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Design Manager - Data Centres (MEP)

Job Description

Design Manager – Data Centres (MEP)

Hybrid Working

An established, international engineering consultancy is looking to appoint an experienced Design Manager to lead MEP delivery across complex, mission-critical data centre projects.

This Design Manager role sits at the centre of high-profile programmes where technical leadership, commercial awareness, and stakeholder management are critical. As Design Manager, you’ll oversee multidisciplinary teams, manage client relationships, and drive design excellence from concept through to handover and post-completion.

If you’re a Design Manager who thrives in fast-paced, energy-intensive environments and enjoys owning outcomes end to end, this is a strong next step.

The Opportunity

As Design Manager, you will take full responsibility for MEP design delivery across multiple data centre projects. The Design Manager will coordinate engineers, consultants, contractors, and clients to ensure designs are resilient, compliant, and commercially sound.

This Design Manager position also acts as the primary point of contact for clients on all design-related matters, balancing operational requirements, industry standards, sustainability targets, and innovation.

What You’ll Be Doing

Design & Project Delivery (Design Manager Focus)

  • Lead and coordinate MEP design activities from concept through handover as Design Manager

  • Manage programme, cost, risk, and change to achieve commercial objectives

  • Oversee technical deliverables including specifications, calculations, reports, and drawings

  • Maintain design documentation such as risk registers, change logs, and QA records

  • Chair and facilitate design reviews, workshops, and client meetings

  • Support procurement, testing, commissioning, and post-handover activities

Client & Stakeholder Management

  • Act as the primary design interface for clients in your Design Manager capacity

  • Build strong relationships with architects, engineers, contractors, and specialist vendors

  • Manage expectations and communicate clearly across all project stages

  • Support ongoing client engagement and repeat business opportunities

Leadership & Team Development

  • Mentor and support engineers, designers, and consultants as Design Manager

  • Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture

  • Champion quality, health & safety, and sustainability standards across projects

What We’re Looking For

Qualifications

  • Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering (or equivalent)

  • Chartered Engineer status preferred or actively working towards

Experience

  • 7–12 years’ experience in a Design Manager or senior MEP coordination role within data centres or mission-critical environments

  • Strong technical knowledge of UPS, standby generation, electrical distribution, earthing, battery systems, CRAC/CRAH, chilled water, pumping, controls, and BMS

  • Proven success as a Design Manager leading multidisciplinary teams

  • Confident managing client relationships and stakeholder communications on complex projects

  • Experience delivering projects on time and within budget

Desirable

  • Familiarity with Uptime Institute tiering and ISO/IEC critical facility standards

  • Exposure to sustainable and low-carbon design for high-energy facilities

Why This Design Manager Role?

This Design Manager opportunity offers genuine ownership, influence, and long-term career progression within a consultancy recognised for engineering excellence and innovation. You’ll benefit from hybrid working, flexible arrangements, and the chance to deliver some of the most technically challenging data centre projects in the market.

Apply directly or reach out to Hillary Gutu for more details.