Critical Systems Associate Director

Cundall; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Cundall, a global engineering consultancy, is searching for a strategic leader to drive the growth of their data centre services from Dubai, impacting the MENA region. This role requires a blend of client engagement and technical expertise to develop and manage a high-performing team, ensuring robust project delivery and client satisfaction.

The ideal candidate will possess significant experience in data centre projects, with a chartered engineering qualification or equivalent. Cundall values diversity and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Significant consultancy experience in data centre or MEP-led projects.
• Experience in managing teams and client engagement.
• Ability to lead and coordinate multidisciplinary design outputs.

Responsibilities

• Establish and grow the data centre business unit in Dubai.
• Lead client mapping and strategic proposal development.
• Ensure robust quality assurance and project delivery governance.

Skills

Consultancy experience

Client relationship management

Data centre project delivery

Technical leadership

Education

Degree in relevant engineering discipline

Chartered Engineer or equivalent

Job description

The Team

We are a global, independent, multi-disciplinary consultancy delivering sustainable engineering and design solutions across the built environment. With over 1,200 engineers and designers across 29 locations, we apply our expertise to local market conditions to deliver resilient, low-carbon engineering solutions. We are 100% partner-owned and are proud to have been named Building Magazine’s Engineering Consultant of the Year in 2024, 2022, and 2021.

Our data centre team has been leading mission‑critical design since 2006, delivering over 2,000MW of capacity globally. With a reputation for engineering excellence and sustainability, we’ve partnered with some of the world’s most high‑profile clients to create energy‑efficient, low‑emission data centres that set new standards for resilience and innovation. Recognised as Data Centre Consultancy of the Year in 2025, our team continues to push boundaries in design and delivery.

Based in Dubai, this role forms a key part of our growing presence across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). You will play a central role in establishing and expanding our regional data centre capability, working collaboratively with our global network and local partners.

The Role

This is a strategic leadership opportunity for an experienced, client‑focused data centre specialist to establish, develop and grow our data centre capability from Dubai, serving clients and projects across the wider MENA region. For the right candidate, this may represent a step up from their current role; they will be supported in making that transition through close collaboration with regional leadership and access to our established global sector experts. The successful candidate will be expected to combine sector credibility, technical leadership and commercial drive to build a sustainable regional business unit.

You will be accountable for the full lifecycle of the sector’s growth and delivery: identifying and mapping priority clients, developing opportunities, leading bids and proposals, shaping project strategies, overseeing multidisciplinary design delivery, and ensuring robust quality assurance and quality control throughout each commission.

Working closely with regional leadership and our established global data centre specialists, you will set the direction for the MENA offer, develop trusted client relationships, build a high‑performing local team, and ensure that our technical, commercial and service standards are consistently delivered. You will not be expected to do this in isolation: you will have the support, guidance and technical depth of both the regional leadership team and our global network of sector experts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish and grow the data centre business unit in Dubai as a regional platform serving the MENA market.
• Develop a clear regional growth plan, including target markets, priority clients, strategic partners, pipeline opportunities and sector positioning.
• Lead work winning activity, including client mapping, opportunity development, bid strategy, proposal leadership, fee development and commercial negotiation.
• Act as a senior client‑facing representative for the data centre sector, building long‑term relationships with developers, operators, hyperscale clients, investors, contractors and delivery partners.
• Lead multidisciplinary design delivery on data centre projects, ensuring solutions are technically robust, coordinated, buildable, resilient, sustainable and aligned with client requirements.
• Own project delivery governance, including programme, resourcing, risk management, change control, commercial performance, reporting and stakeholder communication.
• Implement and maintain rigorous QA/QC processes, including design reviews, technical approvals, interdisciplinary checks, lessons learned and compliance with relevant standards, codes and Cundall procedures.
• Recruit, mentor and develop engineers and technical specialists, creating a high‑performing team culture that supports growth, accountability and collaboration across the region.

The Skills

You will be a Chartered Engineer, or working towards equivalent professional recognition, educated to degree level in a relevant engineering discipline. You will bring significant consultancy experience, with a proven track record in data centre, mission‑critical, high‑technology or similarly complex MEP‑led projects.

The role requires someone who can operate as both a sector leader and a delivery lead: commercially aware, technically credible, highly organised, and confident engaging with senior clients, project teams and regional leadership.

You will have demonstrable experience developing client relationships, identifying new opportunities, shaping winning proposals and converting prospects into live commissions. You will also understand how to build delivery teams, set expectations, manage resources and maintain strong commercial performance across multiple concurrent projects.

Technically, you will be able to lead and review design outputs, manage multidisciplinary coordination, chair project and design reviews, oversee specifications and reports, and ensure that QA/QC procedures are applied consistently. You will be comfortable balancing hands‑on technical input with strategic leadership, business development and team management responsibilities.

We know that to be the best at what we do we need a diverse workforce underpinned by an inclusive culture. Creating environments where everyone can find joy doing their best work is also great for everyone. That’s why we positively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities, and encourage, support, and celebrate the diverse voices of our people.