Technical Design Lead - Data Centres

AECOM; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Job summary

AECOM in Manchester is seeking a highly experienced Technical Design Lead to drive the design and delivery of hyperscale data centre projects across Europe, leading multi-disciplinary teams and maintaining strong client relationships.

This client-facing, hands-on role oversees all design phases from site due diligence through construction documentation, ensuring timely, high-quality outputs while mitigating risk and driving compliant execution.

Qualifications

• Chartered Engineer or Architect or equivalent qualification.
• Extensive data centre design or project management experience.
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary design teams on complex projects.
• Strong knowledge of permitting, building systems, regulations and construction methods.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines; willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Lead multi-disciplinary design teams across UKI and Europe.
• Oversee all phases from due diligence to construction documentation.
• Ensure timely, high-quality design outputs meeting client requirements.
• Identify and mitigate project risks with innovative solutions.
• Support commercial governance and client relationships; interface with Client CAM.
• Present to clients and stakeholders ensuring timely delivery; collaborate with local teams.

Skills

Leadership

Client liaison

Communication

Presentation

Project management

Education

Architecture/Engineering degree

Tools

Revit

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

We are seeking a experienced and technically proficient Technical Design Lead to join our dynamic and multidisciplinary data centre team. This role is pivotal in leading the design and delivery of complex hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data centre projects across Europe. You will be responsible for managing multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring technical excellence, and maintaining strong client relationships.

This is a client-facing, hands‑on delivery role with opportunity for career progression, working on high‑profile, fast‑paced projects with global clients.

As part of this role, regular travel across our UK&I + European offices will be expected.

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Lead and coordinate multi-disciplinary design teams (Architecture, Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Security, Fire Protection, ICT, BMS/EPMS) across UKI and Europe.
• Oversee all phases of data centre projects from site due diligence, campus planning, conceptual/schematic/detailed design through to construction documentation.
• Ensure timely delivery of high-quality design outputs that meet client requirements and project timelines.
• Identify and mitigate project risks early, providing innovative and practical solutions.
• Support on the wider Sector and Commercial teams on commercial and contractual governance, ensuring compliance and risk mitigation.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with key clients and interface with Client CAM
• Present to clients and stakeholders, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery output.
• Collaborate with design teams and local delivery teams to ensure localisation and permitting compliance.
• Respond to client requirements in a timely manner.

Qualifications

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Chartered Engineer or Architect (or equivalent professional qualification).
• Extensive experience in data centre design and/or project management.
• Proven experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams on complex data centre projects.
• Strong understanding of permitting processes, building systems, regulations, and construction methodologies.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Willingness to travel as required.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree in Architecture, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Uptime Institute Accredited Tier Designer or Accredited Tier Professional.
• Working knowledge of Revit and digital design workflows.
• A clear work history and proof of professional development and learning.

Additional Information

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.

At AECOM, 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.

ReqID:

J10157152

Business Line:

B&P - Buildings & Places

Business Group:

DCS

Strategic Business Unit:

Europe & India

Career Area:

Engineering

Work Location Model:

Hybrid