Design Manager (Data Centres)

Chronos Energy are seeking a Design Manager (Data Centre/Critical Infrastructure/Heat Networks). A senior, hands-on technical leader responsible for the end-to-end technical design governance of all data centre projects. This role combines deep mechanical and electrical design expertise with practical delivery experience, working directly with external engineering and design-and-build (D&B) partners to ensure all solutions meet reference architecture, performance requirements, and sustainability objectives. Our client designs, builds and operates decentralised and decarbonised data centres, recapturing and reusing the heat they generate for the benefit of everyone.

Please ensure you read the below overview and requirements for this employment opportunity completely.

About the Role

You will act as the technical authority for data centre design decisions, remaining closely involved from concept through detailed design, construction, commissioning, and handover.

Responsibilities

• Design Governance & Technical Leadership
• Own, develop, and continuously improve data centre reference architecture and technical standards.
• Lead hands-on technical review, challenge, and sign-off of all externally produced designs.
• Ensure all designs align with HPC performance requirements, resilience targets, heat-reuse objectives, and operational needs.
• Chair technical design reviews, stage-gate approvals, and risk workshops.
• Mechanical & Electrical Design (Supervision and Design Development)
• Provide direct technical input and oversight across all MEP disciplines.
• Lead design decisions for power architecture (HV/LV, redundancy, UPS, generators).
• Work actively with our engineering teams to localise and continuously improve our reference architectures optimised for high-density HPC and heat recovery.
• Define and govern heat export interfaces and integration with thermal networks.
• Ensure designs are efficient, safe, maintainable, and operable over the asset lifecycle.
• External Design & Build Partner Management
• Translate strategy and reference architecture into clear Employer’s Requirements and design briefs.
• Work day-to-day with architects, MEP consultants, and D&B contractors to resolve design challenges.
• Review RFIs, technical submissions, deviations, and change proposals.
• Ensure as-built outcomes match approved design standards.
• Build, Commissioning & Handover Support
• Support construction and commissioning teams with rapid technical decision-making.
• Resolve design-related site issues and clashes.
• Define commissioning strategies, acceptance criteria, and performance testing requirements.
• Ensure full design compliance at handover, including accurate as-built documentation.
• Operational & Asset Performance Alignment
• Ensure designs support reliable, cost-effective, long-term operation.
• Incorporate operational feedback into future design iterations.
• Support investigations into performance issues with hands-on technical analysis.
• Strategic & Technical Development
• Contribute to the long-term technical roadmap for HPC and heat-reuse data centres.
• Evaluate emerging technologies to improve efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.
• Drive standardisation to enable scalable, repeatable deployment.
• Stakeholder Communication
• Clearly communicate complex technical matters to non-technical stakeholders.
• Provide concise technical input to senior leadership, investors, and partners.
• Support technical sections of business cases and investment materials.

Qualifications & Experience required

• 8–12+ years’ experience in data centre or mission-critical facility design.
• Strong mechanical and electrical engineering competence.
• Proven experience acting as technical authority over third-party designs.
• Proven background delivering complex engineering projects.
• Experience with HPC environments, high-density cooling, and resilient power systems.
• Strong understanding of D&B delivery models.
• Practical, hands-on mindset with the ability to dive into detailed design when required.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Building Services Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer status desirable.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Nice to haves

• Experience in large infrastructure construction and operations.
• Familiarity with project and infrastructure finance. xwzovoh
• Experience of working within a fund-backed corporate.