Design Manager

Equinix is the world's digital infrastructure company®, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet. A place where bold ideas are welcomed, human connection is valued, and everyone has the opportunity to shape their future. A career at Equinix means being at the center of shaping what comes next and amplifying customer value through innovation and impact. You'll work across teams, influence key decisions, and help shape the path forward. You'll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work.

Job Summary

The Design Manager is responsible for a subset of design decisions related to a portfolio of datacenter projects which can include: new construction, phased expansion, retrofits and upgrades, acquisition conversions, mechanical and electrical equipment selections, and standards upgrades in either a specific region or globally. They are a high performing mechanical, electrical or controls engineer or architect with demonstrated capability to think and make decisions across disciplines. The Design Senior Staff critically assesses design decisions under direction from more senior staff and supports such staff in applying the required Equinix standards and country specific regulations to make the best design choices. They assist in the management of the relationship and output of key design partners and equipment suppliers for their assigned tasks and critically assess and escalates issues where the relationship with such partners is not meeting expectations.

Responsibilities

• Design Process
  • Owns a subset of the design process and interacts with Architectural, Mechanical and Electrical Partners (MEPs), and other design partners to deliver assigned components of world class datacenters with a strong focus on technical excellence, mission critical resilience and cost management.
  • Contributes to the development of globally standardized tools, techniques and processes for the management and reporting of the design process.
  • Works with peers in other regions to ensure consistency and technical excellence on design and delivery practices and methodologies.
  • Thinks and acts in a global manner, ensuring design decisions are developed and discussed with more senior staff to ensure appropriateness on a global basis.
• In the regional role
  • Supports senior staff to obtain and define site specific conditions, utility and infrastructure design, costs and availability of utilities, liaison with planning authorities and local logistics including site logistics during construction and phasing.
  • Provides locally informed and compliant infrastructure design, supply information to and collaborates with the master planning function.
  • Provides local design engineering to support site specific changes to templates.
  • Reviews the masterplan for delivery and submits to senior staff for approval.
• In the Center of Excellence role
  • Supports senior staff in the master planning of expansion portfolio using global design standards and templates; incorporating regional information to apply these to the inception of projects.
  • Generates project visualization, initial model using reference design templates and cost estimate for business case inception.
  • Liaises with regional team to incorporate local infrastructure into the design.
  • Liaises with construction cost team regionally and globally to assist business case generation.
• Cross‑Functional Coordination
  • Maintains interpersonal relationships with internal technical staff, external design consulting partners, construction management, commercial management, and regional P&L holders to ensure appropriate stakeholder exposure and buy in to Data Center projects.
  • Consults the center of excellence teams and more senior Design staff to augment their individual technical expertise to ensure all facets of the datacenter design are adequately considered and approved.
  • Manages internal and external resources via their influence and competencies to assist in the development of assigned designs.
• Project Management
  • Manages a portion of the design schedule for assigned projects to ensure on time creation and review of Basis of Designs (BODs), Real Estate Investment Committee (REIC) Submissions, and design documentation for Issued for Permit (IFP) and Issued for Construction (IFC) sets.
  • Works hand‑in‑hand with construction managers, GMs and subs to deliver projects during construction once the design phase is completed and ensure projects are fully documented and closed out.
• In the regional role
  • Works hand‑in‑hand with more senior staff, construction managers, general contractors and subcontractors to deliver assigned parts of projects during construction once the design phase is completed and ensure projects are fully documented and closed out.
  • Tracks and escalates, with the aid of the commercial management team, any concerns with design budgets and change management requests during the construction phase, in consultation with the Construction Manager.
• In the Center of Excellence role
  • Works hand‑in‑hand with the regional design teams and Construction Managers to deliver elements of the Concept Designs and Standards that support the delivery of world class datacenters.
  • Tracks and escalates, with the aid of the commercial management team, issues with costs of the assigned sub‑designs to ensure appropriate balancing of cost flexibility and global standardisation.
• Design Oversight
  • Stays up‑to‑date on advancements in design being investigated by the centers of excellence teams to ensure technologies support future Data Center design and construction needs and feeds back information to construction for incorporation of changes.
  • Reviews designs so that they meet Equinix’s Global Design Standards and the business needs for capacity, density, and function, escalating any issues to senior staff.

Qualifications

• Proven years experience in a Design MEP Firm or in the design team of a Mission Critical Building operator or subcontractor, or proven years experience as an Architectural lead in a Mission Critical Architectural Design Practice preferred.
• MSc in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or MSc in Architecture is preferred, BSc acceptable or extensive and demonstrable experience in role, Architects to hold RA or AIA PE desirable but not essential.

Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability. If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form. Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an affirmatively action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy/childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political/organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law.