VP Technical/Design

VP Technical | Data Centre Campus Development |

We’re hiring a VP Technical for a client who develop data centre campuses and take sites from screening to powered, ready-to-build land.

The role is simple to describe and hard to do. You own the technical definition that makes a site sellable.

This is not about designing a building. It’s about the envelope: buildable MW, density range, cooling approach, setbacks, substation position, fibre routes. Get it right and a permit gets granted and a buyer can underwrite the deal. Get it wrong and the site stalls.

What you’ll do

• Write the basis of design for every site
• Act as owner’s engineer. Write the brief, challenge the consultants, sign off the output
• Make sure every site has a test fit and a feasibility study
• Hold the line on design freeze until there is a named customer or a final investment decision
• Be the technical counterpart on the energy island, turning data centre load profiles into specifications
• Build the technical guidelines and templates so no site starts from a blank sheet
• Oversee the enabling works to power-ready
• Back the development-to-delivery gate and investment committee with technical budget and schedule
• Work side by side with Development, and lead a small team including the data centre design manager and the construction manager

What you bring

• Owner-side data centre design lead experience at a colocation or hyperscale developer, or a top-tier consultancy lead who has moved client-side and carried budget accountability
• A strong MEP background.
• At least two data centre campuses taken from concept to a permitted, priced design
• Deep understanding of high-density compute and advanced cooling, and the appetite to introduce new technology with limited precedent
• European permitting exposure
• A degree in mechanical, electrical or a related engineering discipline. Chartered status or an advanced degree is a plus
• Fluent English. Other European languages are a plus