Data Centre Architect

Experience: 7+ years of relevant experience, including 3+ years in a Data Centre Architecture, Design, or similar technical leadership role.

Location: UAE

Position Summary

We are looking for an experienced Data Centre Architect to lead the architecture and design of enterprise data centre facilities and critical infrastructure. This role covers data centre space planning, power, cooling, structured cabling, physical security, resilience, capacity planning, MEP integration, monitoring, and testing and commissioning. The role will ensure data centre environments are scalable, resilient, efficient, and aligned with recognised industry standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end architecture and design of data centre facilities and critical infrastructure.
• Develop and maintain High-Level Design (HLD) and Low-Level Design (LLD) documentation.
• Translate IT capacity, availability, operational, and business requirements into detailed data centre designs.
• Develop integrated solutions covering Civil, MEP, Electrical, Cooling, ELV, ICT, Security, Fire & Life Safety, BMS, EPMS, and DCIM.
• Perform capacity planning covering IT load, rack density, electrical capacity, cooling, space, redundancy, and future growth.
• Develop data centre layouts, equipment placement plans, rack layouts, electrical Single-Line Diagrams (SLDs), and schematic drawings.
• Perform electrical load calculations and equipment sizing for UPS, generators, transformers, switchgear, PDUs, RPPs, and related infrastructure.
• Design and validate cooling solutions based on IT heat load, rack density, redundancy, and environmental requirements.
• Define power and cooling redundancy architectures including N, N+1, and 2N configurations based on availability requirements.
• Perform infrastructure assessments, audits, benchmarking, and capacity reviews.
• Identify infrastructure capacity, availability, resilience, maintainability, and lifecycle risks.
• Lead technical integration across Civil, MEP, ELV, ICT, and monitoring systems.
• Coordinate dependencies between facility and IT infrastructure environments.
• Review IFC drawings, shop drawings, equipment layouts, schematics, technical submittals, and design calculations.
• Use engineering and modelling tools such as AutoCAD, Visio, ETAP, CFD, DIALux, and relevant 3D modelling solutions.
• Perform or coordinate CFD analysis to validate cooling performance and airflow management.
• Prepare technical specifications and Bill of Quantities (BOQ) for data centre infrastructure.
• Review OEM and vendor technical solutions, products, datasheets, and material submissions.
• Participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and Integrated Systems Acceptance Testing (ISAT).
• Provide technical governance during implementation to ensure alignment with approved architecture, designs, specifications, and standards.
• Develop testing and commissioning strategies for critical data centre infrastructure.
• Coordinate and validate system and integrated testing activities, including failover and resilience scenarios.
• Support project handover, operational readiness, and transition activities.
• Develop and review operational documentation, including SOPs, MOPs, EOPs, runbooks, and configuration documentation.
• Support capacity management and optimisation across power, cooling, space, and critical facility infrastructure.

Technical Requirements

• Strong experience in data centre facility architecture and design.
• Strong knowledge of floor planning, racks and cabinets, equipment layouts, raised floors, and space and weight planning.
• Strong understanding of critical power infrastructure including UPS, generators, ATS, switchgear, PDU, and RPP.
• Experience designing power redundancy architectures including N, N+1, and 2N.
• Strong knowledge of data centre cooling, airflow, hot/cold aisle design, heat-load planning, and environmental monitoring.
• Experience with Civil, MEP, Electrical, ELV, ICT, BMS, EPMS, and DCIM environments.
• Knowledge of structured cabling standards including ANSI/TIA-942, TIA-606, and TIA-568.
• Experience with physical security, access control, and facility resilience.
• Experience with AutoCAD, Visio, ETAP, CFD, DIALux, or similar engineering and design tools.
• Experience with data centre capacity planning and optimisation.
• Experience preparing and validating BOQs, technical specifications, drawings, and equipment sizing.
• Experience with FAT, SAT, integrated testing, and commissioning activities.
• Experience producing HLD, LLD, architecture diagrams, and technical documentation.
• Strong understanding of data centre availability, reliability, resilience, maintainability, and lifecycle management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 7+ years of relevant experience, including at least 3+ years in Data Centre Architecture, Design, or a similar role.
• Relevant data centre certification such as CDCP, Uptime Institute certification, or equivalent is preferred.
• ITIL 4 Foundation is preferred.
• TOGAF, advanced data centre design, or facilities-related certifications are an advantage.
• Strong technical leadership and project coordination skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work across multidisciplinary technical teams.

Key Skills

Data Centre Architecture | Data Centre Design | MEP | Electrical Infrastructure | UPS | Generators | Cooling | HVAC | CFD | BMS | EPMS | DCIM | Structured Cabling | ANSI/TIA-942 | N+1 / 2N | Capacity Planning | AutoCAD | ETAP | FAT / SAT / ISAT | HLD / LLD