Senior Design Manager (Data Centres) - London

RED are an expanding international M&E consultancy with a proven track record in low energy design focused on providing excellent design solutions to clients.

Through our market leading technical expertise we enable the worlds digital infrastructure and develop the built environment whilst also helping clients realise ambitious plans for zero carbon-built environments. We cover the entire life cycle of any building project with our broad capability offering saving our clients time money and effort. Our approach is centred around listening to our clients and interacting energetically with our fellow project stakeholders. We add value with our people client service ethos global delivery strategy technical ability and attitude.

We now seek a fully experienced Senior Design Manager to join our London office.

Role Responsibilities

The Senior Design Manager (SDM) leads and coordinates multidisciplinary design activities across complex hyperscale and technology driven data centre projects. Operating with a high degree of autonomy the SDM owns the day to day design management activities on assigned projects and acts as the principal design point of contact for internal project teams external consultants and clients.

Working closely with Associate Design Managerswho oversee broader project portfoliosthe SDM is responsible for ensuring design deliverables meet project requirements client standards and key milestones from feasibility through concept 50/80/100% design stages and into post contract support.

This role requires strong leadership excellent communication skills and a deep understanding of MEP architectural structural civil and specialist data centre systems. The SDM drives quality technical accuracy and coordinated outputs across all design workstreams.

• Lead organise and coordinate multidisciplinary design teams (MEP architecture structures civils security sustainability acoustics and specialist SMEs).
• Operate with full autonomy in daily design management activities requiring minimal direction.
• Serve as the principal design interface alongside the wider project team ensuring consistent communication and alignment across all project stakeholders.
• Capture client requirements and translate them into clear toll gated design deliverables (Masterplan 50% 80% 100% packages).
• Ensure design outputs meet project demands quality standards regulatory requirements and global data centre benchmarks (e.g. Uptime Institute ASHRAE TC 9.9 ISO/IEC standards).
• Oversee compliance with planning permitting building regulations and localisation requirements
• Manage design programmes and track progress against milestones proactively identifying risks clashes or schedule impacts.
• Lead design change control processes in collaboration with project management ensuring robust documentation traceability and scope clarity.
• Support value engineering while maintaining performance schedule and cost objectives.
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for clients consultants sub consultants and internal teams.
• Lead and chair design meetings technical workshops and high quality design page turn sessions (virtual or in person).
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients addressing performance concerns early and effectively.
• Ensure rigorous QA/QC processes technical reviews and risk management protocols are applied across design deliverables.
• Contribute to internal development of design management systems tools templates and best practice processes.
• Support business development representing the discipline and the business with professionalism and technical excellence.
• Mentor and support junior design managers engineers and discipline leads.
• Promote high standards of behaviour documentation collaboration and technical excellence across the team.

Role Requirements

• 5 years at Senior Engineer or Design Manager level.
• MSc/MEng (or equivalent) in an appropriate engineering discipline (desirable). BSc/BEng as a minimum.
• Professional membership (e.g. MCIBSE MIEE IMechE MCIOB APM PMQ PRINCE2) desirable; Chartered status preferred.
• Proven project management and multidisciplinary design experience with data centres or other large scale complex engineering projects.
• Strong MEP background with exposure to highly engineered or mission critical environments.
• Experience working in fast track client driven design cycles (typically 2025 weeks).
• Knowledge of redundancy strategies (UTI Sub UTI distributed redundancy) preferred.
• Strong understanding of the full design lifecycle and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Able to manage multiple concurrent workstreams with autonomy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with cross cultural awareness
• Commercially aware with experience in fee management resource planning and financial controls.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office MS Project; familiarity with Autodesk Construction Cloud Planisware and design related tools desirable.
• Strong scope management prioritisation and risk awareness.
• Knowledge of UK and European codes NEC4/JCT contract frameworks and their impact on design obligations.
• High level of adaptability proactivity and self motivation.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required.
• Strong understanding of company QA processes internal governance and long term business goals.
• Awareness of international working practices within a global consultancy environment.

Benefits

RED offers a variety of benefits including but not limited to:

• 23 days annual leave rising to 28 days annual leave over 5 years service
• Holiday purchase and buy back scheme
• Hybrid Working
• Contributory company pension scheme
• Healthcare Scheme via salary sacrifice (Company funded cover is dependant on level)
• Non-contractual bonus awards
• Training sponsorship
• Charity volunteering leave
• Wellness days/ initiatives.
• Salary commensurate with experience.
• Our people work in friendly teams with a collaborative approach and mentoring support from talented leaders.
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package and are an equal opportunities employer.

*This role will ideally suit those with the right to live & work in the UK without restrictions as we are unable to offer sponsorship at the present time.

Red is a company of Tractebel.