Senior Design Manager (Data Centres) - London or Bicester

RED are an expanding international M&E consultancy, with a proven track record in low energy design, focused on providing excellent design solutions to clients. Through our market leading technical expertise, we enable the world’s digital infrastructure and develop the built environment whilst also helping clients realise ambitious plans for zero carbon-built environments. We cover the entire life cycle of any building project, with our broad capability offering saving our clients time, money, and effort. Our approach is centred around listening to our clients and interacting energetically with our fellow project stakeholders. We add value with our people, client service ethos, global delivery strategy, technical ability, and attitude.

The Senior Design Manager (SDM) leads and coordinates multidisciplinary design activities across complex hyperscale and technology driven data centre projects. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the SDM owns the day to day design management activities on assigned projects and acts as the principal design point of contact for internal project teams, external consultants, and clients. Working closely with Associate Design Managers—who oversee broader project portfolios—the SDM is responsible for ensuring design deliverables meet project requirements, client standards, and key milestones from feasibility through concept, 50/80/100% design stages and into post contract support. This role requires strong leadership, excellent communication skills, and a deep understanding of MEP, architectural, structural, civil, and specialist data centre systems. The SDM drives quality, technical accuracy, and coordinated outputs across all design workstreams.

• Lead, organise, and coordinate multidisciplinary design teams (MEP, architecture, structures, civils, security, sustainability, acoustics and specialist SMEs).
• Operate with full autonomy in daily design management activities, requiring minimal direction.
• Serve as the principal design interface alongside the wider project team, ensuring consistent communication and alignment across all project stakeholders.
• Capture client requirements and translate them into clear, toll gated design deliverables (Masterplan, 50%, 80%, 100% packages).
• Ensure design outputs meet project demands, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and global data centre benchmarks (e.g., Uptime Institute, ASHRAE TC 9.9, ISO/IEC standards).
• Oversee compliance with planning, permitting, building regulations, and localisation requirements.
• Manage design programmes and track progress against milestones, proactively identifying risks, clashes, or schedule impacts.
• Lead design change control processes in collaboration with project management, ensuring robust documentation, traceability, and scope clarity.
• Support value engineering while maintaining performance, schedule, and cost objectives.
• Act as the primary technical point of contact for clients, consultants, sub consultants, and internal teams.
• Lead and chair design meetings, technical workshops, and high quality design page turn sessions (virtual or in person).
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, addressing performance concerns early and effectively.
• Ensure rigorous QA/QC processes, technical reviews, and risk management protocols are applied across design deliverables.
• Contribute to internal development of design management systems, tools, templates, and best practice processes.
• Support business development, representing the discipline and the business with professionalism and technical excellence.
• Mentor and support junior design managers, engineers, and discipline leads.
• Promote high standards of behaviour, documentation, collaboration, and technical excellence across the team.

Role Requirements:

• 5+ years at Senior Engineer or Design Manager level.
• MSc/MEng (or equivalent) in an appropriate engineering discipline (desirable).
• BSc/BEng as a minimum.
• Professional membership (e.g., MCIBSE, MIEE, IMechE, MCIOB, APM PMQ, PRINCE2) desirable; Chartered status preferred.
• Proven project management and multidisciplinary design experience with data centres or other large scale, complex engineering projects.
• Strong MEP background with exposure to highly engineered or mission critical environments.
• Experience working in fast track, client driven design cycles (typically 20–25 weeks).
• Knowledge of redundancy strategies (UTI, Sub UTI, distributed redundancy) preferred.
• Strong understanding of the full design lifecycle and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Able to manage multiple concurrent workstreams with autonomy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with cross cultural awareness.
• Commercially aware with experience in fee management, resource planning, and financial controls.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, MS Project; familiarity with Autodesk Construction Cloud, Planisware, and design related tools desirable.
• Strong scope management, prioritisation, and risk awareness.
• Knowledge of UK and European codes, NEC4/JCT contract frameworks, and their impact on design obligations.
• High level of adaptability, proactivity, and self motivation.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required.
• Strong understanding of company QA processes, internal governance, and long term business goals.
• Awareness of international working practices within a global consultancy environment.

Benefits:

• 23 days annual leave rising to 28 days annual leave over 5 years’ service.
• Holiday purchase and buy back scheme.
• Hybrid Working.
• Contributory company pension scheme.
• Healthcare Scheme via salary sacrifice (Company funded cover is dependant on level).
• Non-contractual bonus awards.
• Training sponsorship.
• Charity volunteering leave.
• Wellness days/ initiatives.
• Salary commensurate with experience.

Our people work in friendly teams with a collaborative approach and mentoring support from talented leaders. We offer a comprehensive benefits package and are an equal opportunities employer.

This role will ideally suit those with the right to live & work in the UK without restrictions, as we are unable to offer sponsorship at the present time. Red is a company of Tractebel.

Our organisation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We offer reasonable accommodations upon request for individuals with disabilities.