Vice President, Data Centre Design & Engineering

Overview

Our client is seeking a Vice President of Engineering to lead and scale their data centre design function. This role is focused on engineering design leadership, not operations.

The ideal candidate comes from a consulting engineering or design firm environment, with deep expertise in mission-critical / data centre design and a proven track record of leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.

This is a key executive hire responsible for setting design standards, driving technical excellence, and building a high-performing engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and engineering strategy for all data centre projects across North America
• Oversee and grow a multidisciplinary engineering team (electrical, mechanical, MEP)
• Establish and enforce design standards, best practices, and QA/QC processes
• Provide executive oversight on data centre design delivery (power, cooling, redundancy, uptime)
• Act as the technical authority on all mission-critical infrastructure systems
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, developers, and external consultants to ensure best-in-class design outcomes
• Support business growth through client engagement, technical presentations, and proposal development
• Drive innovation in high-density deployments, energy efficiency, and next-generation cooling solutions
• Mentor and develop senior engineering leaders within the organization

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in engineering design, with a strong focus on data centres / mission-critical facilities
• Proven background within a consulting engineering / design firm (A&E environment)
• Experience leading large-scale data centre design projects (Tier III / IV preferred)
• Deep technical expertise in:
  • Electrical systems (UPS, generators, redundancy)
  • Mechanical systems (cooling, chilled water, liquid cooling)
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing engineering teams and design delivery
• Strong understanding of uptime, resiliency, and mission-critical design principles
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng) designation preferred
• Experience working with hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise clients is an asset

What Sets This Role Apart

• Opportunity to step into a true executive leadership role
• Ability to build and shape the engineering function
• Direct impact on high-profile data centre developments
• Collaborative, growth-focused environment with strong leadership support