Senior Design Manager, EMEA

Title:                             Senior Design Manager, EMEA

Division:                      Development & Engineering (D&E)

Reports to:                 Director, Engineering, EMEA

Location:                     London, Berlin, Frankfurt

Job Status:                  Full-Time

About Vantage Data Centers

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects, and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers, and large enterprises. Developing and operating across several markets in North America, EMEA, and APAC. Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency, and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

D&E Department

The Development & Engineering (D&E) team drives the technology, innovation, and new development of data center infrastructure across Vantage’s companywide portfolio.  D&E evaluates new sites, drives cost and schedule in line with corporate goals, and serves as subject matter experts across the entire project lifecycle from concept through commissioning. The team collaborates with Sales, Operations, and management along the way. D&E also works hand in hand with the Construction team to come up with a vertically integrated design and ensures new and existing standards and designs are executed effectively.  One thing that distinguishes Vantage is that our technical staff are given the responsibility and authority to directly drive tangible results.  Our team can align long-term operational sustainability with value engineering and cost metrics to deliver products aligned with corporate goals.  This approach empowers each member of the team to drive high-impact decisions and results.

Position Description

Vantage is looking for a Senior Design Manager, EMEA, to be part of the design production team that leads design and engineering for the largest individual cost center within the construction process and become engaged in all technical aspects. In this role, you will be responsible for leading multifunctional teams of highly skilled engineers focused on data center critical infrastructure systems, and will be responsible for the whole design cycle of all existing and new developments in the EMEA regions. You will be ultimately responsible for the design documentation review and approval, management of the design-build contractor teams, and technical approval of all OFCI and GC proposals as part of the procurement process. You will be as well the point of contact for the rest of the departments' leaders involved in the project cycle (Solutions Engineering, New Site Development, MEP, BIM, CSA, Construction, Automation & Controls, Security, IT, and Operations). Regular collaboration and coordination are required with the other managers and directors of the other Vantage development regions as well as with the Innovation Engineering team, to ensure consistency of product delivery.

You and the team will be presented with complex engineering challenges and be asked to bring them to resolution with all the tools at your disposal. You and the team will ensure existing standards are executed and enhanced for each project. You and the team will evaluate designs and provide engineering analysis to balance CAPEX and OPEX costs. You will be responsible for the technical client interface throughout design and construction.

You and the team will provide technical engineering information and assistance to ensure that new data center spaces comply with the project requirements, all engineering standards, applicable codes, and specifications. Knowledge of all aspects of engineering as they relate to designing state-of-the-art datacenters is required.

Essential Job Functions

• Develop and lead updates to the design standards and specifications for consistency and maximum system reliability
• Research and lead the selection of local and global partners for the development of the designs from early inception (test-fit) to final execution design documentation (i.e. RIBA Work Stage 4), plus Contract Assistance and project close-out oversights (i.e. RIBA Work Stages 5 and 6)
• Management of external design teams
• Lead client interfacing technical meetings, providing support to the Solutions Engineering team
• Report on a weekly basis to the Vantage leadership on design progress, blockers, risks, and assignment of priorities
• Develop and lead updates to the design, procurement, and construction processes
• Oversee review process of engineering studies of all disciplines
• Visit job sites for field investigations and coordination meetings

Duties

• Conduct weekly meetings with design teams to provide feedback and assist in addressing concerns and removing roadblocks
• Provide technical documentation, answers and validation to client RFPs
• Report on Design progress, quality and CAPEX & OPEX saving opportunities
• Support the New Site Development teams with data center design Scope of Works, Design Deliverables, Project Charter creation and implementation, and CA (Contract Administration) Scope of Works,
• Enforce and pursue coordination between internal engineering teams across all disciplines to ensure products delivered to Operations are streamlined and optimized to meet the needs of the business across all functions, inclusive of As-builds and trainings.
• Support the procurement teams with OFCI/CFCI tender package preparation, proposals review, awarding, SoW and submittals validation
• Support the construction teams with data center commissioning for new and retrofitted data centers
• Provide and review detailed workflows for change management activities
• Conduct and lead value engineering analyses, and provide system recommendations based on ROI and IRR analysis
• Conduct Lessons Learned meetings to provide feedback and assist in implementation on other projects or regions.
• Travel to data center sites for building relationships with new development, construction, and Vantage partners as required
• Respond on an as-needed basis to data center related emergencies
• Engage with the other internal management teams
• Attend project design team meetings and interface with various team members
• Project coordination and commissioning support
• Additional duties as assigned from time to time by executive management

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or similar technical field, from an accredited university or college
• Accredited engineering credentials preferred (Chartered / Professional Engineer)
• 8+ years of experience in data center design management or equivalent managerial positions required, 12 years preferred
• Data Center experience is required
• Experience in EMEA construction markets is required
• Understanding of Revit, BIM, and Navisworks environments
• Working knowledge of critical cooling infrastructure and critical power infrastructure data center project
• Working knowledge of building and fire codes ordinances
• National and international travel required is expected to be between 25% and 50% but may vary over time as the business evolves.

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer