Senior Professional Architect (Data Centre)

AECOM; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Professional development

Global opportunities

Job summary

AECOM’s Senior Professional Architect (Data Centre) role focuses on architectural design and data centre infrastructure planning, including BIM management and drawing production for design accuracy. You’ll lead cross‑disciplinary coordination, guide junior staff, and engage clients to align expectations across complex projects.

You will drive value engineering, sustainability, and compliance while overseeing budgets and resources in a hybrid work environment at AECOM’s South Africa offices.

Qualifications

• B.Arch or BSc Architecture required.
• 12+ years post graduate experience.
• Professionally registered as an Architect with SACAP.

Responsibilities

• Architectural design and data centre infrastructure planning with BIM model management.
• Coordinate design across disciplines for seamless integration.
• Resolve technical conflicts with Engineering and cross-disciplinary teams.
• Oversee design delivery and ensure compliance through all project phases.
• Guide and mentor team members and junior staff.
• Engage with clients and manage stakeholders with regular updates.
• Lead and mentor to foster architectural excellence.
• Apply value engineering and cost optimization without compromising design.
• Assess sustainability and energy efficiency for data centres.
• Review compliance with building codes and data centre standards.
• Identify risks and plan mitigations; manage project budget and resources.

Skills

Architectural design

Data centre planning

Leadership

BIM coordination

Education

B.Arch or BSc Architecture

SACAP registered Architect

Job description

Company Description

AECOM’s Enterprise Capabilities team is looking for a Senior Professional Architect (Data Centre) to join our team in our South Africa offices.

Fundamental to our Think and Act Globally strategy and digital adoption, Enterprise Capabilities (EC) is AECOM’s primary vehicle for workshare. Operating across geographic boundaries and time-zones, EC partners with regional and Global Business Line project teams to provide technical expertise, accelerate delivery and keep AECOM competitive in the industry.

With a team of over 3000 technical professionals located across nine countries and remote technical anchors, EC teams are trusted to deliver high-quality, specialist services that help to fill capability gaps, resourcing needs and technical constraints on projects of all scopes and sizes.

Start here. Grow here.

Job Description

The Senior Architect serves as a fully capable professional in an architectural design team. The Senior Architect plans (including budget and resources), schedules, organizes, coordinates, and executes the design work on any and all phases of development on small to medium scale projects (or distinct portions of larger projects), with regular interaction with an Associate or designated senior team member.

Here is what you will be doing:

• Architectural design and data centre infrastructure planning, including management of BIM models and drawing production to ensure design brief compliance, completeness, and accuracy


• Design coordination within Architecture and across all related disciplines to ensure seamless integration


• Design coordination with Engineering and cross-disciplinary teams to resolve technical conflicts and optimize solutions


• Design delivery oversight, ensuring compliance with design briefs, coordination requirements, completeness, and accuracy throughout all project phases


• Guidance and management of team members and junior staff, fostering professional development and maintaining high performance standards


• Client engagement and stakeholder management, including regular communication, presentations, and expectation alignment


• Team leadership and mentoring to cultivate architectural excellence and support career progression within the organization


• Value engineering and cost optimization strategies to deliver efficient, cost-effective solutions without compromising design integrity


• Sustainability and energy efficiency assessment, incorporating best practices for data centre environmental performance and operational resilience


• Compliance review and regulatory adherence, ensuring all designs meet applicable building codes, industry standards, and data centre-specific requirements


• Risk assessment and mitigation planning to identify potential design and construction challenges and develop proactive solutions


• Project budget management and resource allocation, monitoring expenditures and optimizing resource utilization throughout project delivery.

Qualifications

• B.Arch or BSc Architecture


• 12+ Years post graduate experience


• Professionally registered as an Architect with SACAP

Additional Information

At AECOM, you will have freedom to grow in a world of opportunity

At AECOM, our Freedom to Grow philosophy supports flexibility and balance to help our people thrive. As part of this approach, we ask all hybrid employees to work from an AECOM office at least three days per week.

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.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects – both in your local community and on a global scale – that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting‑edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award‑winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community – where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

ReqID

J10158060

Business Line

Architecture

Business Group

DCS

Strategic Business Unit

Enterprise Capabilities

Career Area

Design

Work Location Model

Hybrid