Associate Director – Data Centres (HV Substation Design) – UK NEW

Job description

We are trusted by the world’s leading Hyperscalers and Data Centre operators to deliver the critical HV infrastructure that underpins their most ambitious programmes. Our clients include globally recognised names driving the cloud computing revolution — organisations that demand the highest standards of engineering excellence, reliability, and technical innovation.

As an Associate Director, you will be at the heart of this work, leading end-to-end HV substation design for hyperscale and co-location data centre clients across the UK, Ireland and Europe, shaping grid-scale power infrastructure from concept through to energisation on projects that few engineers get the opportunity to be involved in.

Here’s what you’ll do:

• Lead HV substation technical discussions with data centre clients and multi-disciplinary teams -establishing scopes, defining interfaces between HV infrastructure and site power systems (e.g. MSBs, UPS, generators), and ensuring coordinated delivery
• Direct the technical delivery of substation design for data centre grid connections and on-site HV networks, agreeing approach with engineering teams, monitoring progress, and quality-checking deliverables prior to client issue
• Apply lifecycle expertise — from grid connection studies and concept design through FEED and detailed design — to deliver HV substation schemes that meet the power density and availability demands of data centre campuses
• Liaise with project management teams to develop resourcing forecasts and programmes aligned to data centre construction schedules and critical path milestones
• Demonstrate commercial awareness through proposal development, project cost monitoring, and identifying opportunities to expand HV scope on data centre frameworks
• Build trusted relationships with data centre developers, hyperscale operators, and utility stakeholders, understanding their grid connection strategies and availability requirements
• Champion safety in design principles across all HV substation deliverables, ensuring compliance with relevant standards and the specific operational safety requirements of energised data centre environments
• Mentor and develop junior engineers, building team capability in HV substation design for data centre applications over the medium and long term

Enjoy the Perks.

At AECOM, you’ll enjoy a range of core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, customised to fit your lifestyle. Take advantage of career development opportunities, our flexible hybrid working model to ensure a work-life balance that suits your lifestyle, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

Qualifications

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible in data centre power infrastructure?

Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Experience in consultancy, contractor, or utility roles in the energy sector, with exposure to data centre grid connections or critical power infrastructure strongly preferred
• Background working with Data Centre Clients , TSOs, DNOs and, or other UK/Ireland transmission utilities or developers — particularly on connection agreements relevant to large power users or data centres
• Proven experience delivering HV infrastructure design at concept, FEED, and detailed design stages, with an understanding of the reliability and N+1/N+2 redundancy expectations of data centre operators
• Strong understanding of electrical AC HV plant and equipment — both AIS and GIS — including switchgear, busbars, cabling, earthing, and civil interfaces
• Working knowledge of National Grid standards, specifications, and connection requirements, including G99 and grid code compliance
• Proposal and bid development experience, including leading multi-discipline submissions for data centre HV infrastructure or grid connection projects
• Experience of design management and site construction review; primary plant focus is essential, with secondary systems knowledge (protection, control, SCADA) advantageous.
• Familiarity with control systems, power transformers, HV protection & control schemes; knowledge of HVDC or high-capacity interconnectors is a plus