Design Manager - Data Centre

Design Manager – Hyperscale Data Centres (UK, Ireland & Europe)

Location - London

Rate: £550-=550 per day

IR35 - Outside

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Design Manager to lead the coordination, management, and delivery of multidisciplinary design services on a portfolio of hyperscale data centre projects across the UK, Ireland, and Europe.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing complex design teams throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring design excellence, programme compliance, technical coordination, and alignment with client requirements. This role requires strong leadership, stakeholder management, commercial awareness, and extensive experience delivering mission-critical facilities within fast-paced and highly regulated environments.

The Design Manager will act as the primary interface between clients, consultants, contractors, specialist suppliers, and internal project teams to ensure successful design delivery from concept through to construction and handover.

Key Responsibilities

Design Leadership & Management

• Lead and manage multidisciplinary design teams across multiple concurrent hyperscale data centre projects.
• Develop and implement design management strategies aligned with project objectives, client requirements, and business goals.
• Establish design delivery programmes, design responsibility matrices, and key design milestones.
• Ensure effective coordination between architecture, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, public health, fire engineering, ICT, and specialist systems disciplines.
• Drive design quality, innovation, and consistency across all project phases.

Technical Coordination

• Oversee the development, integration, and coordination of complex building systems within mission-critical environments.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant European and local regulations, codes, standards, and client-specific requirements.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary coordination reviews and design risk assessments.
• Manage design change processes and ensure appropriate governance and approval procedures are followed.

Digital Delivery & BIM

• Promote best practice in digital engineering, BIM, and design coordination processes.
• Ensure effective use of Common Data Environments (CDEs) and design management systems.
• Support implementation of BIM execution plans and digital delivery standards.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Degree qualified in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline.
• Minimum 8–10 years' experience in design management, project delivery, or multidisciplinary engineering environments.
• Demonstrable experience delivering large-scale data centre, mission-critical, industrial, or major infrastructure projects.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary design teams across complex projects.
• Strong understanding of RIBA, RIAI, and/or European design delivery frameworks.
• Experience working within BIM-enabled project environments.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.

Highly Desirable

• Experience delivering hyperscale data centre projects for major technology clients.
• Chartered status with a recognised professional institution.
• Knowledge of European planning, permitting, and regulatory environments.
• Understanding of commissioning and operational readiness processes within mission-critical facilities.
• Experience working in Design & Build and EPC delivery models.