Principal Design Manager, EMEA

About Vantage Data Centers

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects, and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers, and large enterprises. Developing and operating across several markets in North America, EMEA, and APAC. Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency, and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Design Team

As integral part of the EMEA Development Group, the core objective of the Design team is to drive design innovation, standardization, and continuous improvement to enable the delivery of cost-effective and high-quality infrastructure, delivered safely and always on time. Striving for operational excellence, we specialize in pioneering technical design solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers.

Position Description

Vantage is actively seeking an experienced Principal Design Manager for the Frankfurt market to strategically lead and enhance design and engineering efforts in the construction and development delivery process. The role involves holistic ownership of the design life cycle, managing engineering teams, overseeing procurement processes, and serving as the primary point of contact for department leaders. The Principal Design Manager will foster seamless collaboration across functions, drive uniformity in product delivery, and work closely with the Design Program Office team to improve processes and tackle engineering challenges. This role requires a professional with extensive data center design management experience and a proven track record of excellence in complex engineering projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Design Leadership: Spearhead the development, review, maintenance, and enhancement of design packages, standards, and specifications, ensuring they align with strategic objectives and foster innovation.
• Client Relationship Management: As a support function to the sales team, cultivate robust client relationships through leadership in technical meetings, providing comprehensive updates on design progress, risks, blockers, changes, and priorities to the Vantage Regional Development Director and Leadership Team.
• Strategic Procurement and Vendor Management: Provide strategic oversight to procurement and regional project leads, leading the selection of local partners for design development, contract oversight, and Value Engineering (VE) implementation in alignment with organizational goals.
• Continuous Process Improvement: Drive continuous improvement in design, procurement, and construction processes to optimize Operations delivery. Lead change management initiatives with consultants and contractors to enhance overall efficiency.
• Quality Assurance and Risk Management: Proactively anticipate, report, and mitigate design and engineering quality, risks, and opportunities through regular on-site inspections. Ensure OFCI design alignment with executed design within the region.
• Team Development: Conduct regular meetings with design teams, provide feedback, and foster a culture of continuous improvement through Lessons Learned meetings.
• Technical Interface: Utilize advanced technical expertise to interface with the end user/ customer, ensuring strict compliance with project requirements, codes, and specifications.
• Design Brief: Take full ownership of design briefs, including design baselines, outlining clear and site-specific design inputs, constraints, assumptions, and requirements, aligned with customer and regional needs.
• Cost Management: Actively provide insight into potential cost implications arising from project and design-based development.
• Benchmarking and Quality: Drive benchmarking initiatives for internal regional alignment and ensure the highest design and construction quality standards.
• Coordination and Integration: Proactively manage all design changes proposed by internal departments and third parties, ensuring seamless integration.

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, building services engineering, or a related technical field from an accredited institution preferred. Alternative, relevant education or experience such as military service or exceptional experience/training may be considered.
• 7+ years of experience in data center design management or equivalent leadership roles
• Proficiency in data center design and familiarity with Europe construction markets.
• Strong knowledge of critical cooling and power infrastructure within data center projects.
• Familiarity with building codes and fire ordinances.
• Fluent in German and English.
• Willingness to travel (30 – 40% expected).

As the Principal Design Manager, you will be instrumental in advancing the design and engineering excellence of Vantage's data center projects, contributing to the growth and success of our organization. Your technical acumen, leadership skills, and dedication to innovation will shape the future of data center development in the region.

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer