Director Technical Design - Data Centre

Gough Recruitment; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Gough Recruitment is partnering with a leading data centre and critical infrastructure business to appoint a Technical Lead / Director (Architecture) for APAC projects. Based in Sydney or Melbourne, you will provide technical leadership and oversee architectural solutions across new builds.

You will review designs, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, ensure constructable delivery from design through construction, and manage regulatory compliance and stakeholder coordination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or Architectural Engineering; professional registration/chartered status preferred.
• 10–15+ years in architectural design/management for newbuild or infrastructure projects (data centre/mission-critical highly desirable).
• Strong knowledge of building codes, design coordination, systems integration, constructability reviews.
• Proficient in Revit, AutoCAD, and ACC/BIM 360 workflows.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and coordination under schedule pressure.

Responsibilities

• Architectural design oversight with compliance to codes and best practice.
• Review and approve architectural drawings, specifications, and design packages.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams from design through construction.
• Identify risks early and drive value engineering and QA/QC improvements.
• Escalate critical issues affecting scope, cost, quality, or schedule.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Project coordination

Constructability reviews

Building codes

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture/Architectural Engineering or related field

Professional registration or Chartered status preferred

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

ACC/BIM 360 workflows

Job description

Technical Lead / Director (Architecture) — Data Centre Projects (APAC)

Job Summary

Provide technical leadership and design oversight for architectural solutions across newbuild data centre developments and critical infrastructure in APAC. Based in Sydney or Melbourne you will act as the primary architectural representative — reviewing designs, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring compliant, constructable delivery of complex architectural packages from design through construction.

Responsibilities

Architectural Design Oversight

• Review and provide technical guidance on architectural designs, drawings, specifications, and development plans for compliance with project requirements, codes, and best practice.
• Review and approve architectural documentation including drawings, technical submissions, specifications, and design packages.
• Support design reviews with continual input to optimise solutions, improve constructability, and enhance project outcomes.

Project Delivery & Quality

• Monitor design and construction progress to ensure adherence to approved designs, specifications, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify design, coordination, and construction risks early; recommend practical solutions to mitigate delays, cost impacts, and quality issues.
• Drive value engineering, design optimisation, and QA/QC process improvements.
• Escalate critical issues affecting scope, cost, quality, or schedule and support timely resolution.
• Maintain records of design changes, issues, and decisions; ensure timely review, closure, and documentation of deliverables.

Stakeholder & Regulatory Coordination

• Act as primary point of contact for all architectural matters across clients, consultants, contractors, and internal teams (Structural, MEP, Controls, EHS, Security).
• Oversee compliance with local building regulations, planning requirements, and environmental standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering, or a related field; professional registration or Chartered status preferred.
• 10 - 15+ years in architectural design/management for newbuild or infrastructure fit-out projects (data centre or mission-critical experience highly desirable).
• Strong knowledge of building codes, design coordination, systems integration, and constructability reviews.
• Proficient in Revit, AutoCAD, and ACC/BIM 360 workflows.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and project coordination skills; able to manage multiple deliverables under schedule pressure.
• Full fluency in English