Associate Director – Mission Critical & Data Centres (Electrical)

Job Overview

We are looking for an Associate Director to oversee mission critical and data centre projects in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This role involves leading all technical elements of data centre design and delivery, acting as a primary client liaison, and ensuring compliance with global and local standards for electrical and mechanical systems within data centres.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary technical contact for data centre engagements, guiding client discussions and negotiating project scopes.
• Lead and authorize designs at concept, schematic, and detailed levels for electrical and mechanical systems, including UPS, generators, switchgear, HVAC, cooling, fire safety, public health, and building management systems.
• Create standardized, scalable data centre solutions for consistency and efficiency across the UAE and KSA.
• Conduct site assessments, capacity planning, and feasibility studies aligned with Uptime Institute Tier criteria.
• Ensure that all designs meet international standards such as Uptime Institute, TIA-942, NFPA, ASHRAE, and local regulations.
• Mentor engineering teams and promote knowledge sharing to foster continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with supervision teams and other stakeholders to manage costs, vendors, and technical risks effectively.
• Contribute to business growth by preparing technical proposals, engaging in client presentations, and identifying service enhancement opportunities.
• Lead cross-regional cooperation to maintain engineering standards, drive innovation, and ensure high-quality design practices across projects.
• Serve as a senior technical liaison to align visions between engineering teams, centers of excellence, consultants, construction leads, and stakeholders.
• Oversee the entire engineering and design lifecycle, from feasibility and conceptual development through design and construction documentation.
• Be accountable for design quality, budget compliance, schedules, and stakeholder coordination.
• Stay engaged with the global data centre engineering community to keep abreast of evolving technologies and standards.
• Apply expert knowledge in civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering to deliver complex mission-critical infrastructures.
• Utilize advanced analytical tools such as ETAP, 6Sigma CFD, AmpCalc, among others, to validate and optimize designs.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• A bachelor's or master’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Building Services Engineering is essential.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in design and delivery of large-scale data centres, including multiple Uptime Tier III/IV projects.
• Proven leadership skills in managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating across complex, matrixed organizations.
• Professional certifications like Uptime Tier Certified Professional, PMP, LEED AP, or BICSI RCDD are highly favored.
• Deep expertise in MV/LV power distribution, UPS systems, emergency generators, CRAC units, economizers, chilled-water systems, VFDs, fire detection and suppression systems, BMS, and DCIM platforms.
• Strong familiarity with recent trends and innovations in data centre systems, particularly in liquid-cooling technologies.
• Preferred experience overseeing fast track design/build projects and major upgrades for large-scale technical operations or compute farms.
• Knowledge of and compliance with local and international codes and standards, including NEC, IEC, ISO 50001, ISO 27001, PDPL, and ESMA.

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