Data Center Architect

MICROSOFT OPERATIONS PTE LTD; Singapore; On-site; SGD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cloud-based company in Singapore seeks a passionate Architect to support data center projects. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in architecture and engineering, specifically in critical infrastructure. Responsibilities include providing architectural designs, managing multiple projects, and collaborating with stakeholders. Familiarity with CAD, Revit, and building codes is essential. This role offers a chance to impact cloud infrastructure positively in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in architecture/engineering due diligence.
• Experience leading large-scale critical infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of building codes and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide architectural designs and reviews for data centers.
• Manage multiple projects, ensuring quality and efficiency.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Architectural design

Technical evaluation

Project management

Customer service

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture

Tools

CAD

Revit

Sketchup

Bluebeam

BIM Software

Job description

Overview

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO&I) is the team behind the cloud. Within CO&I, the Data Center Engineering (DCE) team is responsible for delivering core data center infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud business. The Microsoft portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large scale, multi-year data center construction and lease projects. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help build the cloud data centers that power the world’s largest online services.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will initially be working closely & directly under the supervision of the APAC Architectural Lead, and upon successful onboarding there will be opportunities for the candidate to be directly accountable for selected project(s) delivery & drive individual impact.

The successful candidate must also demonstrate technical competency in the areas of architectural design & documentation and be capable to drive the design of all aspects of the physical networking infrastructure effectively and efficiently during design and address any design-related issues that arise during construction for all Microsoft datacenters/co-location facilities.

The successful Candidate will work with Datacenter Operations and partner on standards, requirements, and materials as specified; Support design workgroups and support cross-functional meetings for multiple, concurrent capital projects, collaborate in the understanding of site constraints and development of investigate test fits as well as execute level campus plans. This individual will be tasked to manage issues, decisions and risks, drive initiatives to improve the efficiency and quality to scale with the growth of Microsoft. As a critical thinker, the successful candidate will develop SOWs and design documents, then review and critically evaluate bids and options for projects; and be able to evaluate operational impacts, deployment, and implementation challenges associated with design implementation for both Microsoft Owned facilities and Lease sites; technical lead on architecture requirements and master planning impacts for special, non-conforming projects, retrofits, refreshes, and other duties as assigned.

This Architect Subject Matter Expert (SME) will work closely with the project team to provide design review and guidance, have strong ability to undertake technical evaluation, and coordinated design direction for data center design, permitting, construction and site selection, due diligence, and master planning. The Architect SME will work on multiple projects and collaborate with key Microsoft stakeholders, authorities having jurisdiction as well as external A/E consultants and contractors that specialize in datacenter builds to ensure that Microsoft’s data center technical design standards and quality are met. The successful candidate will provide architectural support for investigate test fits and execute level test fits, provide architectural technical reviews and oversight for new data center designs, builds, leases, and renovations in addition to civil and structural technical support for site selection, due diligence, master planning and permitting.

Candidate will have critical facility design experience, working knowledge of architecture design standards, experience site selection and due diligence and master planning for data centers, and design and peer review experience. This position requires a collaborative architect who can demonstrate technical expertise combined with the ability to effectively communicate results of technical design reviews and direction to our A/E partners for multiple and concurrent data center design projects.

• Provide architectural support in the review and production of site plans to be used in the site selection process.
• Provide data center architectural designs and reviews (Specifications, Drawings, and Schedules) within CAD and/or Revit drawings and / or direction to A/E firms for outside design work.
• Highly organized and able to oversee concurrent projects and focus under pressure.
• Structured thinking and logic with very strong analytical skills.
• Strong customer service focus, with the ability to communicate with highly technical management teams.
• Creative approach to problem solving and ability to think out of the box.
• Collaboration with Global Technical Governance team, Global Strategy teams and DCE Operations Team to utilize Base of Design documentation to create and/or oversee the creation of the datacenter designs from basis of design (BOD) to issue for constructions (IFC) and through the Construction Administration phase of datacenter until handover for new DC project build-outs, leases, special projects and / or network upgrades.
• Collaboration with internal & external customers, lead project specific network technical delivery & oversee the delivery of multiple, concurrent, complete Datacenter design solutions aligned with the scopes, schedules and budgets of the projects with a focus on architecture.
• Partner directly with cross organizational teams such as engineering design teams, delivery teams, operations teams, contractors, and suppliers.
• Provide guidance to staff augmentation A/Es.
• Remote site support for construction teams.
• Site visits (in person or virtual as needed) to review all stages of the construction and ensure quality is being maintained.
• Support and undertake internal technical evaluations.
• Ability to use visual/graphical tools (i.e. sketch-up, CAD, REVIT, PPT etc.) to produce illustration for technical discussions/evaluations.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture
• Practiced as an Architect in architecture/design consulting firm with experience in design development
• Experience in navigating in CAD, Revit, Sketchup, Bluebeam and BIM software for drawing review and development of conceptual level master plans during site selection and early design phases
• In process of becoming a registered Professional Architect
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail and maintain high quality standards
• Ability to lead teams of engineers in advanced engineering and operational processes and procedures as they relate to large datacenter environments
• Ability to work on multiple projects of varying timelines while managing project expectations
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in architecture/engineering due diligence with experience leading large-scale critical infrastructure projects as the lead
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in due diligence for greenfield, brownfield, retrofit and expansion of large-scale facilities including and not limited to geotechnical report analysis, topographic and boundary survey review, Codeovenant/Restriction and coordination with Authorities Having Jurisdiction and utility capacity constraint review
• Ability to perform complex business case analysis to justify technical decisions
• Knowledge of building codes and regulations, safety standards, and industry standards
• Experience working in high critical environment projects (healthcare, enterprise, large retail, critical environments, healthcare, government etc.)
• Lead and manage due diligence efforts with external and internal stakeholders
• Ability to prepare and present using MS Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel including effective reporting/presentations of project information
• Able to travel domestically and internationally

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with ground-up construction, greenfield and brownfield site development requirements.
• Experience and working knowledge in land acquisition, seismic zoning, planning, permitting and development
• Action-oriented with a passion for getting things done quickly, efficiently, and effectively.
• Ability to balance varying responsibilities that span rhythm of business, communications, executive management, and culture.

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.