At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative design projects for data centres and ensure technical excellence.
- Company: Join AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure and design.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work options, competitive benefits, and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with industry-leading technology and supportive onboarding.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on cutting-edge projects while mentoring future architects.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified architect with experience in multi-disciplinary design projects.
The predicted salary is between 66150 - 80850 £ per year.
Overview
As Principal Architect at AECOM, you lead complex, multi-disciplinary design projects—primarily data centres—through all RIBA stages, ensuring technical excellence and regulatory compliance.
You collaborate with cross-functional teams across Europe to coordinate design information, manage schedules, and maintain quality.
You guide design leadership, mentorship, and the adoption of digital tools to deliver integrated outputs on tight timelines.
This role connects strategic design delivery with AECOM’s mission to build a better world through infrastructure.
- Pay / Benefits
- hybrid work options
- competitive benefits and well-being programs
- global firm with opportunities for career growth
- equal opportunity employer
- supportive onboarding and development
- industry-leading technology and thinking
Responsibilities
- Lead designer within a multi-disciplinary team and coordinate outputs across architecture and engineering disciplines
- Ensure governance and compliance across bid and delivery stages
- Present design proposals to clients and prospects
- Support design ideas for new builds, refurbishments, and upgrades
- Review and approve drawing information; liaise with design and drafting teams
- Deliver design packages of moderate to high complexity and prepare supporting reports
- Review vendor, subcontractor, and third-party documentation for accuracy
- Mentor less experienced team members and lead design verification
- Support fee proposals, bids, and monitor hours expended on projects
- Manage on-site interfaces between design and site teams to ensure timely design support
- Advance resource forecasting, training initiatives, and use of latest software and digital techniques
- Key requirements
- Fully Qualified Architect (ARB Registered)
- Experience on large multi-disciplinary design projects, preferably infrastructure and data centres
- Degree qualification with Diploma or Masters preferred
- Understanding of UK Building Systems, Standards and Regulations
- IT literate with CAD software and Microsoft Office Suite
- Ability to manage busy workloads and deadlines
- Clear professional development history
- Willingness to work across infrastructure design areas including Surface Transport, Rail, Aviation, Education, Health Care, Science, and Logistics
- RIBA Part 3 or Part 2 preferred (addition)
- collaboration across multi-disciplinary teams
- leadership and mentoring
- communication and client presentation
- CAD software
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams)
- Adobe PDF markups
Principal Architect - Data Centres in Manchester employer: AECOM
At AECOM, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our extensive career development opportunities, flexible hybrid working model, and a culture that values diversity and inclusion. Join us in the South East, where you can make a meaningful impact on transport planning while enjoying a range of personalised benefits tailored to support your well-being and professional aspirations.
