Technical Director - Data Centre

AtkinsRéalis · Abu Dhabi

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Job Description

Overview

The Technical Director – Data Centres is the senior technical authority for Multidisciplinary engineering services associated with Data Centre projects across the Middle East region.

The role is responsible for ensuring technical excellence, design quality, governance compliance, innovation, digital delivery and successful project execution across all stages of the project lifecycle. The position provides leadership to project teams, supports strategic client engagement, leads technical input into major pursuits and serves as a trusted advisor to clients and internal stakeholders.

In addition to project delivery responsibilities, the role is accountable for supporting the development and expansion of AtkinsRéalis' Data Centre market sector in partnership with the Market Director. This includes sector strategy development, client engagement, market intelligence, thought leadership, capability building and work-winning support.

The Technical Director is expected to be recognised both internally and externally as a subject matter expert in mission-critical facilities and to contribute to the growth and reputation of AtkinsRéalis as a leading Data Centre engineering consultant.

Your role

Technical Leadership & Engineering Excellence

• Act as the highest level of technical authority for on Data Centre projects.
• Provide strategic technical direction for hyperscale, colocation, enterprise and edge Data Centre developments.
• Review and approve major engineering strategies, design philosophies and technical solutions.
• Lead resolution of complex technical challenges, constructability issues and multidisciplinary coordination matters.
• Ensure designs achieve optimum levels of resilience, reliability, maintainability, energy efficiency and operational flexibility.
• Support projects through design reviews, assurance gates and independent technical audits.
• Promote best practice engineering methodologies and continuous improvement across project teams.
• Champion technical excellence and innovation throughout the project lifecycle.

Design Governance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with AtkinsRéalis quality management processes, technical governance frameworks and OCRA requirements.
• Lead peer reviews, technical audits and independent design verifications.
• Maintain alignment with applicable international standards, local authority regulations and client requirements.
• Monitor technical risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Ensure lessons learned are captured and incorporated into future project delivery.
• Act as technical signatory for major deliverables where delegated authority permits.

Data Centre Subject Matter Expertise

• Provide specialist expertise in mission-critical building systems including:
• Civil, Architectural and Structural envelope.
• Power generation and distribution systems.
• UPS systems and battery technologies.
• Cooling and thermal management systems.
• Water conservation and sustainability solutions.
• Fire protection and life safety systems.
• Building Management Systems (BMS).
• Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM).
• Security and critical communications systems.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and industry trends affecting Data Centre design and operation.
• Promote adoption of innovative solutions that improve performance, resilience and sustainability.

Market Sector Development

• Working jointly with the Market Director:
• Support development and implementation of the regional Data Centre market strategy.
• Identify emerging opportunities and growth areas within the mission-critical sector.
• Build and maintain relationships with hyperscale operators, colocation providers, investors, developers and technology partners.
• Participate in executive client engagement programmes.
• Represent AtkinsRéalis at industry forums, conferences and sector events.
• Develop sector-specific marketing material, thought leadership publications and technical papers.
• Contribute to annual business planning, forecasting and pipeline development.
• Support strategic account planning and key client relationship management.
• Help position AtkinsRéalis as a preferred engineering advisor within the Data Centre market.

Work Winning & Client Development

• Lead technical input for strategic pursuits and major bids.
• Develop compelling technical methodologies and delivery strategies.
• Participate in bid/no bid assessments and opportunity reviews.
• Support fee development, risk assessments and resource planning activities.
• Prepare and deliver client presentations and interview submissions.
• Provide technical leadership during proposal development activities.
• Support contract negotiations and technical clarifications where required.

Project Delivery Leadership

• Provide technical oversight across multiple commissions simultaneously.
• Support Project Directors and Project Managers in delivering successful outcomes.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, profitably and in accordance with client requirements.
• Review project performance, technical risks and resource requirements.
• Assist in resolving project issues that may impact programme, quality or commercial performance.
• Support strategic decisions on complex or high-risk projects.

Digital Engineering & Innovation

• Drive adoption of digital engineering methodologies within the Data Centre sector.
• Promote BIM, Digital Twin and data-centric delivery approaches.
• Support implementation of automation, AI-enabled workflows and advanced analytical tools.
• Champion innovation initiatives that improve project delivery efficiency and design quality.
• Collaborate with digital delivery leaders to establish industry-leading technical practices.

Sustainability & Future Ready Design

• Champion sustainable and resilient Data Centre design principles.
• Support implementation of decarbonisation strategies and Net Zero objectives.
• Promote efficient energy and water utilisation solutions.
• Encourage adoption of circular economy principles where appropriate.
• Guide project teams in achieving client sustainability targets and recognised sustainability certifications.

People Leadership & Capability Development

• Mentor and develop senior engineering staff and future leaders.
• Support succession planning.
• Assist in recruitment, retention and workforce planning activities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, accountability and continuous learning.
• Contribute to talent reviews and career development discussions.
• Promote knowledge sharing across the regional and global Data Centre communities.

About you

Key Accountabilities

• The role holder shall be accountable for:
• Technical quality of Data Centre engineering outputs.
• Technical governance compliance and risk management.
• Successful delivery of major and complex Data Centre projects.
• Growth of AtkinsRéalis' technical reputation within the market.
• Development of Data Centre sector capability and market presence.
• Contribution to sector revenue growth and work winning.
• Technical development and mentoring of engineering teams.
• Adoption of innovation and digital delivery initiatives.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering or related discipline.
• Master's Degree desirable.

Professional Qualifications

• Chartered Engineer status (CEng, PE or equivalent recognised institution).
• Membership of a relevant professional institution such as CIBSE, IET, IEEE, ASHRAE or equivalent.

Experience

• Typically 20+ years post-graduate experience.
• Significant experience delivering mission-critical or Data Centre projects.
• Proven record of leadership within a major international consultancy.
• Demonstrated capability managing complex multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong client-facing and stakeholder management experience.
• Evidence of successful work-winning and business development activities.

Technical Knowledge

• Demonstrable knowledge of:
• Uptime Institute principles.
• TIA-942.
• ASHRAE Data Centre guidance.
• NFPA standards.
• IEC and IEEE standards.
• High-voltage and low-voltage electrical systems.
• Critical cooling technologies.
• Resilience and redundancy strategies.
• Sustainability and energy optimisation approaches.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking.
• Commercial awareness.
• Client focus.
• Technical authority and influence.
• Decision making under uncertainty.
• Collaboration and stakeholder management.
• Coaching and talent development.
• Innovation and change leadership.

Success Measures

• Delivery of technically compliant and high-quality project outcomes.
• Positive client feedback and repeat business.
• Growth in Data Centre market share and pipeline.
• Achievement of work-winning targets.
• Strong safety and quality performance.
• Development and retention of high-performing technical teams.
• Increased adoption of digital and innovative delivery practices.
• Recognition of AtkinsRéalis as a leading Data Centre engineering consultant in the region.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career.

This includes:

• Tax-free salary.
• Life insurance coverage.
• Medical insurance.
• Annual leave balance.
• Company gratuity scheme.
• Discretionary bonus program.
• Annual flight contribution.
• Transportation & housing allowances.
• Employee Wellbeing Program: 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness, and nutrition.

Seize every opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your expertise, and be recognized for the impact you make.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Worker Type

Job Type

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.  

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