Principal Design Manager – Data Centers

Hunter Philips Executive Search; United States; Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision,

Life and disability coverage

401(k) with company match

Generous PTO and paid holidays

Job summary

Hunter Philips Executive Search seeks a Principal Design Manager for Data Center projects in the USA with flexible location. You will lead multidisciplinary design across hyperscale facilities from concept through construction and commissioning, coordinating architectural, civil, structural and MEP disciplines.

This role requires broad design leadership, strong stakeholder management and a proven track record delivering complex capital programs for major data center developments across the

Qualifications

• Significant design management experience within hyperscale data centers, mission-critical infrastructure or comparable complex developments.
• Broad engineering design proficiency across architectural, civil, structural and MEP interfaces.
• Experience directing multidisciplinary design teams through concept, detailed design, construction and commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design across major data center developments from concept through construction and commissioning.
• Own coordination across architectural, civil, structural, mechanical and electrical disciplines.
• Direct consultants, architects and engineering partners to drive design quality, programme and technical performance.
• Lead key design reviews and resolve interfaces and constructability challenges before they impact delivery.
• Partner with Development, Construction, Commercial, Commissioning and Operations to align design with project requirements.
• Drive standardisation, value engineering and lessons learned across projects.
• Maintain design authority through construction and commissioning, protecting design intent.
• Influence evolution of design standards across the portfolio.

Skills

Design management

Multidisciplinary leadership

Hyperscale data centers

Stakeholder leadership

Job description

Principal Design Manager – Data Center ¦ Hyperscale & Mission-Critical Infrastructure – USA (Flexible Location) ¦ $Excellent + Bonus + Full Benefits Package

Are you ready to take broader ownership of design across major hyperscale data center developments? Do you want to move beyond a single engineering discipline and lead the integration of architectural, civil, structural and MEP design from concept through delivery? Are you looking for a role with genuine technical authority and a clear path into senior design leadership? If so, read on...

The Company

An international data center infrastructure platform expanding its presence across the United States.

The business is developing large-scale digital infrastructure for increasingly power-intensive customer requirements, combining development, engineering, construction, and operational capability.

The Role

As Principal Design Manager, you will:

• Lead multidisciplinary design across major data center developments from concept through construction and commissioning
• Own coordination across architectural, civil, structural, mechanical and electrical disciplines
• Direct consultants, architects and engineering partners, driving design quality, programme and technical performance
• Lead key design reviews and decisions, resolving technical interfaces and constructability challenges before they impact delivery
• Partner with Development, Construction, Commercial, Commissioning and Operations to align design with project and operational requirements
• Drive standardisation, value engineering and lessons learned across projects
• Maintain design authority through construction and commissioning, protecting design intent and resolving critical field issues
• Influence the evolution of design standards across the wider portfolio

The Person

The successful candidate will likely bring:

• Significant design management experience within hyperscale data centers, mission-critical infrastructure or comparable complex developments
• Strong engineering expertise with the breadth to lead full multidisciplinary design rather than a single discipline
• Experience leading design through concept, detailed design, construction and commissioning
• Proven ability to direct multidisciplinary consultants, engineers and contractors on major capital projects
• Strong understanding of architectural, civil, structural and MEP interfaces
• The technical and commercial judgement to balance performance, programme, cost, constructability and operational requirements
• Strong stakeholder leadership with the credibility to influence senior internal teams and external delivery partners

Salary & Benefits

• Performance-based bonus
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability cover
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous PTO and paid holidays

Due to the continued growth of the North American portfolio, this role offers a clear opportunity to progress into broader design leadership as the organisation scales.