Expression of Interest: Design Managers

We are seeking experienced Design Managers to lead design and engineering across projects in our Design and Construction Team at Kao Data.

About The Role

The Design Manager is responsible for setting the technical and engineering direction of the business, providing leadership across projects from early development (RIBA Stage 0) to customer occupation (RIBA Stage 6). The role delivers practical, applied engineering solutions that support Kao Data’s real‑estate objectives, ensuring high‑quality design solutions aligned with company standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Design Function and Senior Leadership Team throughout the development lifecycle from inception to post‑construction & commissioni­ng.
• Collaborate with the Design Manager and Quantity Surveyor to ensure cost plans capture design and engineering needs and support the delivery manager with change control.
• Manage and coordinate external consultants, ensuring their work aligns with Kao Data standards and project timelines.
• Respond creatively to time‑critical RFPs and RFIs focused on DC infrastructure design.
• Contribute to business‑related workstreams from an operational or customer perspective.
• Attend and contribute to project coordination, consultant, contractor, team meetings and other required meetings.
• Collaborate with and support other design and engineering team members, including commissioning managers, delivery managers, life‑cycle engineers, solutions architects and development teams.
• Prepare weekly project or workstream reports for the Design and Engineering Director.
• Maintain accurate records of testing activities, issues identified and solutions implemented.
• Work with technical teams to develop operation and maintenance documentation and provide training to the operations team.
• Maintain standards and accurate records of all infrastructure installations and related documentation.
• Ensure environmental building management systems are updated and tested during each phase, overseeing commissioning of EPMS and Customer portal systems.

What We’re Looking For

• Specialist technical knowledge in an engineering discipline.
• Extensive experience in data centre engineering or a similar mission‑critical role.
• Proven track record of designing and overseeing construction of a data centre or infrastructure.
• Excellent experience managing a design team across engineering disciplines.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Civil or relevant Engineering disciplines.
• Professional certification (e.g., PE, CxA, LEED) desirable.
• Familiarity with data centre standards and certifications (e.g., Uptime Institute, Tier).
• Strong knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems: power distribution, HVAC, fire suppression, controls.
• Experience with generators, UPS, cooling systems, BMS (Building Management Systems).
• Experience with performance testing, integrated systems testing, troubleshooting.
• Experience using AutoCAD and Bluebeam.
• Strong organisational and time‑management skills, managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication, leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.

Benefits

• Private medical insurance including dental and optical cover.
• 25 days annual leave plus UK bank holidays.
• Salary‑sacrifice pension scheme.
• Enhanced parental leave: maternity and paternity.
• Life assurance and income protection.
• Mental health support via employee assistance programme and Mental Health First Aiders.
• Charity volunteering days (2 per year).
• Electric vehicle salary‑sacrifice scheme.
• Optical benefit.
• Access to Unum’s Help@Hand programme.

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