Private Equity Data Center Design Director

Clear.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

London-based Private Equity firm seeks a Design Director (Mechanical) to lead feasibility, manage multi-disciplinary teams, and drive design decisions from concept to permitting for large-scale data center projects.

The role requires deep cooling system expertise, BMS experience, and strong client engagement with hyperscale accounts. Based in London, the position supports growth and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 5 years in data center design with relevant professional status preferred.
• Deep expertise in cooling systems, chiller plants, heat rejection, redundancy, and energy efficiency.
• Experience with BMS, ventilation, fire suppression; knowledge of prefabrication is a plus.
• Proficient in AutoCAD and/or Revit for drafting and spatial analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead feasibility and diligence for data center site evaluation including zoning and permitting.
• Manage multi-disciplinary teams of consultants, architects, and engineers across regions.
• Drive concept development and presenting narratives to stakeholders.
• Guide design decisions and milestones through permitting completion.
• Develop technical design standards to optimize development cycles.
• Engage with hyperscale clients to translate criteria into design requirements.
• Provide commercial reporting and assess financial impact of design choices.

Skills

Data center design

Project leadership

Stakeholder communication

Energy efficiency optimization

Mechanical systems knowledge

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

London - EMEA Region Fantastic opportunity for a Design Director (Mechanical) to help propel the next chapter of growth for a Private Equity firm managing an investment fund of over $10 billion.

Responsibilities

• Lead project feasibility and diligence activities by evaluating zoning, utility infrastructure, permitting, and environmental risks for prospective data center sites.
• Assemble, manage, and oversee multi-disciplinary teams of local and global consultants, architects, and engineers to mitigate delivery risk.
• Drive concept development and scoping by creating well-communicated presentations and narratives for internal and external stakeholders.
• Act as the primary contact for design management, guiding design decisions, team meetings, and milestones through to permitting completion.
• Develop and maintain technical design standards that capture industry mechanical engineering preferences and optimize project development cycles.
• Engage directly with target hyperscale clients to support sales requests and translate their technical criteria into specific project design requirements.
• Provide commercial reporting and support, actively assessing the financial impact of technically led design decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 5 years of data center design experience, with registered, licensed, or chartered status preferred.
• Deep technical expertise in cooling system design, chiller plants, heat rejection, mechanical redundancy, and energy efficiency optimization.
• Extensive experience with building management systems (BMS), ventilation, fire suppression, and mechanical prefabrication techniques.
• Proficiency in drafting and spatial analysis utilizing AutoCAD and/or Revit.
• Proven experience operating within multi-disciplinary design teams and overseeing the construction document development process.
• Demonstrated knowledge of core EMEA data center markets, local codes, ordinances, and development standards.