Technical Director - Data Centers

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Data Center Technical Manager is a senior engineering role within UCC Holding's Power & Digital delivery division. The role is responsible for the end-to-end technical integrity of data center projects from front-end definition through to construction handover, ensuring that power, cooling, civil, and ICT systems are designed to hyperscale and colocation standards and are fully constructable and operable at commissioning. Working in close alignment with the COO, Data Center Executive Director and the project execution team, the Technical Manager serves as the day-to-day technical authority on assigned projects, owning design standards, discipline coordination, OEM interfaces, and technical risk management across the full delivery lifecycle.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Technical Leadership & Design Management: Lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams across power, cooling, civil/structural, and ICT disciplines. Own technical standards and design basis documentation through to FEED. Ensure all designs are constructable, installation logic aligned, and ready for site execution. Manage inter discipline coordination and clash resolution using 3D plant modelling tools (REVIT, etc.).
• Power Systems: Oversee HV/MV/LV power architecture design including utility intake, MV switchgear, transformers, and LV distribution. Manage UPS, battery storage, and generator system design and OEM interfaces. Ensure power redundancy models are correctly implemented, targeting AI-ready campuses. Coordinate protection, metering, and power quality studies with specialist consultants.
• Cooling & MEP: Lead cooling system design including air-side economization, chillers, air cooling, and liquid cooling for high-density AI compute. Target PUE benchmarks in line with hyperscale client requirements; industry benchmark for AI campuses is 1.2-1.4 PUE. Oversee plumbing, drainage, HVAC, and fire suppression system design and integration. Interface with energy modelling teams to validate system performance and efficiency projections.
• Civil, Structural & Building: Manage civil and structural design scope including foundations, raised floor systems, data halls, and façade. Ensure structural designs accommodate equipment loadings, seismic considerations, and phased capacity expansion. Oversee M&E services coordination within building fabric to eliminate site clashes and rework.
• ICT, Cabling & Connectivity: Oversee ICT infrastructure design including structured cabling, fiber backbone, and carrier-neutral meet-me rooms. Ensure DCIM-readiness is embedded in design from the outset to support operational efficiency post-handover. Coordinate with network operators and hyperscale clients on connectivity and meet-me room requirements.
• Commissioning Alignment: Engage the commissioning team from FEED stage to ensure testability and safe energization sequences are designed in. Define and review CX documentation including CX plans, ITPs, FAT and SAT procedures. Ensure technical handover packages are complete, accurate, and meet client O&M requirements.
• HSE & Quality: Embed safety by design principles across all engineering disciplines. Own HAZOP/HAZID planning and chairing, ensuring action close-out is tracked. Manage quality assurance processes for design deliverables including review gates, checking, and sign-off.
• Client & Stakeholder Management: Act as primary technical interface with hyperscale and colocation clients during design development. Lead technical clarification meetings with clients, authorities, and utility providers. Represent UCC in technical workshops with OEMs, specialist consultants, and external design teams.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Essential Degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related discipline (BEng / MEng)
• 10+ years of engineering experience in mission-critical facilities or data center projects
• Demonstrated experience delivering hyperscale or large-scale colocation data center projects
• Deep working knowledge of data center power architecture
• Strong cooling systems experience
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary design teams of 10+ engineers
• Experience with FEL/FEED-driven delivery models
• Proficiency in design tools including Auto CAD, REVIT, or equivalent
• Working experience in the Middle East or comparable international markets
• Desirable LEED, BREEAM, or equivalent sustainability certification experience
• Familiarity with hyperscale client design standards (Google, Microsoft Azure, Meta, AWS, Oracle)