Design Manager – Data Center Projects

SSOE is seeking a Design Manager with extensive experience in Data Center projects. The Design Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating the multi-discipline design effort for large-scale data center projects, from conceptual planning through detailed design and construction support. This role serves as the technical and design integration lead, ensuring architectural, structural, MEP, fire protection, civil, and technology systems are fully coordinated, code-compliant, constructible, and aligned with client requirements for reliability, scalability, schedule, and cost. 

The Design Manager acts as the primary point of accountability for design quality and technical execution, working closely with the Project Manager, discipline leads, clients, and external stakeholders to deliver best-in-class data center facilities. 

At SSOE, we don’t just talk about the future, we build it. As a leader in industry AI adoption, we empower our team to work smarter by providing responsible access to the industry leading AI Large Language Models, vibe-coding platforms, and securely integrating advanced tools into every role. From day one, you’ll receive the training and support needed to leverage AI as a core tool for enhancing productivity, sparking creativity, and streamlining complex workflows.

The following duties are typical of the position, but are not all encompassing. Responsibilities include those required to deliver quality service on schedule and within budget in a team environment.

Design Leadership & Coordination:

• Lead and manage the overall design effort for data center projects, ensuring seamless coordination across architecture, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and low-voltage/IT systems.
• Establish and maintain design execution plans, design schedules, and discipline-specific deliverables aligned with project milestones.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary design reviews to identify and resolve clashes, scope gaps, constructability issues, and operational risks.
• Ensure design decisions support data center performance requirements, including uptime tier objectives, redundancy strategies (N, N+1, 2N), resiliency, and future expansion.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a primary technical interface with the client, supporting design workshops, technical reviews, and executive-level presentations.
• Translate client business and operational requirements into clear, actionable design criteria.
• Support proposal development, scope definition, and technical narratives for data center pursuits.
• Coordinate with AHJs, utility providers, commissioning agents, and equipment vendors as required.

Technical Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Ensure all design deliverables are on time and meet SSOE quality standards, applicable codes, industry standards, and client-specific design guidelines.
• Ensure all technical action items and scope are addressed in the deliverables.
• Lead technical risk identification and mitigation, particularly related to power distribution, cooling strategies, fire/life safety, and phasing. Elevate technical questions and risks in a prioritized manner to the project manager and client. Align assumptions with the project manager and client.
• Oversee design documentation reviews at key phases (concept, schematic, design development, IFC).
• Promote standardization, modularization, and repeatable design solutions where appropriate.

Schedule, Cost & Change Management

• Collaborate with the Project Manager to manage design budgets, labor forecasts, and change control.
• Identify scope changes early and support impact assessments related to cost, schedule, and technical risk.
• Support value engineering efforts while maintaining data center performance and reliability objectives.
• Construction & Commissioning Support
• Provide design support during construction, including RFI responses, submittal reviews, and field issue resolution.
• Participate in site visits, factory witness testing (FWT), integrated systems testing (IST), and commissioning activities as required.
• Support project closeout and lessons-learned documentation.

Team Leadership & Development

• Mentor discipline leads and emerging technical staff on data center best practices and SSOE design processes. Ensure quality onboarding of additional technical staff onto the project.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team environment focused on accountability, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Support knowledge sharing and development of data center design standards within SSOE.

In addition to competitive, market-based compensation, this role is eligible for a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your career, well-being, and long-term success.

What we bring:

• Salary Range: 20 to 30 Lacs/year depending on location, education, experience, and any certifications directly related to the position. [This role is eligible for overtime or premium pay, employee-recognition programs, and additional annual incentive / discretionary bonuses, of which are based on company and individual performance and goals.]

• As an employee-owned firm, eligible employees also have the opportunity to participate in SSOE’s stock ownership program, providing an additional level of earning and investment. We offer ownership opportunities to all employees at the Associate level and above. (This Associate-level role will allow you an opportunity to become a shareholder of SSOE).  

• Benefits include health insurance, accidental death & disability, access to our Employee Assistance Program, and parental leave (paternity and maternity).
• SSOE contributes to statutory benefits programs that include gratuity and provident fund.

Additional Perks Offered:

Experience a collaborative, people-first culture where you’re not just a number—you’re a valued contributor.

• Enjoy work–life balance through flexible schedules, a hybrid / remote work environment, generous PTO, and paid holidays designed to support your well‑being. [This role is eligible for PTO carry-over, compensatory offs, leave donation, the possibility for international travel, and flextime shifts to choose from in order to lessen the burden of the rush-hour traffic in Mumbai.]
• Build direct relationships with leadership through regular access, open communication channels, and structured mentorship that supports both technical and professional growth.
• Engage in company‑funded, employee‑led clubs that strengthen connection, community, and cross‑team collaboration—creating a supportive workplace that extends beyond project work.
• Being part of a diverse team, you'll embark on thrilling projects from inception to completion and engage directly with some of the most innovative clients globally across industries and geographies—helping insulate your career from economic shifts while continuously building new skills.
• Embrace a culture of perpetual learning where curiosity is celebrated, innovative ideas are welcomed, educational achievement is monetarily awarded, and your career growth aspirations are fully supported with professional development, training, and resources you need to advance. [This role is eligible for educational, licensure, and certification reimbursement.]

Who We Need:

Education:

• Bachelor’s in Engineering (Mechanical/Electrical/Civil/Structural) or Architecture
• Master’s degree is a plus

Experience:

• 10+ years in building/industrial/mission-critical design.
• Strong hands-on experience in Data Center Design (hyperscale /enterprise).
• Experience working with or for US-based firms / US projects preferred.
• Proven track record in a leadership/managerial role handling multi-discipline teams.

Technical Skills (mix as applicable to discipline, but familiarity across is preferred):

Knowledge of:

• Data center power distribution, UPS, generators, switchgear, grounding.
• Cooling/HVAC for data centers (CRAC/CRAH, chilled water, containment, etc.).
• Structural and civil aspects of data center facilities and site development.
• Redundancy and reliability concepts (N, N+1, 2N architecture).
• Familiarity with US codes & standards (IBC, NFPA, NEC, ASHRAE).
• Familiarity with design tools such as Revit, AutoCAD, and discipline-specific software (e.g., ETAP/SKM/HAP as relevant).

Soft Skills:

• Strong leadership and team-building capability.
• Excellent English communication skills (spoken and written).
• Comfortable working in a global delivery / US time-zone overlap model.
• Strong ownership, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Key Competencies:

• Design integration and technical leadership.
• Client-focused problem solving.
• Risk management and decision-making.
• Cross-discipline collaboration.
• Schedule and budget awareness.
• Clear, concise technical communication.

SSOE– The Best of Both Worlds

At SSOE, our growth trajectory allows us to offer the opportunities normally associated with a large firm while embracing the collaborative and supportive culture often found in smaller firms. As a member of the SSOE team, you will work on exciting and diverse projects for Fortune 100 clients around the globe, supported by the best technology for the task at hand. You will experience our employee-centric culture that strives to offer a healthy balance, flexible working arrangements, direct access to leadership at all levels, and a mindset of continuous learning. Once you experience the SSOE difference, you’ll understand the why behind our metrics:

• 28% - of our employees have been with SSOE for 10 years or more.
• 15% - percentage of employees with tenure exceeding 15 years.
• 99% - our CEO’s approval rating on Glassdoor.
• 98% - portion of our clients who say they would recommend us to a colleague.