Lead Design Engineer

We are exclusively partnering with a leading Western-headquartered data centre platform to appoint a Design Lead to support the delivery of a major hyperscale greenfield data centre development in Malaysia.

This is a rare opportunity to join an established global operator with a strong track record of delivering and operating data center infrastructure across multiple international markets.

As Design Lead, you will take ownership of the engineering design process from initial concept and development through construction, commissioning and operational handover. Acting as the client's technical representative, you will play a key role in ensuring design quality, technical governance and successful project delivery across a large-scale mission-critical facility.

Working within a regional engineering team, you will collaborate with consultants, contractors and key stakeholders to deliver a resilient, scalable and operationally robust data centre campus.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead data centre engineering design activities from concept development through detailed design, construction, commissioning and handover.

• Act as the client's technical representative throughout the project lifecycle.

• Review, challenge and provide technical oversight of consultant design submissions.

• Drive engineering quality, design governance and compliance with applicable standards.

• Ensure design solutions deliver resilience, maintainability, efficiency and operational performance.

• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering activities across consultants, contractors and internal stakeholders.

• Identify technical risks and implement mitigation strategies throughout the project lifecycle.

• Support construction delivery by resolving technical issues and safeguarding design intent.

• Participate in commissioning activities and support operational readiness and final handover.

• Work closely with project, operations and delivery teams to ensure designs align with long-term operational requirements.

Requirements

• Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.

• Strong mechanical engineering expertise within data centres.

• Proven experience delivering large-scale greenfield data centre projects.

• Ability to review, interrogate and challenge consultant MEP designs.

• Good understanding of controls systems and BMS integration.

• Electrical knowledge advantageous but not essential.

• Experience managing engineering consultants and contractors throughout project delivery.

• Comfortable operating autonomously and making sound technical decisions within a lean project environment.

• Strong communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.

• Malaysia or Southeast Asia project experience would be highly advantageous.

• Fluent English essential; Malay language skills beneficial.

Ideal Background

We are interested in speaking with professionals currently working as:

• Design Lead

• Design Manager

• Senior Design Manager

• Owner's Engineer

• Principal Engineer

• Associate Director

• Technical Director

Candidates should come from a mechanical background within data centres.

Why Apply

• Lead engineering delivery on a major hyperscale greenfield data centre project.

• Own the project lifecycle from initial concept and design strategy through to commissioning and operational handover.

• Act as the client's technical authority, influencing key engineering and design decisions.

• Join a well-established international data centre platform with a long-term investment outlook and significant growth plans across Asia.

• Opportunity to work within a Western-headquartered organisation with established global engineering standards and best practices.

• Work alongside experienced industry leaders on a landmark mission-critical development.

• High level of autonomy and visibility within a lean regional team.

• Competitive salary, performance bonus and excellent long-term career progression opportunities.

For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity, please get in touch.

If you were not contacted please assume you were not shortlisted.