Data Centre Design Director

HUMAN-AI-Z Nexus Technology; Dubai; On-site; AED 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

HUMAN-AI-Z Nexus Technology in Dubai seeks a Data Centre Design Director to lead the design and delivery of large-scale data centre projects. The role requires strong mechanical or electrical engineering background and extensive hands-on leadership across RIBA Stages 0–7.

The candidate will manage multidisciplinary teams across MEP disciplines, ensure designs meet client specs and regulations, and provide senior technical direction while coordinating with clients and contractors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related discipline – mandatory.
• Professional engineering qualification or chartership is highly desirable.
• Proven senior‑level experience in data centre design and project management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and technical delivery of multiple data centre projects simultaneously.
• Manage projects across RIBA Stages 0–7, from strategic definition to close‑out.
• Provide technical and strategic leadership throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

MEP systems

Data centre design

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

P.E./Chartered engineer qualification

Job description

*** Open to relocation*** Strong international travel eligibility required due to frequent travel

We are seeking an experienced Data Centre Design Director to lead the design and delivery of complex, large-scale data centre projects in Dubai. The ideal candidate will have a strong Mechanical or Electrical Engineering educational background, combined with extensive hands‑on experience managing and delivering multiple data centre projects. This is a senior leadership position requiring deep technical knowledge, strong project management capabilities, and proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams across RIBA Stages 0–7.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and technical delivery of multiple data centre projects simultaneously.
• Manage projects across RIBA Stages 0–7, from strategic definition and concept through detailed design, construction, commissioning, handover, and close‑out.
• Provide technical and strategic leadership throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across mechanical, electrical, architectural, structural, and specialist engineering disciplines.
• Oversee the development and coordination of critical MEP systems, including power, cooling, HVAC, electrical distribution, backup power, and associated infrastructure.
• Ensure designs meet client requirements, technical standards, statutory regulations, and data centre performance and resilience requirements.
• Act as a senior technical and strategic point of contact for clients, consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Manage design programmes, resources, budgets, risks, deliverables, and project milestones.
• Review and approve technical designs, specifications, calculations, drawings, and construction documentation.
• Identify and resolve technical and design coordination issues throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support procurement, tendering, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover activities.
• Ensure quality, technical compliance, constructability, and design integrity across all project stages.
• Lead, mentor, and develop technical and design teams.
• Support business development, client presentations, technical proposals, and the growth of the company's data centre portfolio.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline – mandatory.
• Professional engineering qualification or chartership is highly desirable.
• Proven senior‑level experience in data centre design and project management.
• Demonstrable experience managing and delivering multiple data centre projects, ideally across different project sizes and stages.
• Strong practical knowledge and experience across RIBA Stages 0–7.
• Extensive experience with MEP systems within mission‑critical/data centre environments.
• Strong understanding of data centre electrical and mechanical infrastructure, including power distribution, cooling systems, HVAC, UPS, generators, redundancy, resilience, and critical infrastructure.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering and design teams.
• Strong project management skills covering programme, budget, resources, risk, quality, and delivery.
• Excellent client‑facing, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
• Ability to provide senior technical direction while maintaining a strong commercial and project‑delivery focus.