Associate Electrical Director: Data Centres

AECOM; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM is seeking an experienced Electrical Associate Director in the UK to lead the technical delivery of data centre projects and mentor cross‑border teams across EMEA. The role focuses on strategy, client engagement and winning work within a fast‑growing market.

You will own electrical design from feasibility to handover, define power architectures, coordinate interfaces and drive decarbonization across projects while ensuring compliance with global standards.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering electrical design across data centre projects.
• Strong ability to lead and develop technical teams.
• Proven client facing and business development capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Own electrical design across feasibility, concept, scheme, and detailed design, through procurement support, construction, commissioning, and handover.
• Define and validate power architectures (utility intake, MV/LV distribution, UPS, generators, switchgear, PDUs, STS, busway, lighting).
• Lead power systems studies and protection design (load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, arc‑flash, harmonic analysis) using ETAP/SKM or equivalent.
• Coordinate multi‑disciplinary interfaces to deliver integrated designs (mechanical, structural, fire/life safety, ICT).
• Embed decarbonization and energy efficiency strategies (high‑efficiency UPS, on‑site renewables, demand response).
• Ensure compliance with IEC/BS/EN and NEC/NFPA standards and client specifications.

Skills

Hyperscale / multi-site program

Electrical project delivery

Client facing / work winning

Team leadership / mentoring

Power systems knowledge

Mechanical interface awareness

Commercial acumen / project financials

Communication skills (written/verbal)

UK/DC domain experience

Job description

Company Description
Work with Us. Change the World.
At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.
There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.
We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

Working in our Data Centres Market Sector, you will be an ambassador in the data centre community externally across EMEA and internally within AECOM Europe and globally.
With experience in technical delivery of data centre projects for tech firms and a strong track record in tech firm business development you will lead a team of technical experts across the UK and work closely with our global colleagues in the Data Centre sector.
Due to the continued successful growth and expansion of our Technology / Data Centre Sector, we are looking for an experienced Electrical Associate Director to join us!
You will be responsible for driving the technical excellence, quality, and mentoring teams while shaping strategy, winning work, and delivering resilient, efficient, and low‑carbon outcomes for our clients.

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Own electrical design across feasibility, concept, scheme, and detailed design, through procurement support, construction, commissioning, and handover.
• Define and validate power architectures (utility intake, MV/LV distribution, UPS topologies, generators, switchgear, PDUs, STS, busway, earthing, and lighting).
• Lead power systems studies and protection design (load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, arc‑flash, harmonic analysis) using tools such as ETAP/SKM.
• Integrate monitoring and controls (BMS/EPMS/SCADA), metering strategies, and resilience features aligned to availability objectives (e.g., Tier II–IV).
• Embed decarbonization and energy efficiency (high‑efficiency UPS, advanced controls, heat recovery, demand response, on‑site renewables, and grid‑interactive strategies).
• Assure compliance with applicable standards and codes (e.g., IEC/BS/EN and/or NEC/NFPA), client specifications, and AECOM quality procedures.
• Coordinate multi‑disciplinary interfaces (mechanical, structural, architectural, fire/life safety, security, ICT) to deliver fully integrated designs.

Qualifications

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Hyperscale and/or multi‑site program experience, including fast‑track and design‑build environments.
• Strong career background in the delivery of Electrical project work across Data Centres and Mission Critical Environments.
• Proven experience of leading DC project work streams in UK & preferably across EMEA.
• Demonstrable client facing and work winning experience.
• Able to demonstrate excellent team leadership and development capability.
• Detailed Knowledge of Mechanical design, engineering practices, techniques and procedures for Data Centres and how it ultimately interfaces with the client.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience in managing project financials.
• Ability to communicate internally and externally through excellent written and verbal skills
• A good financial understanding of projects and the requirements needed to ensure the success of a Project

Additional Information

We celebrate diversity, including neurodiversity, and believe it enriches our team. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities. If you are an applicant with a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us at [e-mail]
At AECOM, we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives.
If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you
If you meet some of the requirements above or have transferable skills you believe would benefit us, we would be delighted to hear from you!
We are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public‑and‑private‑sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.
You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.
AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well‑being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.
Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry‑leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long‑term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. Please let us know using this email address [e-mail] if you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
ReqID: REF59374X
Business Line: Building Engineering
Business Group:
Strategic Business Unit:
Career Area: Engineering
Work Location Model: Hybrid