Associate Director Mission Critical & Data Centres (Electrical)

About the Role

WSP in the Middle East is seeking an Associate Director Mission Critical & Data Centres (Electrical) to join their team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role requires over 10 years of experience and focuses on leading technical aspects of data center projects, driving design consistency, and ensuring compliance with international standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical contact for assigned data center projects, leading client discussions and negotiating technical scopes.
• Lead and approve concept, schematic, and detailed designs across electrical and mechanical disciplines, including UPS, generators, switchgear, HVAC, cooling, public health systems, Building Management Systems, fire protection, and fire/life safety.
• Develop and standardize scalable, repeatable data center solutions to ensure consistency and efficiency across UAE and KSA.
• Conduct site assessments, capacity planning, and feasibility studies in alignment with Uptime Institute Tier requirements.
• Ensure compliance with international standards (Uptime Institute, TIA-942, NFPA, ASHRAE) and local regulations.
• Mentor and coach engineering teams, facilitate knowledge transfer, and capture lessons learned for continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with the supervision team and other stakeholders to control costs, manage vendors, and mitigate technical risks.
• Contribute to business growth through technical proposals, client presentations, and identifying opportunities for service enhancements.
• Champion engineering standards and lead cross-regional collaboration to ensure consistency, innovation, and technical excellence in design methodologies and delivery practices.
• Cultivate strategic technical partnerships as a senior liaison among internal engineering teams, regional centers of excellence, external consultants, construction leads, and key stakeholders.
• Oversee the end-to-end engineering lifecycle, directing all phases of engineering and design from site feasibility to construction documentation.
• Provide visionary project leadership, acting as the technical authority and being accountable for design integrity, budget adherence, schedule management, and stakeholder coordination.
• Maintain active engagement with the global data center engineering community to identify emerging technologies, evolving standards, and best practices.
• Demonstrate expert-level knowledge in civil, structural, architectural (CSA) and mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) systems, with a proven track record in mission-critical infrastructure.
• Utilize advanced engineering analysis tools such as ETAP, 6Sigma CFD, and AmpCalc to validate design decisions and optimize system performance.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Building Services Engineering.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in planning, designing, and delivering large-scale data centers, including multiple Uptime Tier III/IV projects.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate stakeholders in complex, matrixed environments.
• Professional certifications such as Uptime Tier Certified Professional, PMP, LEED AP, or BICSI RCDD are highly desirable.
• In-depth knowledge of MV/LV power distribution, UPS, emergency generators, CRAC units, economizers, chilled-water systems, VFDs, fire detection/suppression, BMS, and DCIM platforms.
• Strong understanding of the latest Data Centre system trends and technologies, such as liquid-cooling, is highly desirable.
• Preferred experience with fast-track design/build projects or multiple significant upgrade projects for large-scale technical operations or compute farms.
• Familiarity with local and international codes and standards, including NEC, IEC, ISO 50001, ISO 27001, PDPL, and ESMA.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, within a professional engineering consultancy environment. The role involves collaboration with diverse internal and external stakeholders across multiple regions.

Application Process

Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Salary details will be discussed during the interview process.