Principal Electrical Engineer

NES Fircroft; Paris; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft in Paris, France is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to lead electrical design for data centre projects. You will guide multidisciplinary teams, coordinate with clients and contractors, and ensure high-quality, compliant solutions throughout concept to construction.

The role demands extensive data centre experience, strong leadership, and excellent communication to drive critical power systems and resilient infrastructure across major projects in France and Europe.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience in electrical building services design, ideally in data centres or mission-critical environments.
• Previous experience operating at Principal Engineer/Lead Electrical Engineer or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of critical power systems and resilient infrastructure.
• Experience delivering complex electrical designs across multiple project stages.
• Familiarity with French and European electrical regulations and standards.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and reviewing technical deliverables.
• Strong communication, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Professional proficiency in English; French language skills advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead electrical engineering design of data centre and mission-critical projects from concept through detailed design and construction.
• Oversee electrical design deliverables, ensuring technical quality and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and review electrical calculations, drawings, specifications, and equipment schedules.
• Provide technical leadership to engineers and design team members.
• Coordinate electrical systems with mechanical, structural and architectural teams.
• Support design of critical power infrastructure including MV/LV distribution, transformers, generators, UPS, switchgear, and related infrastructure.
• Review contractor submissions, proposals, equipment selections and design changes.
• Attend client meetings, design reviews, and project coordination meetings.
• Identify and resolve complex engineering challenges and manage technical risks.
• Support commissioning activities, site inspections, and issue resolution; build strong client relationships.

Skills

Senior electrical design

Multidisciplinary coordination

Client liaison

English proficiency

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Job description

Principal Electrical Engineer – Data Centres Location: Paris, France Employment Type: Permanent

About the Opportunity An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Principal Electrical Engineer to join a growing engineering consultancy specialising in the design and delivery of complex, mission-critical facilities, including large-scale data centre developments.

Based in Paris, you will play a key role in leading electrical engineering design across major data centre projects, working closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, clients, contractors and other project stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

This position would suit a technically strong electrical engineering professional with significant data centre experience who is comfortable taking ownership of design delivery, providing technical leadership and supporting the continued growth of a specialist engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the electrical engineering design of data centre and other mission-critical projects from concept through detailed design and construction.
• Oversee electrical design deliverables, ensuring technical quality, compliance with relevant codes and standards, and alignment with project specifications.
• Develop and review electrical design calculations, drawings, specifications, technical reports and equipment schedules.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to electrical engineers and other members of the design team.
• Coordinate electrical systems with mechanical, structural, architectural and other multidisciplinary design teams.
• Support the design of critical power infrastructure, including MV/LV distribution, transformers, generators, UPS systems, switchgear, power distribution and associated infrastructure.
• Review contractor submissions, technical proposals, equipment selections and design changes throughout project delivery.
• Attend client meetings, design reviews, technical workshops and project coordination meetings.
• Identify and resolve complex engineering challenges, managing technical risks and ensuring design solutions meet performance, resilience and operational requirements.
• Support commissioning activities, site inspections and technical issue resolution where required.Build and maintain strong client relationships, contributing to project delivery, repeat business and the development of new opportunities.

Candidate Requirements

• Degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience in electrical building services design, ideally within data centres or other mission-critical environments.
• Previous experience operating at Principal Engineer, Lead Electrical Engineer or an equivalent senior technical level.
• Strong knowledge of critical power systems, electrical distribution and resilient infrastructure.
• Experience delivering complex electrical designs across multiple project stages, from concept and feasibility through detailed design and construction.
• Familiarity with relevant French and European electrical regulations, standards and design practices.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering teams and reviewing technical deliverables.
• Strong communication, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Professional proficiency in English; French language skills would be advantageous.
• The ability to engage confidently with clients, contractors and project stakeholders while maintaining high technical standards.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to take on a senior technical position within a specialist engineering consultancy, contributing to significant data centre developments in France and potentially across wider European markets.

You will have the opportunity to influence engineering solutions, lead complex electrical design packages, mentor developing engineers and build strong relationships with key stakeholders across the data centre sector.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturingsectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.