Data Centre Design Manager

IKG Talent; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

IKG Talent in Sydney seeks a Data Centre Design Manager to lead design for new builds and expansions for a major global operator. You will coordinate multidisciplinary design inputs and external consultants, balancing performance, cost, and schedule from concept through construction support.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in mechanical, electrical, or architectural design with at least 10 years in building design and 5 years in leadership roles, and a solid understanding of

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Architecture, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of building design experience, with at least 5 years in design management or project leadership.
• Strong knowledge of Australian building codes and standards.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary design teams and manage external consultants.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the complete design process for new data centre builds and major fit-out projects.
• Oversee mechanical, electrical, architectural, and structural design inputs for integration and compliance.
• Manage external design consultants and engineering teams to meet scope, budget, and schedule.
• Ensure designs comply with internal standards and local building codes, including Tier III/IV requirements.
• Facilitate design reviews, value engineering, and constructability assessments.
• Coordinate with project management, construction, and operations to transition from design to build.
• Review technical specifications and tender documentation during procurement.
• Maintain design documentation, approvals, and change management records.

Skills

Design management

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Team coordination

Building codes knowledge

Communication

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree

Electrical Engineering degree

Architecture degree

Job description

Job Title: Data Centre Design Manager (Mechanical / Electrical / Architectural)

Location: Sydney, NSW

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

About the Role

We're working with a major global data centre operator to appoint a Design Manager to lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of design activities for new-build and expansion projects in Melbourne.

In this client-side role, you will oversee multidisciplinary design teams and external consultants to ensure facilities are delivered to the highest technical, operational, and sustainability standards. Youll manage the design process from early concept through detailed design, procurement, and construction supportbalancing performance, cost, schedule, and long-term operability.

The ideal candidate will have a background in mechanical, electrical, or architectural design, with significant experience delivering complex, large-scale building projectsideally in mission-critical, industrial, healthcare, or high-technology environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the complete design process for new data centre builds and major fit-out projects.
• Oversee mechanical, electrical, architectural, and structural design inputs to ensure full integration and compliance with project requirements.
• Manage external design consultants and engineering teams, ensuring deliverables meet scope, budget, and schedule.
• Ensure designs comply with internal standards, local building codes, and applicable Tier III/IV data centre requirements.
• Facilitate design reviews, value engineering, and constructability assessments.
• Coordinate with project management, construction, and operations teams to ensure seamless transition from design to build.
• Support procurement activities by reviewing technical specifications and tender documentation.
• Maintain design documentation, approvals, and change management records throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills & Experience

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architecture, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years experience in building design, with at least 5 years in a design management or project leadership role.
• Strong understanding of building services integration, redundancy requirements, and operational considerations.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams across design, engineering, and construction.
• Deep knowledge of Australian building codes, standards, and statutory approvals.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, coordination, and communication skills.

Whats on Offer

• Senior client-side leadership role in a fast-growing global operator.
• Opportunity to shape the design of next-generation hyperscale data centres.
• Work on some of the largest and most technically advanced facilities in the APAC region.
• Competitive package with long-term career progression in the mission-critical infrastructure sector.