Principal Architect - Data Centres

Job Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

We are a multidisciplinary team working with Data Centre clients across both Hyperscale and Colocation and also Enterprise projects across Europe. These projects are led from our specialist data centre team based in the UK in conjunction with our local teams across Europe who ensure localisation and permitting delivery, but also other global design teams providing resource and capability to the projects.

We are seeking an experienced Principal Architect with a strong technical background in the design of large multi-disciplinary design projects, preferably data centres. The ideal candidate will be able to collaborate effectively within multi-disciplinary architectural and engineering teams.

You will play a key role in producing and coordinating design information through all RIBA Stages, leading and working closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure accuracy, compliance and excellence in delivery.

The candidate must be strong in technical design content, with a CSA bias and in design management, digital technologies, and design workflow. They will be expected to oversee design activities and the production of design information and maintain the level of quality that is expected throughout these projects. They will have to manage this delivery to very demanding timelines and programmes with immovable deadlines.

The preferred location for this role is Belfast, given its position as a key hub of expertise. Dublin, Manchester, and London are also suitable locations. The role will require travel throughout the UK, Ireland, and Europe.

AECOM is listed as the 4th largest employer of architects worldwide in the World Architecture WA100 2025 survey, with over 1500 architects. We are currently expanding in the UK, so now is a great time to join our team and build your career for the future. We are at number 10 in the AJ100 list. AECOM employs around 7500 multi-disciplinary staff in the UK, and we offer architecturally led multi-disciplinary design services to our clients.

Project / Design Responsibilities

• Lead designer responsibilities within a multidiscipline team.
• Assist in coordinating the design across multi-disciplinary architectural and engineering teams, working closely with discipline leads to deliver integrated architectural and engineering outputs across projects.
• Ensuring all internal governance is followed both at bid stage and throughout the delivery of projects.
• Presenting to clients and prospective clients.
• Supporting the design proposals and ideas for a mix of new build, refurbishment and compliance upgrades and expansion programmes.
• Reviewing and approving drawing information
• Liaising with design and drafting teams across disciplines
• Delivering design packages of moderate to high complexity
• Preparing reports and supporting data tables
• Reviewing and interpreting vendor, subcontractor and 3rd party designers documentation
• Ensuring compliance with relevant codes, permits and discipline-specific standards
• Knowledge or experience in using CDE platforms for document control and coordination
• Marking up drawings using Adobe PDF and working confidently within Microsoft Office applications
• Line management and mentoring less experienced and lower grade members of the team.
• Lead verification role once settled within the role and obtaining the required experience within the sector and business.
• Acting as BR PD utilising the AECOM standard proformas and procedures to demonstrate compliance.
• Supporting fee proposals and bids, and monitoring hours expended on projects.

Managerial Responsibilities

• Organises own and others work to achieve set deadlines.
• Ensures, directly and through subordinates, that projects are completed on time and meet all requirements of the Design Brief and Client requirement documents.
• Responsible for the correctness, accuracy and multi-disciplinary coordination of the design documentation prepared by the assigned team.
• Ensures the quality of technical work produced by the team meets AECOM’s Technical Excellence standards.
• Applies knowledge and experience to manage the day-to-day work of practice teams.
• Interact with clients, contractors, local authority representatives and others using skills of persuasion and negotiation to resolve critical issues.
• Responsible for key design input at early design phases and for general design leadership during the course of the project.
• Promotes teamwork within a multi-disciplinary team, maintaining positive morale and instilling a creative culture within the practice.
• Make appropriate value judgements with respect to corrective work that supports the design concept and performance goals of the project.
• For projects on site: Manage interface between Design Team / Site Team ensuring proper design support is provided in a timely manner.
• Support Associate Directors and / or Directors with operational responsibilities which includes development and implementing Technical Excellence initiatives, management of resources (HR), training initiatives (CPD).
• Engage with resource forecasting and management.
• Where requested, engage with business reporting activities.
• Support and develop staff through guidance, mentoring and leadership of their development.
• Ensure the latest software and digital techniques are utilised to increase productivity and identify where training opportunities for staff should be made available.

Commercial Responsibilities

• Understand and implement project management principles and be able to work within project budgets which includes fees and designing to budget.
• Assist in initial assessment of potential new projects and competitions.
• Support Associate Directors and / or Directors in the preparation of bids.
• Help build a network of professional relationships with existing and prospective clients.

Support marketing and business development initiatives.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Fully Qualified Architect (ARB Registered) and proven experience in working on large multi-disciplinary design projects, preferably in infrastructure.
• Willingness and interest to work in a range of areas of infrastructure design under the guidance of Associate Directors and / or Directors. Our areas of design include: Surface Transport, Rail, Aviation, Education, Health Care, Science, and Logistics.
• Degree qualification, preferably with Diploma or Masters in a University Course, although the latter is not absolutely essential.
• Some experience of various forms of building contract will be helpful.
• An understanding and knowledge of the application UK Building Systems, Standards and Regulations and construction types.
• IT literate, with knowledge of CAD software, and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, TEAMS, etc).
• Ability to manage a busy workload and deadlines.
• A clear work history and proof of professional development and learning.

Additional Information

Preferred Qualifications:

• ARB registration (or equivalent European or International qualification).
• RIBA Part 3, or RIBA Part 2 (or equivalent European or International qualification).

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

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