Design Manager in London

Join Kao Data as a Design Manager – Drive Excellence in AI‑Focused Data Centres! Kao Data leads the industry, pioneering the development and operation of data centres engineered for AI and advanced computing. With a hyperscale‑inspired and industrial scale platform, we provide our customers with a secure, scalable, and sustainable home for their compute. Design and Construction at Kao Data is the engine behind our high‑performance digital infrastructure. Our multidisciplinary team integrates architectural design, structural engineering, and advanced construction methodologies to deliver hyperscale data centres with precision and speed. Leveraging BIM, modular construction, and sustainable design principles, we optimise every phase — from concept to commissioning.

About the Role: Kao Data has an in‑house design management team which forms part of the overall project delivery team. Our Design Managers are skilled mechanical or electrical engineers whose role is to assist all elements of the business with any technical, design and engineering related assistance. We are looking for a Design Manager to primarily support new‑build projects through the RIBA stages and also deliver projects on live operational sites. You will be involved in new site selection and the management of design development for new technology suites, DC buildings and campuses. You will support the operational team with the upgrade and replacement of aging plant, improvements to existing infrastructure and efficiency upgrades. You will support the operational team when there are problems and/or incidents and provide technical advice as required.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the physical delivery of projects on site including attending design and progress meetings, ensuring designers and contractors work together collaboratively, liaising between the project and operational team, closing RFIs, reviewing and closing technical submittals, and supporting the delivery manager with change.
• Manage the design team to deliver an accurate and detailed design package. This will involve reviewing design information, challenging the design team to consider all options and ensuring the design team understand Kao Data’s requirements.
• Determine and understand the design requirements, programme and budget.
• Develop a design strategy to deliver a positive outcome.
• Minimise, monitor and review design change.
• Support business activities such as funder audits, insurance audits, and marketing.
• Liaise with all elements of the business including operations, compliance, H&S, security, IT, etc.
• Develop the design/engineering brief, employers’ requirements or scope of works in sufficient detail to clearly brief the internal business, the project design team and/or the contractor.
• Rely on external consultants and contractors to undertake the detailed design.
• Work with the Kao Data delivery manager (PM) to set up the project and a project team to deliver the works.
• Set up an efficient and functional BIM/CDE strategy with the project team.
• Recognise that commissioning (Cx) is key and set up and monitor a detailed commissioning process – typically via appointed commissioning agents and consultants.
• Attend key commissioning activities including L1, L4 and L5.
• Support the handover process including record information reviews, inspections, etc.
• Deliver new data centre developments on existing and new campuses.
• Support operational teams with life‑cycle plant replacement/upgrade projects.
• Understand customer requirements including specific contract requirements.
• Work with the operations team – understand their requirements, ensure engagement in projects, support with lifecycle projects, problems and incidents, etc.
• Collaborate with, and manage the output of, our consultant design teams. Empower them, challenge them, understand the BoD and ensure the BoD ‘guiderails’ are understood and followed where it suits the brief – track BoD deviations where it does not.
• Manage all elements of design – MEP, CSA, controls (EPMS), fire, security and other specialists.
• Gain sufficient understanding of non‑core disciplines to be able to ask the “right questions” and challenge design and construction teams.
• Work with colleagues, consultants, vendors, etc. to gain technical support/understanding on key issues where required.
• Track design progress, prioritise and manage design workstreams and ensure the design team has all the information needed to deliver a working design.
• Work closely with internal and external PMs and commercial teams to support successful delivery and help ensure projects are on budget and on time.
• Review and provide technical feedback on consultant fee proposals and contractor tenders, variations, etc.
• Challenge the design and encourage VE without impacting the quality of the ‘product’.
• On live campuses, liaise between the project and ops teams to ensure the successful integration of new works to existing infrastructure without impacting existing customers.
• Speak regularly with product vendors to understand how their technologies work and any incoming innovations.
• Look out for new technologies and be aware of industry innovations.
• Consider and recommend infrastructure improvements.
• Provide technical support to all parts of the business – sales, operations, customer team, site development, H&S, security, compliance, etc.
• Provide internal reporting to ensure the senior levels of the team and business understand project progress, risks and have the information they need to make key decisions.
• Ensure the design documentation is clear, accurate, functional, buildable and operable.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject (typically mechanical, electrical or building services engineering) is required.
• Achieved or working towards professional certification (e.g. CEng, PE).
• Uptime Institute Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) certification is desirable.
• Familiarity with data centre methodologies, standards and certifications (e.g. Uptime Institute, Tier Certification, ASHRAE etc).
• Extensive experience in design consultancy, design management, contractor design management experience, etc.
• Demonstrated construction industry project delivery experience.
• Experience in design/delivery of data centre engineering or similar mission‑critical environments (e.g. pharmaceuticals, heavy industry etc) is desirable.
• Experience in designing and delivering multi‑MW data centre critical infrastructure is desirable.
• Knowledge of mechanical and/or electrical systems, including power distribution, precision cooling, ventilation, fire systems, and controls is essential.
• Familiarity with key data centre infrastructure components including generators, MV/LV switchgear, UPS systems, critical cooling/ventilation systems, and BMS is essential.
• Understanding of other disciplines including CSA, fire engineering, security, acoustics etc.
• Experience with commissioning and testing of MEP systems is desirable.
• Use of Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Navisworks, CDEs etc.
• Able to technically manage a design team of all engineering disciplines.
• Strong organisational and time‑management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Understand the basics of project delivery/management so you can support and collaborate with the Kao Data delivery manager.
• Flexible to travel and visit sites for factory acceptance testing, typically within the UK or EU.

Why Kao Data?

• Be part of an innovative and rapidly growing AI data centre leader.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
• Work in a dynamic and collaborative environment.
• Engaging team events that strengthen workplace culture and connections.

Benefits

• Private Medical – private health insurance including dental and optical cover.
• Holiday – 25 days annual leave plus UK bank holidays.