Senior Architect

AtkinsRéalis Group; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tax-free salary

Life insurance

Medical insurance

Annual leave

Gratuity scheme

Discretionary bonus

Annual flight allowance

Housing allowance

Wellbeing program

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis in the United Arab Emirates seeks a Senior Architect – Data Centre to lead the design, planning, and development of large-scale, mission-critical facilities. You will develop conceptual, schematic, and construction-ready designs for greenfield and brownfield projects, coordinating with engineering to integrate architectural, structural, MEP, and ICT requirements.

The role requires expertise in Tier III/IV standards, local building codes, fire and life safety, and sustainable,

Qualifications

• 10+ years of architectural design experience, including data centre projects.
• Registered Architect or equivalent preferred.
• Knowledge of Tier III/IV standards, fire and life safety, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end architectural design and planning of data centre facilities.
• Develop designs from concept through construction-ready stages for greenfield and brownfield projects.
• Coordinate with engineering teams to integrate architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and ICT requirements.
• Ensure designs meet scalability, sustainability, and reliability objectives.
• Drive sustainability initiatives and energy-efficient design practices.
• Review architectural drawings, specs, and design documentation; support commissioning and handover.

Skills

Data centre design

Hyperscale design

Project management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Architecture

Registered Architect

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Navisworks

BIM 360

Job description

### **Job Description**## OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Senior Architect – Data Centre to lead the design, planning, and development of large-scale, mission-critical data centre facilities. The role requires expertise in data centre architecture, capacity planning, and infrastructure design to deliver scalable, resilient, energy-efficient, and compliant data centre solutions.## Your role* Lead the end-to-end architectural design and planning of data centre facilities.* Develop conceptual, schematic, detailed, and construction-ready designs for greenfield and brownfield data centre projects.* Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and ICT requirements.* Ensure designs meet operational, scalability, sustainability, and reliability objectives.* Develop layouts for white space, technical rooms, support facilities, and ancillary infrastructure.* Incorporate Tier III/Tier IV design principles and industry best practices into all projects.* Ensure compliance with local building regulations, fire and life safety codes, and data centre standards.* Coordinate with clients, consultants, contractors, and project stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.* Conduct design reviews, feasibility studies, and space utilization assessments.* Support site selection, due diligence activities, and capacity planning exercises.* Review and approve architectural drawings, technical specifications, and design documentation.* Drive sustainability initiatives, including energy efficiency and green building practices.* Manage design risks and recommend innovative solutions to complex architectural challenges.* Support commissioning, operational readiness, and project handover activities.* Stay current with emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in data centre design and construction.## About you* Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Architecture or a related discipline.* Registered Architect or equivalent professional qualification preferred.* 10+ years of architectural design experience, including significant experience in data centre projects.* Proven experience designing hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, or mission-critical data centre facilities.* Strong knowledge of:* Data centre planning and design principles* Tier III and Tier IV standards* Building codes and regulatory compliance* Fire and life safety design* Sustainable and energy-efficient design practices* Space planning and capacity management* BIM and 3D modelling tools* Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, BIM 360, and other architectural design software.* Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing complex projects.* Strong understanding of data centre operational requirements and resilience strategies.* Knowledge of Uptime Institute, TIA-942, ASHRAE, NFPA, and related industry standards.* Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and presentation skills.* Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management capabilities.* Ability to manage multiple projects and work effectively in fast-paced environments.## Rewards & benefitsExplore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career.This includes:* Tax-free salary.* Life insurance coverage.* Medical insurance.* Annual leave balance.* Company gratuity scheme.* Discretionary bonus program.* Annual flight contribution.* Transportation & housing allowances.* Employee Wellbeing Program: 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness, and nutrition.Seize every opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your expertise, and be recognized for the impact you make.## About AtkinsRéalisWe're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.