VP Technical/Design

Data eXec; Madrid; On-site; EUR 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Data eXec is seeking a VP Technical for a client that develops data centre campuses, taking sites from screening to powered, ready-to-build land. You will own the technical definition that makes a site sellable.

You will lead the owner-side design, write the basis of design, oversee feasibility studies, and coordinate with development and a small team to ensure design freezes align with investment decisions.

Qualifications

• Owner-side DC design lead experience on campus/hyperscale projects.
• Strong MEP background.
• Track record of taking at least two DC campuses from concept to permitted design.
• Deep understanding of high-density compute and advanced cooling.
• European permitting exposure.
• Degree in mechanical or electrical engineering; chartered status or advanced degree a plus.
• Fluent English; other European languages a plus.

Responsibilities

• Write the basis of design for every site.
• Act as owner's engineer: write the brief, challenge consultants, sign off output.
• Ensure every site has a test fit and feasibility study.
• Maintain design freeze until a named customer or final investment decision.
• Be the technical counterpart on the energy island, translating data centre loads into specs.
• Build technical guidelines and templates so no site starts from a blank sheet.
• Oversee enabling works to power-ready.
• Back the development-to-delivery gate and investment committee with technical budget and schedule.
• Work side by side with Development, and lead a small team including the data centre design manager and the construction manager.

Skills

DC design leadership

MEP engineering

Budget accountability

Team leadership

High-density compute & cooling

European permitting exposure

Fluent English

Education

Degree in mechanical or electrical engineering

Chartered status or advanced degree

Job description

VP Technical | Data Centre Campus Development |

We’re hiring a VP Technical for a client who develop data centre campuses and take sites from screening to powered, ready-to-build land.

The role is simple to describe and hard to do. You own the technical definition that makes a site sellable.

This is not about designing a building. It’s about the envelope: buildable MW, density range, cooling approach, setbacks, substation position, fibre routes. Get it right and a permit gets granted and a buyer can underwrite the deal. Get it wrong and the site stalls.

What you’ll do

• Write the basis of design for every site
• Act as owner’s engineer. Write the brief, challenge the consultants, sign off the output
• Make sure every site has a test fit and a feasibility study
• Hold the line on design freeze until there is a named customer or a final investment decision
• Be the technical counterpart on the energy island, turning data centre load profiles into specifications
• Build the technical guidelines and templates so no site starts from a blank sheet
• Oversee the enabling works to power-ready
• Back the development-to-delivery gate and investment committee with technical budget and schedule
• Work side by side with Development, and lead a small team including the data centre design manager and the construction manager

What you bring

• Owner-side data centre design lead experience at a colocation or hyperscale developer, or a top-tier consultancy lead who has moved client-side and carried budget accountability
• A strong MEP background.
• At least two data centre campuses taken from concept to a permitted, priced design
• Deep understanding of high-density compute and advanced cooling, and the appetite to introduce new technology with limited precedent
• European permitting exposure
• A degree in mechanical, electrical or a related engineering discipline. Chartered status or an advanced degree is a plus
• Fluent English. Other European languages are a plus