Associate Design Manager

Join Kao Data as an Associate 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. It’s a dynamic environment for professionals who thrive on technical complexity, innovation, and delivering mission-critical facilities that power the future of AI and cloud computing.

About the Role

Kao Data have 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 an experienced Associate Design Manager to lead the management of design and development for new technology suites, DC buildings and campuses. The Associate Design Manager will primarily support new-build projects through the RIBA stages and also deliver projects on live operational sites. In this leadership role you will be the single point of contact on your projects for your colleagues as well as consultants, vendors and contractors. You will support develop and mentor more junior design managers.

As an Associate Design Manager you will support the operational team with the upgrade and replacement of aging plant, improvements to existing infrastructure and efficiency upgrades. You will also support the operational team with problems and incidents and provide technical advice.

Key Responsibilities

• The Associate Design Manager will typically get involved in the early stages of site selection and early RIBA stage development for larger scale builds to ensure the base design requirements are correct before moving on to detailed design.
• Developing a design strategy to deliver a positive outcome. Determining and understanding the design requirements, as well as the programme and budget
• Developing 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.  The design manager typically relies on external consultants and contractors to undertake the detailed design
• Managing the design team to deliver an accurate and detailed design package.  This will involve reviewing of design information, challenging the design team to consider all options and ensuring the design team understand Kao Data’s requirements. Provide expert technical advice (around core discipline) to others in the DM team. 
• 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 a sufficient understanding of non-core disciplines to be able to ask the “right questions” and challenge design and construction teams. Minimise, monitor and review design change.
• Understand customer requirements including specific contract requirements.
• 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 they need to deliver a working design.
• Work closely with internal and external PM’s 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.
• 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. Share with the DM team.
• Provide technical support to all parts of the business – sales, operations, customer team, site development, H&S, security, compliance etc.
• Supporting business activities such as funder audits, insurance audits, marketing etc.
• Working with the Kao Data delivery manager (PM) to set up the project and a project team to deliver the works.
• Support the physical delivery of projects on site including attending design and progress meetings, ensuring designers and contractors work together collaboratively, liaison between the project and operational team, closure of RFIs, technical submittal review and closure, supporting the delivery manager with change etc.
• set up and monitoring 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.
• Review customer contracts to ensure they (a) align with the Kao Data design or (b) to understand what changes might need to be made to comply with specific customer requirements.
• 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.

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant subject (typically mechanical, electrical or building services engineering) is required.
• A professional certification (e.g. CEng, PE) or a Institute Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) certification is desirable.
• Deep familiarity with data centre methodologies, standards and certifications (e.g. Uptime Institute, Tier Certification, ASHRAE etc).
• Extensive design/engineering experience in a core discipline.
• Demonstrated construction industry project delivery experience.
• Extensive design/delivery of multi-MW data centre engineering projects.
• Experience in managing, leading and/or mentoring [engineering/design] teams is essential.  
• In depth knowledge of critical mechanical and/or electrical systems, including power distribution, precision cooling, ventilation, fire systems, and controls is essential.
• Good understanding of key data centre infrastructure components including generators, MV/LV switchgear, UPS systems, critical cooling / ventilation systems, and BMS.
• Understanding of other disciplines including CSA, fire engineering, security and acoustics .
• Experience with the five levels of DC testing including integrated systems testing (L5 IST), and troubleshooting.
• 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 fundamentals of project delivery/management so you can support and collaborate with the Kao Data delivery manager.
• The Associate Design Manager must be flexible and adaptable, ready to support high-priority projects and tasks, assist colleagues
• 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
• Private Medical – private health insurance including dental and optical cover.
• Holiday – 25 days annual leave plus UK Bank Holidays
• Pension – Salary Sacrifice Pension
• Parental Leave – Enhanced Maternity and Paternity leave
• Life Assurance & Income Protection
• Mental health support - 24/7 access to mental health support via our employee assistance programme, and a trained team of Mental Health First Aiders
• Giving back – 2 Charity volunteering days a year.
• Electric Vehicle - Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Optical Benefit
• Access to Unum’s Help@Hand