Circuit Switches
    • Fiber Testing
    • VFL
    • Power Meters
    • SC/LC/MPO

  5. Storage Media Destruction Operations (NIST SP 800-88)

    Data Security & Decommissioning

    Handled the secure staging, chain-of-custody tracking, and physical destruction of decommissioned storage media in accordance with NIST SP 800-88 physical destruction standards across hardware decommissioning cycles and platform upgrades.

    • Executed physical destruction procedures for decommissioned storage media
    • Enforced NIST SP 800-88 physical media sanitization and destruction standards
    • Maintained strict chain-of-custody tracking from decommission staging to physical destruction
    • Managed secure storage protocols for end-of-life media
    • NIST SP 800-88
    • Storage Destruction
    • Chain-of-Custody
    • Decommissioning
    • Physical Security

  6. Technician Certification and Safety Leadership

    Evaluator & Site Ergonomics Champion

    Evaluated and certified technicians on data security standards, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) electrical safety, and hardware servicing. Served as site ergonomics champion for safe material handling during heavy rack installations.

    • Evaluated and certified technicians on data security standards and LOTO safety
    • Conducted hands-on qualification audits for hardware servicing and cable plant procedures
    • Championed site ergonomics and safe material handling during dense rack integrations
    • LOTO
    • Electrical Safety
    • Mentorship
    • Ergonomics
    • Technical Certification

Earlier Experience

Apr 2023 – Oct 2023

Datacenter Technician — Akkodis

Contract datacenter operations role supporting hyperscale server maintenance, hardware troubleshooting, and physical layer operations that led directly to my full-time position at Google.

Jan 2009 – Apr 2023 · 14 years

Freelance IT Consultant

Provided technical consultation, infrastructure deployment, and hardware servicing for small businesses and private clients. Managed client relationships directly, diagnosing hardware failures and deploying network and backup systems with fast turnaround.