El rol del Data Center Manager en 2026: menos técnico, más consciente

In the previous article, we talked about the hyper-automation paradox: how adding more technology to the Data Center doesn’t always mean gaining control and how poorly governed automation can end up generating more complexity than efficiency.

But when technology changes, it’s not just the systems that change; the people who manage them change too.

And that’s where an equally uncomfortable but essential question arises:

What will “managing” a Data Center really mean in 2026?

From technical figure to key operational role

For years, the Data Center Manager has been, above all, a technical figure—the person who knew where to touch, when to intervene, and how to react when something failed.

That knowledge is still valuable, but it is no longer enough.

Not because technology is less important, quite the opposite, but because complexity has grown so much that it can no longer be managed solely from a technical standpoint.

Various industry analyses suggest that by 2026, data centers will operate with artificial intelligence integrated into all functions, anticipating failures, adjusting performance, and reducing constant manual intervention.

In this context, the manager’s role inevitably changes.

From “knowing how to do it” to “knowing how to decide”

Today, a person responsible for critical infrastructure coexists with:

  • Automations that execute actions.
  • Systems that predict behaviors.
  • Dashboards full of metrics.
  • Alerts that don’t always explain the “why.”.

The problem is no longer a lack of information; it is an excess of information without context.

When AI and automation are embedded throughout the entire Data Center operation, the true challenge becomes interpreting what is happening and deciding with judgment, rather than executing isolated tasks.

In this scenario, the value of the Data Center Manager lies not in knowing how to perform a specific task, but in understanding what is happening, why it is happening, and which decision makes the most sense.

That is no less important than the technical side. It is, in fact, more difficult.

When automation increases, the human role doesn’t disappear… it changes

There is a misconception that advanced automation will “replace” the Data Center manager; the reality is exactly the opposite. 

The more automated the operation:

  • The more important it is to trust the systems.
  • The more critical it is to understand their limits.
  • The more necessary it is to have someone who sees the whole picture.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise summarizes it clearly: the most effective professionals will be those capable of collaborating with AI, defining intentions, validating decisions, and orchestrating automation at scale, not those who limit themselves to executing technical tasks.

The Data Center Manager stops being the one who “does” and becomes the one who orchestrates, validates, and gives meaning to what the technologies do.

A key concept emerges here: trust. You cannot delegate a decision to a system you don’t understand. You cannot automate something you don’t trust.

The new center of gravity for the role

In 2026, the role of the Data Center Manager will shift toward four major axes:

    Global vision of the Data Center

Not as a collection of tools, but as a single system where:

  • Data is connected.
  • Processes make sense.
  • Decisions are traceable.
  • Fewer silos. More context.

    Translation between technology and business

Increasingly, the Data Center directly impacts:

  • Service continuity.
  • Energy costs.
  • Operational risks.
  • Reputation.

The manager will be the one who translates the technical into real impact to make the best decision.

    Progressive trust in automation

Not everything is automated at once. Automation matures little by little as it proves its value.

The human role does not disappear: it shifts from execution toward conscious supervision.

This professional profile evolution is a clear trend in the sector, where traditional roles are transformed into hybrid profiles that combine technology, analysis, and decision-making.

    Leading people in increasingly complex environments

Paradoxically, the more technological the operation:

  • The more important coordination becomes.
  • The more critical shared knowledge becomes.
  • The more value clarity has.

The manager stops being the “lone expert” and becomes a facilitator of collective knowledge.

This is where this article connects directly with the previous one.

If poorly governed hyper-automation generates chaos… the Data Center Manager of the future is the one who must bring order without slowing down innovation.

Not by adding more layers of manual control, but by:

  • Demanding consistency.
  • Asking for explainability.
  • Seeking systems that help to think, not just to execute. 

Technology does not replace the human role; it demands its evolution.

In 2026, the Data Center Manager will not be less technical; they will be less operational and more conscious.

Less time putting out fires.
More time understanding patterns.
Fewer reactive decisions.
More trust in systems that provide context.

And perhaps that is the true leap we are experiencing: moving from managing infrastructures… to truly understanding them.


The hyperautomation paradox in the Data Center: more technology, more chaos?