Technical Director (Data Centers)

Technical Director Location: Abu Dhabi Design & Build Data Centers - Contractor side About the role We’re looking for a Technical Director to lead the Technical Office on a major new Data Centre project. You’ll take full ownership of design, engineering, technical governance, BIM, material approvals, and overall technical delivery — from early design right through to commissioning and handover. This is a senior leadership role where you’ll be the main technical authority on the project. You’ll work across all MEP, ELV, and CSA interfaces to make sure we deliver a highly reliable, resilient, mission-critical facility that meets client expectations, industry standards, and project goals. You’ll sit at the centre of Design, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning teams, driving technical excellence and solving problems as they arise. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electromechanical, Civil Engineering, or a related field (Master’s preferred). At least 20 years’ experience in engineering, design management, and technical leadership roles. Minimum 10 years working on large-scale Data Centres, mission-critical facilities, hyperscale projects, industrial plants, or major infrastructure. Experience leading Technical Office and Design teams on the contractor side of Design & Build projects. Solid understanding of Tier III and Tier IV Data Centre requirements. Strong knowledge of critical power, cooling, fire protection, BMS, EPMS, and other mission-critical systems. Experience in design governance, constructability reviews, value engineering, and integrating design with construction. Familiarity with BIM and digital engineering platforms. Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. Key Responsibilities: Lead and manage the Technical Office, Design Management, Engineering, BIM, and Material Management teams. Act as the senior technical authority for all engineering and design decisions on the project. Set and implement technical delivery strategies that support the project’s overall objectives. Mentor and guide Design Managers, Package Managers, Engineers, BIM specialists, and Technical Office staff. Oversee design work across MEP, ELV, Fire Protection, Utilities, and specialist systems. Coordinate effectively between CSA, MEP, ELV, ICT, and mission-critical systems. Lead design reviews, technical workshops, value engineering sessions, and constructability assessments. Ensure designs fully comply with project specifications, client requirements, authority regulations, and relevant industry standards. Resolve complex engineering challenges and critical design issues quickly and effectively. Manage all technical submittals, material approvals, design reviews, RFIs, technical queries, and consultant coordination. Oversee material selection, vendor evaluations, technical bid assessments, and support procurement. Keep technical deliverables accurate and on schedule. Drive BIM coordination and seamless design integration across all disciplines. Provide technical leadership for the full range of critical infrastructure systems, including: MV/LV Distribution UPS Systems Diesel Generators Chilled Water Plants CRAH/CRAC Systems Fire Detection & Suppression BMS & EPMS ICT & ELV Infrastructure Security & Monitoring Systems Ensure smooth handovers between design, procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning. Support Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), Integrated Systems Testing (IST), and Operational Readiness programmes. Develop practical technical solutions that improve constructability, safety, quality, and long-term operational performance. Serve as the primary technical point of contact for clients, consultants, authorities, OEMs, and internal project leadership. Take part in executive technical reviews and project governance meetings. Build strong, collaborative relationships with all key stakeholders to keep the project on track. Show more Show less