Design Manager

Design Manager (M&E) – Data Centres

Location: London, UK

Employment Type: Full-time

An established international engineering and construction contractor is seeking an experienced Design Manager (M&E) to support the delivery of major data centre projects.

The successful candidate will lead the mechanical and electrical design development of complex data centre projects from concept through to construction, commissioning and handover.

You will coordinate consultants, contractors, specialist suppliers and client stakeholders to ensure highly resilient, efficient and scalable M&E infrastructure is delivered in line with project requirements, programme and relevant industry standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the M&E design process throughout all stages of project delivery.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design consultants, specialist subcontractors and equipment suppliers.
• Review and manage mechanical and electrical design documentation.
• Ensure designs meet client requirements, project specifications and relevant industry standards.
• Drive design optimisation to improve resilience, efficiency, constructability, maintainability and cost-effectiveness.
• Oversee the design and integration of critical data centre infrastructure, including:
• HV and LV power distribution
• UPS and battery systems
• Standby generators and fuel systems
• CRAH, CRAC, chilled water and free-cooling systems
• BMS, EPMS and DCIM systems
• Fire detection and suppression systems
• Telecommunications and structured cabling infrastructure
• Act as the key M&E design interface for clients and project teams.
• Chair design coordination meetings and technical workshops.
• Work closely with construction, commissioning and operational teams.
• Support procurement and technical evaluation of suppliers and contractors.
• Identify and manage design risks and technical issues.
• Manage design changes and change control processes.
• Monitor design deliverables against programme milestones.
• Support commissioning planning, testing and operational readiness.
• Support project handover and close-out activities.

Skills & Experience

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in M&E Design Management or a senior M&E design role.
• Strong experience delivering data centre, hyperscale or mission-critical projects.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and consultants.
• Strong knowledge of Tier III and Tier IV data centre design principles.
• Experience working within design-and-build or EPC environments.
• Strong technical knowledge of critical power and cooling infrastructure.
• Experience with chilled water, CRAH, CRAC, free-cooling or liquid cooling systems.
• Experience coordinating BMS, EPMS and DCIM systems.
• Experience supporting commissioning and operational readiness.
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable

• Experience working with hyperscale or colocation operators.
• Experience working with major cloud providers.
• CIBSE or IET membership.
• Chartered Engineer status.
• Experience working on major international projects.