Building Future Talent Through Aligned’s Data Center Internship Program
By Katya Hawkins, Sr. Director, Employee Experience
There is something incredibly rewarding about watching someone step into a new environment, discover strengths they didn’t know they had, and begin building confidence in themselves. The past two summers, I have left our internship program inspired by the talent, curiosity, and fresh perspectives our interns bring to Aligned.
I believe internships should be about more than gaining experience. They should create opportunities for learning, growth, connection, and discovering what’s possible. They provide a chance to contribute meaningful work, build relationships, and gain exposure to careers students may have never considered before.
When we launched our formal data center internship program in summer 2025, we made a commitment to investing in future talent and creating experiences with a lasting impact. We wanted interns to experience not only the work we do, but also the people, culture, and values that make Aligned such a special place to work.
That vision continues to shape the program today. From the moment interns join us, our goal is simple: ensure they feel welcomed, supported, challenged, and valued.
Building a Strong Foundation for Data Center Interns
A successful internship doesn’t begin on an intern’s first day. It starts long before they arrive.
Managers participate in preparation sessions to ensure meaningful projects, learning opportunities, and clear expectations are in place before the summer begins. We want every intern to spend their time making an impact, not searching for ways to stay busy.
When interns join Aligned, they begin the program together as a cohort through orientation, leadership introductions, company overviews, and a tour of one of our data centers. These experiences provide an understanding of our business while introducing them to the people and teams that will support them during their time with us.
Just as importantly, they begin building connections with one another. Those relationships often become one of the most valuable parts of the experience.
Learning Beyond the Job Description
I believe the employee experience can be a powerful differentiator, shaping whether someone chooses Aligned and whether they leave each day feeling they contributed in a meaningful way.
To create an experience that feels both meaningful and memorable, I looked at the lessons and opportunities that shaped my own career journey. Rather than simply assigning work, we intentionally designed opportunities for interns to build relationships, gain exposure across the business, and develop connections that help them see themselves as part of something bigger than a single project or team.
Throughout the summer, interns participate in weekly Collaboration Labs, which are cross-functional learning experiences that introduce them to the teams and people behind Aligned’s success. This summer, these sessions featured employees from Platform Delivery, Sales, and Customer Success.
We also create opportunities for interns to connect directly with executive leaders, including our CEO, Andrew Schaap, through fireside chats and open Q&A sessions. These conversations are consistently among the most meaningful parts of the program, offering interns access to leaders who are approachable, authentic, and genuinely invested in their growth. Our executives have also offered additional one-on-one time with interns to continue these conversations and support their development.
Real Work Creates Real Growth
The best internship programs are never one-sided.
Our interns bring fresh ideas, digital fluency, and perspectives that challenge us to think differently. That’s why we encourage every department to think beyond assigning administrative tasks.
Instead, we ask teams to identify projects that solve real business challenges while giving interns opportunities to think critically, contribute ideas, and ask questions.
They’re encouraged to explore new approaches, challenge assumptions, and offer perspectives that might otherwise go unheard.
That creates value for everyone.
Interns leave with meaningful experience and greater confidence, while our teams benefit from new ideas and different ways of thinking.
Leadership Happens at Every Level
An often-overlooked benefit of internships is the opportunity they create for our own employees.
We’re intentional about placing interns with teams that can provide meaningful mentorship, and whenever possible, we encourage emerging leaders to supervise interns. It creates growth on both sides.
Interns receive coaching, guidance, and real-world support as they begin their careers, while our future leaders strengthen the communication, coaching, and leadership skills they’ll use throughout their own careers.
How Data Center Internships Can Lead to Careers
Some internship stories continue well beyond the summer.
One that stands out is Jose Vasquez, who joined Aligned as an Operations intern at our Phoenix data center campus after learning about careers in the industry through our partnership with AFCOM.
Throughout his internship, Jose immersed himself in every opportunity available to him. He participated in learning sessions, shadowed employees, asked thoughtful questions, and dedicated himself to understanding our operations. His curiosity, work ethics, and commitment to learning quickly stood out.
By the end of the internship, Jose accepted a full-time position as a Facility Technician with Aligned, and was recently promoted to a Critical Facilities Technician position.
Watching his journey continue has been incredibly rewarding because it represents exactly what this program is designed to accomplish. It creates pathways from education to meaningful careers.
Investing in the Future Workforce
Stories like Jose’s are one example of why internships matter, but they’re only part of our broader commitment to developing future talent.
Supporting data center workforce development begins long before someone joins Aligned. Through partnerships with organizations like the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, AFCOM, universities, schools, and community organizations, we’re helping introduce more people to careers that are essential to building and operating the digital infrastructure our world depends on.
Whether someone enters our industry through skilled trades, engineering, operations, technology, customer experience, or business functions, expanding access to opportunity strengthens both our workforce and our industry.
Success isn’t measured only by completed projects.
It’s seeing an intern become more confident than they were on day one.
It’s watching them build relationships across the company.
It’s hearing them tell us they can picture themselves building a career here.
Looking Ahead
National Intern Day is an opportunity to celebrate the students who choose to spend part of their journey with us, but it’s also a reminder of why investing in the next generation matters.
Every intern brings curiosity, ambition, and new ideas that make Aligned stronger.
My advice to anyone considering an internship is simple.
Be curious. Ask questions. Build relationships. Share what motivates you and where you hope your career will take you.
Technical skills can be taught. Curiosity, resilience, collaboration, and a willingness to learn are the qualities that leave the biggest impression.
As Aligned continues to grow, so does our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for future talent. Because when we invest in people early in their careers, we’re not only helping shape what’s next for them. We’re helping shape the future of our company, our industry, and the communities we serve.
Internship Program FAQs: What You Need to Know
What do interns do at a data center company? Interns may contribute to meaningful business projects, shadow experienced employees, attend cross-functional learning sessions, and gain exposure to data center operations, technology, sales, and customer experience.
What skills are needed for a data center internship? Curiosity, communication, collaboration, resilience, critical thinking, and a willingness to learn are valuable. Technical knowledge can be developed through training and hands-on experience.
Can a data center internship lead to a full-time job? Yes. Depending on performance and available positions, internships can create pathways to full-time roles. Some Aligned interns have continued into permanent data center careers after completing the program.
What career paths are available in the data center industry? Career opportunities include critical facilities operations, engineering, skilled trades, technology, construction, sales, customer experience, security, and other business functions.
