Director of Engineering Development

Company Profile

nLighten is a European platform of distributed edge data centers, designed to meet the growing demand for AI, 5G, and hybrid cloud deployments. As a rapidly expanding provider, we offer scalable colocation hubs and best-in-class energy solutions across Europe. Our innovative and sustainable approach to digital infrastructure ensures reliability, efficiency, and future-ready solutions for our clients. nLighten’s current footprint is 34 data centers in 7 European countries, with the ambition to grow to 100 sites during the next 3-4 years.

Learn more about us: www.nlighten.com

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Director of Engineering Development (m/w/d) to lead the technical design development of our expanding data center portfolio. Working closely with the CTO, project teams, consultants, and contractors, you will act as a key interface between strategy, design, and delivery, providing technical leadership across multiple projects, driving clarity, resolving technical challenges and ensuring designs are optimized for cost and program, statutorily compliant, and aligned with operational requirements in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Key Responsibilities

Design Leadership & Governance

• Oversee the development of masterplans into construction-ready designs for data center projects.
• Drive consistency, scalability, and repeatability across nLighten’s growing portfolio by ensuring good design governance. Support the continuous improvement of the nLighten design system including standards, specifications and reference designs
• Oversee design review, change and approval processes and the timely resolution of technical queries in compliance with minimum standards

Technical Oversight

• Review and validate multidisciplinary design outputs (electrical, mechanical, civil, and architectural) to ensure high-quality design definitions for cost-optimised infrastructure
• Ensure the delivery of technically complete, contractually robust information for construction permits, utility services and construction works. Oversee the delivery of permits and tender information. Enable the procurement of utility services and construction works.

Consultant & Stakeholder Management

• Recommend, appoint, and manage external design consultants, engineers, and architects
• Act as a key interface between the CTO, internal teams, and external partners
• Work with procurement to ensure effective, best-value procurement of design activities. Support and manage budgeting for design activities.

Program & Delivery Management

• Manage design processes and timelines to program, ensuring timely delivery in alignment with wider project schedules, with a clear audit trail and approval process.
• Maintain robust documentation, approvals, and governance trails.
• Manage the definition of project design scope to ensure precise, complete, and clear allocation of design-related responsibilities.
• Travel to project sites as needed to oversee design implementation and stakeholder engagement.

What we’re looking for

• 10+ years in data centre design, engineering, or technical delivery (contractor, client, or consultant side), with experience managing multidisciplinary design teams across multiple projects.
• Strong engineering mindset with the ability to think logically, scientifically, and mathematically, backed by solid knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems, architectural considerations, and related engineering fields.
• Familiarity with key design tools such as ETAP, Ansys, 6Sigma, and Revit, with the ability to handle complex technical queries and interface across multiple stakeholders including CTO, operations, and contractors.
• Proven ability to build and manage relationships with external design consultants and engineering firms, with a strong grasp of German statuatory and regulatory requirements; familiarity with wider European framworks is a plus.
• Broad spectrum experience across enterprise, co-location, and build-to-suit environments is preferred.
• Degree-level education in engineering or architecture; Eingetragener Ingenieur/Beratender Ingenieur status or CEng-equivalent chartership is preferred.
• Fluent or native German and strong professional English are required; additional proficieny in other European languages is an advantage.

Why Join Us?

• High-growth European platform: Be part of an expanding team with opportunities to grow laterally and vertically at a pivotal stage of expansion.
• Impactful role: Help shape design management policies and processes for a rapidly scaling data center portfolio.
• Cutting-edge technology: Work and lead on AI-driven projects, liquid chip cooling solutions, and other innovative high-resolution designs.
• Strategic influence: Work directly with senior leadership, using design expertise to drive project efficiencies and scalability.
• Hybrid work flexibility: Work across offices in Germany, Netherlands, France, and the UK, with regular travel to project sites.

If you have the right experience and are excited about contributing to the next evolution of edge data centers, we’d love to hear from you!

Apply now and be part of our journey toward a more connected, efficient, and sustainable digital future.

Background Check & Screening

All selected candidates will undergo a background check to ensure a safe workplace, protect company assets, and comply with regulations.

Diversity & Inclusion Statement

nLighten is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Even if you do not meet every requirement listed, we welcome your application. We particularly encourage women and individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.