Technical Director – Data Centers

Position Summary

The Technical Director for Data Centers at UCC Holding leads the comprehensive technical oversight for data center projects from initial concept through construction completion. This senior engineering role ensures that all aspects—power, cooling, civil, and ICT systems—meet the stringent standards for hyperscale and colocation facilities and are fully practicable and operable upon commissioning. Collaborating closely with executive leadership and project teams, the Technical Director serves as the principal technical authority, managing design standards, cross-disciplinary coordination, OEM interfaces, and technical risk throughout the project lifecycle.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to multi-disciplinary engineering teams across power, cooling, civil/structural, and ICT fields.
• Own and validate technical standards and design basis documentation through front-end engineering design (FEED).
• Ensure all designs are constructible and logically organized for effective site execution.
• Oversee resolution of inter-disciplinary clashes using advanced 3D modeling tools such as REVIT.
• Manage the high, medium, and low voltage power system design, including utility intake, MV switchgear, transformers, UPS, batteries, generators, and interfaces with OEMs.
• Implement power redundancy schemes targeting AI-ready campus specifications and coordinate protection, metering, and power quality with specialized consultants.
• Lead the design of cooling systems such as air-side economization, chillers, air and liquid cooling for high-density AI computing, ensuring PUE targets of 1.2–1.4 are met in line with industry benchmarks.
• Manage plumbing, drainage, HVAC, and fire suppression system designs integrating with energy modeling for optimal efficiency and performance.
• Oversee civil and structural designs, including foundations, raised floors, data halls, and façade construction, accounting for equipment loads, seismic safety, and phased expansions.
• Ensure coordination of mechanical and electrical services within building infrastructure to prevent site clashes and rework.
• Supervise ICT infrastructure design including structured cabling, fiber backbone, and carrier-neutral meet-me rooms, ensuring designs support DCIM for operational efficiency.
• Coordinate with network operators and hyperscale clients regarding connectivity and meet-me room requirements.
• Engage commissioning teams early in the FEED stage to ensure design supports testability and safe energization.
• Define and review commissioning documentation such as plans, inspection test plans (ITPs), factory acceptance tests (FAT), and site acceptance tests (SAT).
• Ensure complete and accurate technical handover documentation that meets client operation and maintenance criteria.
• Apply safety-by-design principles and lead hazard identification (HAZID) and hazard and operability (HAZOP) analyses, ensuring all action items are followed up.
• Manage quality assurance for all design deliverables through structured reviews and approvals.
• Serve as the primary technical liaison with hyperscale and colocation clients throughout design development.
• Conduct technical clarification meetings with clients, authorities, and utility providers.
• Represent UCC Holding in workshops involving OEMs, specialty consultants, and external design teams.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related disciplines.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in engineering roles focused on mission-critical or data center projects.
• Proven track record managing hyperscale or large-scale colocation data centers.
• Extensive knowledge of data center power system architectures.
• Strong expertise in designing cooling systems.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams of 10 or more engineers.
• Familiarity with Front End Loading (FEL)/FEED project delivery methodologies.
• Proficiency in design software such as AutoCAD, REVIT, or their equivalents.
• Previous work experience in the Middle East or similar international contexts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications in sustainability standards such as LEED or BREEAM.
• Experience working with hyperscale clients and their design standards, including Google, Microsoft Azure, Meta, AWS, or Oracle.