Senior Engineering Design Manager - Remote (United States)

Decima International is a professional services company that delivers project management and controls services in the U.S. and the Middle East. Our mission is to become the premier professional services provider across all industry sectors we are engaged in. Its success is built on treating every client like a partner, hiring talented professionals, helping them grow, and expanding at a steady, high-quality pace.

Decima offers long-term career opportunities where employees work with major clients on complex, high-profile projects, with plenty of room for professional growth.

We are currently seeking a Senior Engineering Design Manager (Data Centers) to support multiple data center projects for a leading global technology client. This client-facing role requires strong communication, organization, and multidisciplinary design expertise across civil, structural, architectural (CSA), mechanical, electrical, ICT, security, and mission-critical systems, with the ability to manage several projects across multiple regions. Experience in hyperscale data centers, integrated design management, and mission-critical infrastructure is essential. This role includes mentoring team members, building lasting client relationships, acting as a liaison among multiple stakeholders, and supporting new business opportunities.

We are looking to bring in dedicated individuals with a passion for innovation and talent for multitasking in a fast-paced environment. We will help you grow, pursue, and fulfill what inspires you so we can make big impacts on the world, together.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Owner Advocacy & Oversight

• Act as the owner’s trusted design authority, ensuring all multidisciplinary designs meet program requirements, operational goals, and long-term reliability objectives.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the owner and the external design team, ensuring client requirements, performance criteria, and operational needs are clearly communicated, interpreted, and incorporated into coordinated design solutions across all disciplines.
• Review and approve consultant design packages (concept, SD, DD, IFP, IFC) across CSA, MEP, ICT, and Security disciplines.
• Provide critical evaluation of proposed solutions, identifying gaps, risks, interdisciplinary inconsistencies, constructability issues, or value-engineering opportunities that protect the owner’s interests.
• Lead technical and commercial negotiations with designers, contractors, and specialty consultants.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical leadership and strategic oversight across all data center design disciplines, ensuring systems are resilient, efficient, scalable, secure, and maintainable.

1. CSA (Civil, Structural, Architectural) Oversight

• • Oversee civil, structural, and architectural design elements, including:
    • Site development, grading, utilities, and drainage
    • Structural systems and building envelopes
    • Architectural layouts, space planning, and constructability
    • Life-safety, fire separation, and code compliance coordination
  • Validate design assumptions, calculations, and interdisciplinary coordination.

1. Mechanical Systems Oversight

• • Oversee key mechanical systems, including:
    • Data center cooling (CRAH/CRAC, chilled water, DX, evaporative cooling)
    • Hydronics and fluid distribution
    • Heat rejection systems
    • Airflow management, pressurization, and containment strategies
    • Smoke exhaust and other life-safety systems
  • Review and validate CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) models to ensure efficient airflow, thermal performance, and operational reliability.
  • Validate mechanical design calculations, equipment selections, and modeling outputs.

1. Electrical Systems Oversight

• • Evaluate and guide the development of electrical power systems, including:
    • Medium-voltage and low-voltage distribution
    • UPS systems and battery/energy-storage technologies
    • Generators, switchgear, and paralleling gear
    • Protective relaying, grounding, and bonding
    • Emergency power, lighting, and controls
  • Review load studies, short-circuit analyses, arc flash studies, and selective coordination plans.

1. ICT & Security Systems Oversight

• • Oversee ICT and security system designs, including:
    • Structured cabling and pathways
    • Network rooms and data halls integration
    • Physical security systems (access control, CCTV, monitoring systems)
    • Integration with building management and operational systems
  • Ensure alignment with client security standards and operational requirements.

Design Governance & Management

• Drive the design review and governance process, ensuring alignment with codes, standards, and the owner’s design basis.
• Coordinate interdisciplinary design integration across CSA, MEP, ICT, Security, controls, and other engineering disciplines.
• Manage design budgets, forecasts, and cost controls using ERP systems, ensuring alignment with program financial objectives.
• Manage specifications, technical standards, and consultant submittals to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Lead and manage value engineering initiatives to optimize cost, performance, and constructability without compromising reliability or client requirements.
• Oversee BIM coordination, clash detection, and model reviews using Revit and Navisworks to ensure fully coordinated, construction-ready designs.
• Ensure all design deliverables are complete, coordinated, and construction-ready.
• Maintain design logs, review matrices, risk registers, decision documentation, and change records.

Construction & Commissioning Support

• Provide design-intent interpretation during construction and ensure contractors’ work aligns with approved drawings, specifications, and client requirements.
• Manage and review RFIs, submittals, and field issues to ensure alignment with design intent and contractual obligations.

1. Multidisciplinary Change Order Evaluation

• • Evaluate all design-related change order requests across CSA, Mechanical, Electrical, ICT, and Security disciplines, including:
    • Determining root cause (design development, unforeseen conditions, scope gaps, or contractor means/methods)
    • Assessing technical and commercial validity
    • Identifying alternate solutions or mitigation strategies
    • Leading technical negotiations to minimize unnecessary change costs
    • Ensuring documentation is compliant, justified, and properly approved
  • Participate in commissioning planning, witness system testing, and validate that installed systems meet performance, security, and reliability requirements.

Stakeholder Alignment

• Work closely with program management, operations, construction, finance, and external designers to ensure design solutions meet functional, operational, and business objectives.
• Communicate design decisions, risks, and recommendations clearly and effectively to leadership and external stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications:

• 15+ years of design experience in data centers or mission-critical environments across CSA, MEP, ICT, and Security disciplines.
• 5+ years as an owner’s representative, design manager, or consulting lead managing multidisciplinary design teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• ⁠Extensive experience with hyperscale data center programs.
• Strong understanding of applicable codes and standards, including:
• ASHRAE, NFPA, Uptime Institute
• NEC, NFPA 70/70E, IEEE standards
• International Building Code (IBC) and local jurisdictional requirements
• Proven ability to manage external design firms, control budgets, and hold partners accountable for performance.
• Demonstrated experience with BIM coordination, clash detection, and model review processes.
• ⁠Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent professional certification.

Preferred Qualifications:

• ⁠Master’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.

POSITION DETAILS:

• Location: Remote Position (US-based)
• Position: Senior Engineering Design Manager
• Position Classification: Salary-based full-time hours
• Current US work permit required. This position does not offer sponsorship for employment (e.g., H-1B visa sponsorship or transfer not offered)

PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS:

• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft 365
• Autodesk Revit
• Autodesk Navisworks
• AutoCAD
• ERP systems for budget and cost management