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- Tasks: Lead design delivery for high-performance data centre projects and drive innovation.
- Company: Join Digital Realty, a leader in data centre services with a global footprint.
- Benefits: Inclusive environment, career development opportunities, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Be part of a passionate team that values your ideas and contributions.
- Why this job: Shape the future of mission-critical infrastructure and influence multi-million-euro projects.
- Qualifications: 10-15+ years in mission-critical buildings, strong technical background, and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Shape the future of mission-critical infrastructure. We are looking for an experienced Design Director to lead the technical delivery of complex, high-performance data center projects across our portfolio. This is a highly influential role at the intersection of design, engineering, construction, and operations-owning design decisions from project inception through commissioning and handover.
You will act as the single authority for all design matters, driving technical excellence, standardization, and innovation while ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.
Your Role
- Lead project design set‑up and delivery, coordinating multi‑disciplinary CSA and MEPH consultant teams
- Own the technical governance of projects, ensuring compliance with global and regional Design Engineering Guidelines (DEGs)
- Manage consultant procurement, appointments, performance, and budgets
- Act as the primary technical partner to Construction, Pre‑Construction, Portfolio, Sales, and Operations teams
- Serve as the technical authority throughout construction, commissioning, IST, and handover
- Engage directly with customers on Build‑to‑Suit developments as the senior design lead
- Champion standardization, innovation, and continuous improvement, including BIM, DfMA, and emerging technologies
- Represent design in discussions with authorities, utilities, insurers, vendors, and Tier 1 contractors
Your impact
- Influence multi‑million‑euro projects from concept to live operations
- Shape and evolve regional and global design standards
- Ensure design decisions balance performance, cost, risk, sustainability, and schedule
- Play a visible role with senior internal stakeholders and key customers
What you bring
- 10‑15+ years delivering mission‑critical or highly serviced buildings (data centres strongly preferred)
- Strong technical background in CSA and/or MEPH (consultancy, commissioning, or owner‑operator experience ideal)
- Proven experience managing complex stakeholder environments and external consultants
- Confidence operating at Director level, defending design decisions and influencing senior leaders
- Deep understanding of full project lifecycle: planning, design, permitting, construction, commissioning & IST
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture (Master's / Chartered status preferred)
A bit about us
Digital Realty is the leading provider of carrier and cloud neutral data centre services by delivering the full spectrum of data centre, colocation and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL® the company's global data centre platform provides customers with a secure data meeting place and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx™) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Digital Realty gives its customers access to the connected data communities that matter to them with a global data centre footprint of 300+ facilities in 50+ metros across 28 countries on 6 continents. We've 3,500+ colleagues around the world who work together, come up with life‑changing solutions and create connections that matter every day.
What we can offer you
Our rapidly evolving business sector offers the opportunity to be part of a courageous and passionate team who work together to understand and meet the changing needs of our global customers. Join us and you'll be part of a supportive and inclusive environment where you can bring your whole self to work. As part of our team, you'll get to work with people from different business areas, challenge the way we do things and put your ideas into action. We'll also give you plenty of development opportunities so you can build a rewarding and successful career with us. This is an exciting time to join our business so apply now and make your mark on our future.
Director, Design Engineering - DC Development (m/f/d) employer: Digital Realty
Contact Detail:
Digital Realty Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Design Engineering - DC Development (m/f/d)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. We want you to showcase your knowledge about their work and how you can contribute. Tailor your responses to highlight your experience in mission-critical infrastructure and design engineering.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. We believe that being well-prepared can make all the difference when it comes to impressing those senior leaders.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team and making an impact in the data centre world.
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Design Engineering - DC Development (m/f/d)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that align with the Design Director role. Highlight your experience in managing complex projects and working with multi-disciplinary teams, as this is key for us.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about design engineering and how your background makes you the perfect fit for our mission-critical projects. Be sure to mention any innovative approaches you've taken in past roles.
Showcase Your Technical Expertise: We want to see your technical chops! Include specific examples of how you've driven technical excellence and innovation in previous projects. This will help us understand your depth of knowledge in CSA and MEPH.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Digital Realty
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into your past projects, especially those related to data centres. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and the impact of your decisions on project outcomes.
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a Design Director, you'll need to demonstrate your strong technical background in CSA and MEPH. Prepare to discuss relevant design engineering guidelines and how you've applied them in previous roles to ensure compliance and innovation.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Highlight your experience managing complex stakeholder environments. Be prepared to share examples of how you've effectively communicated and collaborated with various teams, from construction to sales, ensuring everyone is aligned on project goals.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Discuss your commitment to standardisation and innovation. Bring examples of how you've championed new technologies like BIM or DfMA in your projects, and be ready to explain how these initiatives improved efficiency and project delivery.