Electrical Technical Director

GHD; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

GHD is seeking an experienced Electrical Technical Director for its Global Data Centre Design Team in the UAE. The role leads technical direction across hyperscale, enterprise and AI-driven data centre projects, guiding multidisciplinary teams and shaping electrical engineering standards.

You will mentor engineers, drive innovation, and act as a trusted advisor to clients while pursuing new business opportunities in the rapidly expanding mission-critical sector.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Building Services Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer status or equivalent preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of engineering experience in mission critical/data centre environments.
• Extensive knowledge of data centre electrical infrastructure including HV/MV/LV, UPS, transformers, switchgear, BESS, PDUs.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and governance across multiple mission critical and data centre projects globally.
• Define and oversee electrical engineering strategies for hyperscale, colocation and AI-driven data centres.
• Lead development and review of resilient power architectures and distribution systems.
• Develop resilience and redundancy strategies including 4N, N+1, and maintainability.
• Lead technical workshops, peer reviews and establish engineering standards and procedures.
• Act as senior technical authority and mentor Lead Engineers and project teams.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Client engagement

Business development

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Building Services Engineering

Chartered Engineer status

Tools

EPMS systems

SCADA

BMS

Job description

strong About the Role strong

We are seeking an experienced Electrical Technical Director to join our Global Data Centre Design Team Mission Critical based in our UAE offices This is a senior leadership role for a highly accomplished engineer with extensive experience in the design technical leadership and delivery of hyperscale AI and mission-critical data centre facilities You will provide technical leadership across a portfolio of complex data centre projects guiding multidisciplinary teams through all stages of delivery while shaping the future direction of electrical engineering within our global data centre practice This role offers the opportunity to influence some of the world s most advanced AI and hyperscale data centre developments You will act as a trusted advisor to clients support business development initiatives help secure new opportunities drive innovation and ensure the consistent delivery of technically excellent resilient sustainable and commercially successful solutions In addition to project leadership you will play a key role in developing engineering capability across the business mentoring senior engineers promoting technical excellence and contributing to the growth of our rapidly expanding mission critical sector

strong Key Responsibilities strong

• Provide technical leadership and governance across multiple mission critical and data centre projects globally
• Define and oversee electrical engineering strategies for hyperscale colocation enterprise and AI-driven data centre developments
• Lead the development and review of resilient electrical power architectures including utility connections HV MV LV distribution systems transformers switchgear UPS systems standby generation battery energy storage systems BESS and critical power distribution
• Develop and review electrical resilience and redundancy strategies including N 1 N N 2N distributed redundant 4N3 etc and concurrently maintainable architectures
• Provide technical leadership for high-density AI and GPU infrastructure including high-capacity power distribution rack-level power requirements busway systems and the integration of electrical infrastructure with liquid-cooled technology
• Lead and review electrical system studies including load flow short-circuit protection coordination and selectivity arc-flash harmonic analysis power quality grounding earthing and transient or dynamic studies where required
• Drive technical excellence through peer reviews design assurance processes and the development of engineering standards best practices and quality procedures
• Act as the senior technical authority for electrical engineering matters providing guidance and support to project teams throughout all project phases
• Support the development adaptation and optimisation of global standard reference designs modular data centre solutions and bespoke engineering approaches
• Interface directly with clients utilities operators contractors technology providers OEMs and other stakeholders acting as a trusted technical advisor and subject matter expert
• Lead technical workshops value engineering exercises feasibility studies master planning activities utility and power strategy assessments and technical due diligence assignments
• Ensure designs achieve the required performance resilience maintainability safety energy efficiency sustainability and operational objectives
• Provide technical leadership for the integration of utility supplies standby generators UPS systems BESS renewable energy microgrids and other emerging power solutions
• Support project teams in developing protection controls automation monitoring and electrical power management strategies including interfaces with BMS EPMS SCADA and other data centre control systems
• Support commissioning strategies integrated systems testing failure-mode testing and operational readiness activities for critical electrical infrastructure
• Support project delivery teams in managing technical risks programme requirements budgets and quality objectives
• Maintain strong client relationships and proactively identify opportunities for repeat business and long-term partnerships
• Support business development activities client engagement and strategic growth initiatives across the Mission Critical sector
• Take an active role in winning new work including identifying and developing opportunities building client relationships positioning GHD for future commissions and converting opportunities into secured projects
• Lead and support pursuits proposals bids interviews and technical presentations to help secure new project opportunities
• Collaborate with regional and global leadership teams to develop and execute growth strategies for the Data Centres and Mission Critical business
• Monitor emerging technologies market trends and client requirements to ensure GHD remains at the forefront of data centre electrical engineering
• Mentor and develop Lead Engineers and other team members fostering a culture of technical excellence collaboration innovation and continuous learning

strong Skills Experience amp Qualifications strong

• Bachelor s Degree in Electrical Engineering or Building Services Engineering Chartered Engineer status CEng PE RPEQ or equivalent preferred
• Minimum 15 years of relevant engineering experience including significant experience within mission critical and data centre environments
• Proven track record leading the design and delivery of hyperscale colocation enterprise and AI-focused data centre facilities
• Extensive knowledge of data centre electrical infrastructure including utility connections HV MV LV distribution transformers switchgear UPS systems standby generation BESS PDUs busway systems and critical power distribution
• Strong understanding of electrical resilience and redundancy philosophies including N 1 N N 2N distributed redundant concurrent maintainability fault tolerance and elimination of single points of failure
• Strong understanding of mechanical-electrical integration controls and EPMS systems commissioning integrated systems testing and operational readiness
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams across international projects and geographically distributed delivery environments