Senior Mission Critical Design Architect Owners Representative

The Talent Mine; United States; Hybrid; USD 167,960 - 227,240; Full time

Job summary

The Talent Mine is seeking a visionary Data Center Architect SME to act as Owner’s Representative for advanced facilities. This 12-month contract offers a path to full-time based on performance, with remote or hybrid work from partner offices.

You will guide building designs, enforce standards, review life safety and core systems, and collaborate with design consultants, contractors, and internal teams. Strong data center and mission-critical experience required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or closely related field.
• 7+ years of experience in architectural design for large-scale facilities.
• Strong understanding of building systems, life safety, and code compliance.
• Experience with owner’s rep or project oversight is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Owner’s Representative: Serve as the Owner’s architectural SME and technical advisor through all phases of the project lifecycle.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner with internal stakeholder groups, design consultants, construction management firms, and general contractors to administer design documents and enforce Owner standards.
• Design Oversight: Provide technical guidance and rigorous reviews of architectural work packages, specifically focusing on life safety/egress, ADA compliance, signage, site layout, and core data center building design.
• Standards & Innovation: Author and refine architectural design guidelines, campus planning standards, and prototypical building templates.
• Milestone Reviews: Audit design consultant deliverables at key milestones, providing detailed peer‑review comments on Basis of Design (BOD), 30%, 65%, and 100% documentation.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Tools

BIM / Revit

Job description

The Talent Mine has been hired to find a visionary Data Center Architect SME to act as the Owner’s Representative for some of the most complex facilities on earth. You will provide architectural vision and technical oversight for facilities that define how the future lives.

This engagement is a 12-month contract with a defined path to become a full-time role (FTE) based on excellent performance.

Location

Remote or hybrid from a partner / affiliate office.

Pay Rate

Starting at $95/hr DOE

Travel Requirements

Less than 5%

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Data Center Architect with proven experience in data center building planning and design.

In this role, you will act as the key Subject Matter Expert (SME) for mission‑critical data center building systems. You will collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams to guide building designs, enforce Owner standards, and address construction issues and substitutions. A strong understanding of large‑scale mission‑critical facilities and common data center building systems is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Owner’s Representative: Serve as the Owner’s architectural SME and technical advisor through all phases of the project lifecycle.

• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner with internal stakeholder groups, design consultants, construction management firms, and general contractors to administer design documents and enforce Owner standards.

• Design Oversight: Provide technical guidance and rigorous reviews of architectural work packages, specifically focusing on life safety/egress, ADA compliance, signage, site layout, and core data center building design.

• Standards & Innovation: Author and refine architectural design guidelines, campus planning standards, and prototypical building templates.

• Milestone Reviews: Audit design consultant deliverables at key milestones, providing detailed peer‑review comments on Basis of Design (BOD), 30%, 65%, and 100% documentation.

Key Deliverables

You will be responsible for authoring and reviewing a wide range of technical project documentation, including:

• Architectural Scopes of Work (SOW), design guidelines, and standard operating procedures.
• Comprehensive drawing markups, spatial fit‑checks, and concept designs.
• Material substitution reviews and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) architectural inputs.
• Building envelope specifications, submittal approvals, and construction punch‑list resolutions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or a closely related design field.
• 7+ years of experience in architectural design, with a focus on large‑scale industrial, commercial, or mission‑critical facilities.
• Strong understanding of complex building systems, including high‑performance building envelopes, structural coordination, and life safety/fire‑rated assemblies.
• Expert knowledge of relevant building codes (e.g., IBC), zoning regulations, ADA compliance, and local planning frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional architectural consulting or design experience as an Owner’s Rep.
• Direct design experience with data center infrastructure, command centers, or massive‑scale utility yards.
• Proven experience managing large‑scale campus master planning, site massing, and complex space‑programming challenges.
• Advanced proficiency with BIM / Revit workflows for cross‑functional model coordination and clash detection.
• Professional architectural registration/licensure (e.g., RA, AIA, or regional equivalent) is highly desirable.