Data Center Design Manager

The Data Center Design Manager will lead and coordinate the design development of mission-critical data center projects across the EMEA region. This role is responsible for overseeing multidisciplinary design activities from concept through detailed design, ensuring that projects meet business objectives, performance requirements, industry standards, and customer expectations.

Working closely with internal stakeholders, external consultants, contractors, and vendors, the successful candidate will drive design excellence, manage project risks, and ensure the delivery of innovative, cost-effective, and operationally robust data center solutions.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced design professional who thrives in complex environments and enjoys collaborating across multiple disciplines and international project teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the end-to-end design process for data center development projects across EMEA, from feasibility studies through construction support.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams, including architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, and specialist consultants.
• Ensure alignment between design deliverables, project objectives, operational requirements, budgets, schedules, and customer expectations.
• Drive design governance and provide leadership throughout design reviews, value engineering exercises, and technical decision-making processes.
• Establish and maintain design standards, best practices, and lessons learned across multiple projects and regions.
• Collaborate closely with development, construction, operations, procurement, and commercial teams to ensure seamless project execution.
• Manage external design consultants and technical partners, monitoring quality, performance, and delivery against project requirements.
• Identify and mitigate design-related risks, technical challenges, and project constraints while supporting effective resolution strategies.
• Ensure compliance with applicable local regulations, international standards, permitting requirements, and data center industry best practices.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and approval of design documentation, technical specifications, reports, drawings, and project records.
• Support equipment and technology evaluations, ensuring proposed solutions align with business, operational, sustainability, and reliability objectives.
• Contribute to innovation initiatives, sustainability strategies, and continuous improvement programs across the data center portfolio.
• Provide technical support during construction, commissioning, and handover phases to ensure design intent is successfully delivered.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in design management, engineering management, or technical project delivery within data centers, mission-critical facilities, or large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary design teams through complex project lifecycles.
• Strong understanding of data center design principles, critical infrastructure systems, and project delivery methodologies.
• Experience managing external consultants, design contracts, and stakeholder relationships.
• Knowledge of international design standards, building regulations, sustainability considerations, and data center industry best practices.
• Strong project management, organizational, and risk management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities within multicultural and international environments.
• Fluency in English is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting large-scale data center developments across multiple countries within EMEA.
• Master's degree in a relevant engineering, architecture, or business discipline.
• Professional registration, chartership, or industry-recognized certifications.
• Experience with BIM environments and digital design coordination tools.
• Knowledge of sustainability frameworks and energy-efficient data center design strategies.
• Additional European language skills are considered advantageous.

Success Measures

• Delivery of high-quality design packages that meet business, operational, and customer requirements.
• Effective coordination of multidisciplinary teams and external design partners.
• Achievement of project milestones within budget and schedule expectations.
• Reduction of design-related risks, rework, and technical issues during construction and commissioning.
• Consistent compliance with applicable regulations, standards, and internal governance requirements.
• Contribution to standardization, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives across the EMEA portfolio.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on some of the most exciting data center projects across EMEA.
• A collaborative, international environment with significant exposure to senior stakeholders and strategic initiatives.
• Professional growth and development opportunities within a rapidly expanding organization.
• The ability to make a tangible impact on the design and delivery of critical digital infrastructure.
• A culture that values innovation, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.