Technical Director Electrical Engineering

Job description

About Vantage Data Centers Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands. About Vantage Data Centers Vantage Data Centers designs, builds, and operates mission-critical digital infrastructure for the world’s leading hyperscalers, cloud providers, and AI platforms. Operating across North America, EMEA, and APAC, Vantage delivers scalable, high-performance data center solutions with a focus on reliability, speed to market, operational resilience, and long-term asset value. As demand for AI-ready infrastructure, high-density compute environments, and resilient digital platforms accelerates across EMEA, Vantage continues to expand and evolve its engineering capability to support increasingly complex mission-critical infrastructure systems. The Mission Critical Engineering (MCE) team acts as the technical authority within the CTO function, responsible for engineering assurance, technical governance, reference design integrity, resilience validation, engineering leadership across major programmes, and engineering excellence throughout the EMEA portfolio. Position Overview The Technical Director, Electrical Engineering – Mission Critical Engineering, EMEA is a senior engineering leadership role within the CTO organisation, responsible for technical authority, engineering excellence, electrical design governance, leadership of electrical engineering teams across complex mission-critical data centre programmes, and engineering assurance across Vantage’s EMEA data centre portfolio. Reporting directly to the Vice President, Mission Critical Engineering, EMEA, this role provides technical leadership across complex mission-critical infrastructure projects spanning hyperscale, colocation, AI, and high-density compute deployments. The role acts as a senior subject matter expert (SME), and a technical lead on DC projects, for electrical engineering systems across the full project lifecycle, from concept planning and reference design through detailed engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, operational readiness, and technical optimisation. This is not simply a project engineering role. It is a portfolio-level technical leadership position responsible for protecting engineering integrity, ensuring technical consistency, managing engineering risk, supporting product deployment, and continuously improving the resilience and performance of the Vantage EMEA platform. The role combines technical leadership, team development, engineering governance, customer engagement, delivery oversight, and strategic growth within a high-performing engineering environment. Role Purpose The Technical Director, Electrical Engineering – Mission Critical Engineering, EMEA is responsible for ensuring the technical quality, robustness, resilience, constructability, operational integrity, and engineering compliance of electrical systems deployed across the EMEA portfolio, aligned with Vantage product standards, engineering governance requirements, customer commitments, and operational objectives. The role acts as a senior technical authority across complex data centre projects from concept through detailed design, construction, commissioning, and operational handover. The role provides leadership across: • HV/MV/LV electrical infrastructure • Utility interfaces and substations • Standby generation systems • UPS systems and critical power architectures • Power distribution systems • Earthing and bonding systems • Protection coordination and system studies • Electrical resilience and redundancy strategies • Power system integration and operational reliability • Electrical design standards and engineering governance • Product deployment support and reference design integrity • Electrical Centres of Excellence, providing R&D and technical input into product evolution and platform development • Engagement with suppliers and manufacturers to determine suitable technical fit, equipment selection, product applicability, and deployment strategy • Test fit electrical design reviews and validation activities • Build Cost Optimisation (BCO) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) assessments relating to electrical systems and infrastructure strategies • Electrical energy efficiency analysis, modelling, and optimisation initiatives • Best-practice sustainable electrical engineering design principles across mission-critical infrastructure environments • Technical assessment of emerging electrical technologies supporting AI-ready, high-density, and next-generation compute environments • Technical alignment between Mission Critical Engineering, Product, Delivery, Operations, and Procurement functions The role is also responsible for supporting the transition toward increasingly standardised, modular, scalable, and product-led deployment models across EMEA. Operating Context Mission Critical Engineering operates as the technical authority within the EMEA CTO organisation. The function is responsible for: • Engineering assurance across the data centre lifecycle • Technical governance and standards compliance • Design integrity and engineering consistency • Product and reference design technical validation • Technical risk management and resilience assurance • Cross-functional engineering coordination • Continuous technical improvement and lessons learned integration • Technical leadership and engineering oversight across major mission-critical programmes and strategic deployments The Technical Director, Electrical Engineering – Mission Critical Engineering, EMEA works closely alongside the Electrical Director, Mission Critical Engineering, EMEA in leading electrical engineering strategy, technical governance, and engineering excellence across the regional portfolio. While the Technical Director provides senior technical leadership across major mission-critical programmes, engineering assurance activities, customer engagements, and complex project delivery, the Electrical Director maintains overall accountability for electrical engineering discipline leadership across the organisation, including engineering resource management, discipline capability development, technical standards governance, and long-term electrical engineering strategy. Together, these roles provide aligned technical leadership across engineering delivery, product deployment, resilience assurance, engineering standards, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the EMEA portfolio. Within this model: • Product owns platform deployment, product governance, and regional adaptation • Mission Critical Engineering owns technical assurance, engineering integrity, resilience validation, and technical governance • Engineering Delivery and Design Management support execution, coordination, and delivery integration • Construction, Commissioning, and Operations provide deployment feedback and operational learning The Technical Director, Electrical Engineering must ensure engineering excellence is maintained without creating unnecessary engineering complexity, uncontrolled technical divergence, or project-specific engineering behaviours that undermine platform consistency. Core Responsibilities Technical Leadership and Engineering Excellence • Act as the senior electrical technical authority and technical design leader across the EMEA portfolio • Provide technical leadership across MV/LV distribution, substations, UPS systems, generators, and critical power infrastructure • Review and sign off electrical designs and technical outputs across the portfolio • Ensure electrical systems meet required standards for resilience, reliability, maintainability, scalability, and operational performance • Lead electrical engineering strategy and technical direction across mission-critical projects • Ensure alignment with applicable engineering standards, codes, and industry frameworks including Uptime Institute Tier requirements, TIA-942, IEC, BS, and regional utility requirements • Support the development and continuous improvement of technical reference designs and engineering standards • Drive engineering consistency and technical quality across all stages of project delivery • Ensure electrical engineering outputs support constructability, commissioning readiness, operational acceptance, and lifecycle maintainability • Own and evolve electrical system architecture, high-level schematics, and electrical design philosophy aligned with Vantage’s product platforms and long-term engineering strategy • Lead electrical engineering project teams across major mission-critical programmes, providing technical direction, coordination, escalation leadership, and engineering decision-making throughout the project lifecycle • Act as the senior electrical engineering escalation authority for complex technical issues, engineering deviations, resilience concerns, and critical design decisions across the EMEA portfolio • Provide formal technical review, approval, and sign-off of major electrical engineering strategies, technical deviations, and mission-critical infrastructure design approaches as required within the CTO governance framework Engineering Assurance and Technical Governance • Own electrical engineering assurance activities across EMEA projects • Review complex electrical engineering designs, studies, calculations, and technical reports • Provide technical oversight of design partner deliverables and consultant engineering outputs • Ensure engineering compliance with Vantage standards, customer requirements, operational expectations, and product deployment principles • Lead technical reviews covering resilience, redundancy, maintainability, and operational risk • Identify technical risk areas and support mitigation strategies across the portfolio • Support technical governance forums, design reviews, and engineering decision-making processes • Ensure engineering changes are technically robust and aligned with approved standards and governance requirements Mission Critical Systems Leadership • Provide SME leadership across mission-critical electrical systems including: • HV utility systems • MV distribution systems • LV critical distribution • UPS systems • Static transfer systems • Generator systems • Synchronisation and load management systems • Protection systems • Earthing and lightning protection systems • Energy storage systems • Critical controls and monitoring systems • Support complex engineering studies including: • Load flow analysis • Short circuit analysis • Arc flash analysis • Protection coordination studies • Harmonic analysis • Grounding studies • Resilience and fault scenario assessments • Power quality analysis • Support engineering reviews associated with transient response, switching behaviour, system stability, and operational resilience in mission-critical environments Project Leadership and Delivery Oversight • Act as technical lead across major data centre projects and programmes • Oversee electrical engineering delivery from concept through commissioning and operational handover • Ensure projects achieve required technical quality, customer expectations, programme objectives, and commercial performance • Coordinate with Product, Design Management, Delivery, Construction, Commissioning, Procurement, and Operations teams • Support resolution of complex engineering issues arising during design, procurement, construction, commissioning, or operations • Conduct site visits, technical audits, inspections, and engineering assessments as required • Review RFIs, submittals, shop drawings, commissioning plans, and technical deviations • Ensure technical lessons learned are captured and integrated into standards and future projects • Lead electrical engineering project teams across major mission-critical data centre programmes, providing technical direction, coordination, design leadership, resource guidance, and engineering decision-making from concept through commissioning and operational handover • Direct and coordinate multidisciplinary electrical engineering activities across internal teams, external consultants, specialist vendors, and delivery stakeholders to ensure aligned, high-quality technical outcomes • Provide day-to-day technical leadership, mentorship, and escalation support to project engineering teams operating across multiple concurrent programmes and regional deployments • Ensure project engineering teams maintain alignment with Vantage engineering standards, product deployment principles, resilience requirements, delivery objectives, and operational expectations Design Partner and Consultant Management • Manage and technically lead external engineering consultants and design partners • Review consultant performance, technical outputs, engineering quality, and delivery alignment • Ensure consultants comply with Vantage engineering standards, governance requirements, and project objectives • Support consultant selection, technical due diligence, fee reviews, and capability assessments • Provide technical direction and guidance to external engineering teams throughout project delivery • Ensure coordinated engineering integration across multidisciplinary design environments Product and Platform Support • Support Product and Mission Critical Engineering alignment across EMEA product platforms • Provide technical support for Forge & Flex deployment and EMEA product standardisation initiatives • Support adaptation of global product standards to EMEA technical, utility, regulatory, and operational requirements • Review electrical implications of product changes, OFCI strategies, modularisation approaches, and deployment methodologies • Support technical validation of test fits, reference designs, and deployment configurations • Ensure technical integrity is maintained during regional product adaptation activities Innovation, Sustainability, and Future Technologies • Support adoption of innovative technologies and engineering approaches across the EMEA portfolio • Evaluate emerging technologies relating to: • AI-ready infrastructure • High-density compute environments • Liquid cooling systems • Renewable energy integration • Battery energy storage systems • Grid-interactive systems • Electrical efficiency improvements • Sustainability and PUE optimisation initiatives • Support continuous improvement of engineering performance, resilience, energy efficiency, and operational outcomes • Contribute to technical white papers, engineering studies, and industry thought leadership initiatives Commercial and Strategic Support • Support fee proposals, bids, SOWs, SOQs, RFPs, technical submissions, and commercial negotiations • Assist with project fee forecasting, engineering resource planning, and technical risk assessment • Support business development activities, customer engagement, and strategic technical discussions • Represent Vantage at client meetings, technical forums, industry events, and engineering workshops • Work closely with the VP, Mission Critical Engineering on engineering strategy, capability growth, and organisational development • Report on engineering performance, technical risk, resilience, and engineering quality across the portfolio • Support strategic technical decision-making relating to platform evolution, regional deployment strategy, engineering investment priorities, resilience risk reduction, and long-term infrastructure performance • Provide technical support for customer negotiations, lease compliance matters, utility engagement strategies, and major commercial decision-making activities Direct Reports / Functional Leadership The role may provide direct management and/or technical leadership across: • Senior Electrical Engineers • Principal Engineers • Electrical Design Managers • Engineering SMEs • Technical Specialists • Design Review Leads • External consultants and engineering partners Key Success Measures • Consistent delivery of technically robust and resilient electrical infrastructure solutions • Reduction in engineering-related technical risk and design quality issues • Improvement in engineering consistency and standards alignment across projects • Successful deployment of scalable and repeatable mission-critical electrical systems • Improved engineering quality and technical governance outcomes • Successful integration of operational lessons learned into future engineering standards • Strong alignment between Product, Engineering, Delivery, and Operations • Positive client feedback and technical credibility across customer engagements • Effective mentoring and development of engineering talent • Strong consultant and design partner performance outcomes Qualifications and Experience Required • Degree-qualified in Electrical Engineering or Building Services Engineering • Chartered Engineer status with IET, CIBSE, or equivalent professional body • 10–15+ years’ experience delivering electrical engineering within mission-critical or large-scale infrastructure environments, including significant experience across hyperscale, colocation, AI, or high-availability data centre platforms • Strong experience across hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, or edge data centre environments • Deep technical understanding of critical electrical infrastructure systems including HV/MV/LV systems, UPS systems, standby generation, substations, and mission-critical distribution architectures • Proven experience leading complex engineering programmes and multidisciplinary engineering teams • Strong experience reviewing and approving technical engineering deliverables and consultant outputs • Proven capability operating as a senior technical authority within complex engineering environments • Strong understanding of engineering governance, resilience strategies, redundancy concepts, and operational risk management • Experience operating within consulting engineering, contractor, owner/operator, or integrated delivery environments Preferred • Experience supporting modular, prefabricated, or industrialised delivery models • Experience with BIM-enabled engineering workflows and Revit-based coordination • Experience supporting engineering activities across multiple international markets • Experience supporting AI-ready infrastructure and liquid cooling deployments • Understanding of product-led deployment models and standardised engineering platforms • Experience contributing to technical standards, engineering governance frameworks, or engineering assurance programmes Skills and Competencies • Strong technical authority and engineering judgement • Systems thinking across complex mission-critical environments • Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders • Strong leadership and mentoring capability • Ability to operate effectively across technical, operational, commercial, and executive environments • Strong problem-solving and engineering risk management capability • High attention to technical detail and engineering quality • Strong stakeholder management and communication skills • Commercial awareness and understanding of engineering impact on cost, programme, and operational performance • Collaborative leadership style with strong accountability and ownership Leadership Profile • Engineering-led and technically authoritative • Delivery-aware and commercially grounded • Calm and credible under pressure • Strong mentor and technical leader • Focused on resilience, quality, and operational outcomes • Able to balance engineering excellence with practical deployment realities • Collaborative across Product, Delivery, Operations, and Commercial functions • Focused on long-term platform improvement rather than isolated project optimisation Why This Role Matters The Technical Director, Electrical Engineering – Mission Critical Engineering, EMEA plays a critical role in protecting the technical integrity of the Vantage platform. This role ensures that mission-critical electrical systems are designed, validated, deployed, and operated to the highest standards of resilience, performance, safety, and operational reliability. As Vantage continues transitioning toward increasingly standardised, scalable, and product-led deployment models, this role helps ensure technical excellence is not compromised by speed, growth, or complexity. The role acts as a critical bridge between engineering theory and operational reality — ensuring Vantage delivers infrastructure platforms that are technically robust, commercially viable, operationally resilient, and capable of supporting the next generation of AI and hyperscale infrastructure demands. We operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other’s strengths and respecting each other’s weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations. Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community. Don't meet all the requirements? Please still apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values. Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer Vantage Data Centers does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firm agencies. Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired; such resumes will be deemed the sole property of Vantage Data Centers.