Senior Principal - Mission Critical Facilities (Data Centers)

DMC Recruitment; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

DMC Recruitment seeks a Senior Principal to lead Canada’s Mission Critical Facilities practice, guiding design, planning, and delivery of major data center projects—from strategy through execution. You will mentor teams, drive client relationships, and shape the practice across the country.

You will spearhead business development, pursue strategic opportunities, and engage with industry leaders to advance resilience, sustainability, and innovation in data centers.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in Mission Critical - Data Center Facilities.
• Professional registration (P.Eng., Registered Architect, or equivalent).
• Proven ability to lead large, complex multidisciplinary projects.
• Strong leadership, communication, and client‑facing capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of complex Mission Critical Facilities projects across Canada and internationally.
• Serve as Project Director or Technical Lead on major engagements.
• Drive strategic market growth and develop executive client relationships.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

Client relationships

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering/Architecture

Job description

Senior Principal - Mission Critical Facilities (Data Centers)

We are seeking an accomplished industry leader to help shape the future of our Mission Critical Facilities (MCF) sector across Canada. This senior leadership role is ideal for a recognized technical expert in the planning, design, and delivery of mission critical - data facilities—including hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and edge data centers—who combines deep technical expertise with strong business acumen and a passion for developing people.

Grow with the Best

As a Senior Principal, you will play a pivotal role in expanding presence in this rapidly growing MCF market. Acting as both a project leader and trusted advisor, you will lead complex, high-profile projects, cultivate strategic client relationships, drive major pursuits, and contribute to the continued growth of our national practice. You will also serve as a mentor and thought leader, inspiring multidisciplinary teams.

While preferred office locations may be identified, this opportunity is open to qualified candidates across Canada.

Your Impact

As a national leader within our Mission Critical - Data Facilities practice, you will:

• Lead the successful delivery of complex, multidisciplinary mission critical facility projects from strategy and planning through design and execution.
• Serve as a senior technical advisor and subject matter expert for clients, project teams, and leadership across Canada.
• Drive strategic market growth by identifying emerging opportunities, developing client relationships, and positioning as a trusted advisor in the data center industry.
• Lead major pursuits and provide strategic direction for Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Statements of Qualifications (SOQs), Expressions of Interest (EOIs), and other business development initiatives.
• Represent at executive-level client meetings, industry conferences, and professional organizations while promoting our technical excellence and innovation.
• Mentor and develop the next generation of technical leaders, fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning across multidisciplinary teams.
• Champion integrated, sustainable, and resilient design solutions that deliver long-term value for clients.

Key Responsibilities

Client Leadership & Project Delivery

• Lead the planning, design, and delivery of major Mission Critical Facilities projects throughout Canada and internationally, as appropriate.
• Serve as Project Director, Technical Lead, Principal-in-Charge, or Strategic Advisor on complex engagements.
• Partner with project managers and technical discipline leaders to achieve successful project outcomes, including quality, schedule, profitability, client satisfaction, and operational performance.
• Provide senior technical guidance on complex design, operational, and infrastructure challenges unique to mission critical environments.
• Contribute strategic content and technical expertise to key client engagements and project deliverables.
• Inspire teams to deliver innovative, resilient, and sustainable solutions that exceed client expectations.
• Mentor and coach emerging leaders while reinforcing a culture of technical excellence.

Business Development & Market Growth

• Develop and execute strategies to expand Mission Critical Facilities practice across Canada.
• Lead and participate in strategic pursuits, interviews, and client presentations for major opportunities.
• Build lasting relationships with hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, institutional, and public-sector clients.
• Identify emerging market trends, competitive positioning, and growth opportunities to strengthen leadership in the sector.
• Collaborate with regional, national, and global leaders to pursue opportunities across geographies and disciplines.
• Contribute to annual business planning, sector strategy, forecasting, and revenue growth initiatives.
• Support successful project execution by remaining actively engaged in client development, project leadership, and strategic decision-making.

Thought Leadership & Industry Engagement

• Strengthen reputation as a leader in Mission Critical - Data Center Facilities through active participation in industry organizations, conferences, and professional networks.
• Present at conferences, author technical papers, and contribute thought leadership on emerging technologies, sustainability, resilience, digital infrastructure, and data center innovation.
• Partner with Marketing and Business Development teams to elevate the brand through publications, speaking engagements, awards, and public relations opportunities.
• Monitor industry trends, regulatory developments, and evolving client needs to inform business strategy and technical direction.
• Foster knowledge sharing across practices and support continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Architecture, or another relevant technical discipline.
• Professional registration in your field (P.Eng., Registered Architect, or equivalent).
• 15+ years of progressive experience in Mission Critical - Data Center Facilities, with significant involvement in data center planning, design, delivery, or operations.
• Recognized industry leader with an established reputation within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.
• Demonstrated success leading large, complex, multidisciplinary Mission Critical Facilities projects.
• Strong understanding of current and emerging trends within the data center industry, including hyperscale, colocation, cloud infrastructure, AI infrastructure, resiliency, and sustainability.
• Proven experience developing and maintaining executive-level client relationships and growing consulting business opportunities.
• Extensive experience leading proposals, qualifications, interviews, and major project pursuits.
• Demonstrated ability to identify market opportunities and develop strategies that drive sustainable business growth.
• Excellent leadership, communication, collaboration, and presentation skills.
• Passion for mentoring technical professionals and developing high-performing teams.

Preferred

• Experience delivering projects for hyperscale cloud providers, colocation developers, enterprise clients, or mission critical operators.
• National or international industry recognition through speaking engagements, publications, professional committees, or leadership positions.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple offices and geographic regions.

Compensation: $180-250K/annum