Architect

Architect / Senior Architect

Porto, Portugal

Full-Time, On-Site

About CTS Group

CTS Group is a fast-growing international design and build company specialising in data centre development across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). We combine engineering excellence, innovation, and digital transformation to deliver high-performance, sustainable, and future-ready data centre solutions.

With over 40 nationalities represented across our teams, CTS fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture where innovation and technical precision drive every project. Beyond construction, CTS develops digital systems and standardised modular data centre units to meet the evolving needs of hyperscalers, colocation providers, and enterprise clients.

Our proven track record and strong partnerships have established CTS as a trusted industry leader delivering large-scale, complex data centre facilities with speed, efficiency, and excellence.

Role Overview

The Architect / Senior Architect leads and owns the architectural design strategy and delivery of architectural packages for data centre and mission-critical campuses across CTS's EMEA project portfolio—from concept through detailed design, construction, and commissioning. The position covers facility layout (white/grey/support space), envelope strategy, modularity, and security zoning. Depending on experience level, the candidate will direct multidisciplinary coordination, manage client/authority relationships, hold design sign-off authority, and guide or mentor junior and intermediate team members.

Key Responsibilities

• Design Strategy & Packaging: Define architectural design strategies and lead the delivery of architectural packages, master planning, envelope, compartmentation, and construction detailing from concept to construction issue.
• Standards & Resilience Compliance: Set and enforce compliance with data-centre standards (Uptime Tier, ANSI/TIA-942, EN 50600/ISO/IEC 22237, ASHRAE TC 9.9) and resilience targets (N+1, 2N, concurrent maintainability).
• Authority & Client Liaison: Own client relationships and lead submissions/liaison with planning and fire-safety authorities (Câmara Municipal do Porto/PDM, RJUE incl. Simplex/DL 10/2024, ANEPC/SCIE).
• Technical Sign-Off: Provide technical authority and design sign-off for architectural packages, authoring and signing the projeto de arquitetura and termo de responsabilidade where required by Portuguese law.
• Multidisciplinary & BIM Coordination: Lead architectural BIM/Navisworks coordination, clash detection, and enforcement of modeling standards across civil, structural, MEP, ELV, and security teams.
• Construction & Site Support: Review contractor submittals, materials, and samples; respond to RFIs; oversee architectural installation quality; and lead commissioning-stage reviews and snagging.
• Mentorship & Team Leadership: Guide, check the output of, and mentor junior and intermediate architects across active projects.
• Commercial & Program Planning: Manage external consultants and specialist contractors while contributing to value engineering, cost estimates, bills of quantities, and discipline resourcing.

Required Skills and Experience

• Education: Master's degree (Mestrado) in Architecture or equivalent EU qualification.
• Experience: 5+ years (Intermediate) to 10+ years (Senior) of architectural experience, with demonstrated experience leading design on industrial, infrastructure, or mission-critical/data centre projects.
• Software Proficiency: Advanced command of AutoCAD, Revit/BIM workflows, and Navisworks; working knowledge of 3D visualization tools (SketchUp, Lumion, or Enscape).
• Data Centre Standards: In-depth understanding of data-centre design standards (Uptime Tier, ANSI/TIA-942, EN 50600/ISO/IEC 22237, ASHRAE TC 9.9) and resilience principles.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Deep expertise in Portuguese building and planning frameworks (RGEU, RJUE, SCIE / DL 220/2008 / Portaria 1532/2008, SCE/DL 101-D/2020, PDM do Porto).
• Certifications (Desirable): Sustainability certifications (LEED AP, BREEAM) and data-centre credentials (Uptime).
• Soft Skills: Proven stakeholder management, authority negotiation, multi-project coordination, and leadership/mentoring capabilities.