Overview
Associate Director / Manager of Design Jobs in Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates at Zero Two
Title: Associate Director / Manager of Design
Company: Zero Two
Location: Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates
As the Associate Director – Design Management, you will lead the design function for Zero Two's data centre development portfolio, establishing technical standards and driving design excellence from concept through commissioning. You will own the Basis of Design (BOD), manage multidisciplinary consultants, oversee design governance and technical assurance, and ensure every development is scalable, resilient, sustainable, and customer-ready. This is a strategic leadership role requiring extensive experience in hyperscale or mission-critical data centre design, with responsibility for translating business and operational requirements into world-class technical solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end design management of hyperscale and mission-critical data centre developments, from concept through commissioning and handover
- Develop and govern Basis of Design (BOD), reference designs, technical standards, and engineering best practices
- Manage multidisciplinary design consultants, architects, engineers, and specialist contractors to ensure coordinated and buildable solutions
- Oversee technical reviews, design assurance, change control, and compliance with industry standards, including Uptime Institute, TIA-942, ISO, and local regulations
- Drive value engineering, cost optimization, sustainability, and operational performance while maintaining reliability and customer requirements
- Lead design coordination across CSA, Mechanical, Electrical, ICT, Security, and Commissioning disciplines
- Ensure alignment between business objectives, operational requirements, and technical design solutions
- Collaborate with Development, Construction, Procurement, Operations, and external stakeholders to deliver high-quality, customer-ready facilities
- Champion innovation, digital engineering (BIM), and continuous improvement across the design function