As data centers surge nationwide, Hunter Williams is at the forefront of a rapidly expanding on‑site power field. From a pivotal internship to leading complex, multi‑technician projects, he’s built great technical skills and embraced new career pathways.
I first became interested in on-site power generation during vocational school. I was looking to combine my interests in engines and my background in electrical. While looking through a Penn College programs catalog, I discovered this program and knew that is exactly what I have been looking for.
I chose Penn College for the top of the top tier labs, small class sizes, and instructors that came from the field.
I enjoyed the internship most. That’s where I really got to see the skills and concepts from class turn into real‑world applications. I came out of the internship with new skills and connections that I could apply while finishing the program.
I worked side by side with professionals in the field during my internship. I completed daily jobs ranging from preventative maintenance to larger repairs. I also gained valuable interpersonal skills in customer relations and teamwork.
My favorite project was the one that challenged me the most on a technical level. It was for a critical customer who couldn’t lose power at any point during the upgrade. They had two generators that paralleled together to feed the site if either of two separate utility sources failed. My job was completing panel upgrades on both generators and replacing all the process components inside the switchgear. At no point could we be down more than one generator or one utility. It was incredibly rewarding to organize, complete, and test each stage of the project. Handing over a project of that size was extremely satisfying.
I see data centers having a positive effect on me and my career. They’re creating a more competitive market that rewards high‑producing technicians, and there are more growth opportunities now. Leadership roles are becoming a lot more common in this field. Before projects at this scale, the work was very individualized and I might go a month without seeing co-workers. Now I’m the lead on a project with twelve technicians.
I’ve seen a lot of growth in the last year with the expansion of data centers, and I think it will impact the next generation of on‑site power professionals in a very positive way. Upcoming professionals will have multiple career paths to pursue. Before this project and industry came to the area, options were limited. You were a technician who might have an opportunity to move into management or sales. Now I see plenty of positions the next generation of power generation technicians can grow into.
I am looking forward to another industry coming to PA. The growth of the industry, fueled by AI's demand for data centers, puts me in a great position career-wise.
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