Principal Design Manager

Skilled Careers; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension

Healthcare

Bonus opportunities

Training and professional development

Holiday purchase scheme

Wellness initiatives

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Skilled Careers is seeking a Principal Design Manager to lead multidisciplinary design teams on data centre and technology projects from pre-contract through delivery. The role focuses on programme, quality, and commercial targets, with strong client and stakeholder engagement.

The position requires a BEng or equivalent, CEng/ChPP membership, and 10+ years of senior engineering experience in data centres or similar environments. Hybrid working and excellent career progression are offered.

Qualifications

• BEng or equivalent engineering qualification.
• CEng or ChPP with professional membership such as MCIBSE, MIET/MIEE or IMechE.
• 10+ years' experience at Senior Engineer level or above.
• Strong design management experience in data centres or complex environments.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing design coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams on complex data centre/technology projects.
• Manage projects from pre-contract through delivery, ensuring programme, quality and commercial targets are met.
• Develop design programmes, deliverables and project milestones.
• Manage clients, consultants, contractors and sub-consultants.
• Monitor progress, identify risks and manage design coordination.
• Chair project and design team meetings.
• Oversee quality, technical compliance, contractual requirements and Health & Safety.
• Mentor and develop team members.
• Support business development and commercial/project management activities.

Skills

Leadership

Client-facing

Design management

Communication

Mentoring

Travel willingness

Education

BEng or equivalent

CEng or ChPP with MCIBSE/MIET/MIEE/IMEchE

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Project

Job description

Principal Design Manager – Data Centres

Location: London, Bicester or Newcastle upon Tyne

Type: Permanent, Full-time

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

A leading international M&E consultancy is seeking a Principal Design Manager to join its growing Data Centre and Technology team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams on complex data centre/technology projects.
• Manage projects from pre-contract through delivery, ensuring programme, quality and commercial targets are met.
• Develop design programmes, deliverables and project milestones.
• Manage clients, consultants, contractors and sub-consultants.
• Monitor progress, identify risks and manage design coordination.
• Chair project and design team meetings.
• Oversee quality, technical compliance, contractual requirements and Health & Safety.
• Mentor and develop team members.
• Support business development and commercial/project management activities.

Requirements

• BEng or equivalent engineering qualification.
• CEng or ChPP with professional membership such as MCIBSE, MIET/MIEE or IMechE.
• 10+ years' experience at Senior Engineer level or above.
• Strong design management experience, ideally within data centres, technology or complex environments.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering high-value projects.
• Strong client-facing, communication and leadership skills.
• Good understanding of UK regulations, standards, design processes and project programming.
• Commercial awareness and experience managing project fees.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Microsoft Project or similar.
• Willingness to travel as required.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Hybrid working
• 23-28 days' annual leave
• Pension and healthcare
• Bonus opportunities
• Training and professional development
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Wellness initiatives
• Collaborative environment with strong career progression opportunities