Data Center Design Lead Structural

About the role

At Mott MacDonald we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee‑owned companies in the world we deliver exceptional outcomes through a network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our North American sectors—including Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water—we empower our people to excel, learn, and grow.

We are seeking a Data Center Structural Design Lead to provide senior technical leadership across the planning, design, and delivery of complex data‑center and mission‑critical infrastructure projects. The role will support the growth of our North American Data Center practice by leading structural design strategy, technical standards, project delivery, and client engagement across hyperscale, cloud, AI, colocation, enterprise, and mission‑critical environments. The successful candidate will bring deep experience in data‑center structural design, including long‑span systems, vibration‑sensitive environments, equipment loading, rooftop and yard‑mounted MEP infrastructure, phased expansion, modular construction, seismic design, maintainability, and speed‑to‑market considerations. The role works closely with architecture, mechanical, electrical, civil, telecoms, construction, commissioning, commercial, and global delivery teams to ensure solutions are technically robust, cost‑effective, constructable, scalable, and aligned with client requirements. Mentoring technical teams, supporting major pursuits, strengthening delivery capability, and establishing consistent design standards across North America are also key components.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead structural design strategy for major data‑center projects across North America, including hyperscale, AI, cloud, colocation, enterprise, and mission‑critical facilities.
• Provide technical leadership from feasibility and concept design through detailed engineering, construction support, commissioning, and operational handover.
• Develop structural systems that support resilience, scalability, constructability, maintainability, speed‑to‑market, and long‑term operational performance.
• Lead structural design for steel, concrete, hybrid, modular, and prefabricated systems, including equipment platforms, roof structures, dunnage, utility yards, pipe racks, screen walls, and support systems for mission‑critical infrastructure.
• Evaluate structural implications of high‑density equipment, heavy mechanical and electrical systems, seismic requirements, vibration control, blast or security considerations, and phased campus build‑outs.
• Partner with multidisciplinary design teams to coordinate building grids, equipment layouts, loading requirements, penetrations, access strategies, clearances, and constructability constraints.
• Provide senior technical oversight for structural calculations, drawings, specifications, design reports, engineering studies, technical reviews, and quality‑control processes.
• Support major pursuits, proposals, client presentations, technical interviews, and strategic account development by bringing credible data‑center design expertise.
• Establish and improve discipline‑specific design standards, delivery workflows, quality processes, lessons learned, and technical governance for data‑center projects.
• Collaborate with construction and pre‑construction teams to support value engineering, sequencing, prefabrication, procurement strategy, and field issue resolution.
• Mentor structural engineers and design managers, supporting technical development, project‑leadership capability, succession planning, and recruitment.
• Coordinate with global delivery teams to ensure consistent technical quality, efficient production, and alignment with North American codes, standards, and client expectations.
• Stay current with emerging trends in AI‑ready data centers, modular delivery, advanced cooling infrastructure, sustainability, embodied carbon, resilient design, and mission‑critical construction practices.
• Represent the organization with clients, partners, and industry stakeholders as a senior structural subject‑matter expert.

Candidate Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Professional Engineer, Structural Engineer, Chartered Engineer, or equivalent professional registration preferred.
• Strong experience leading structural design for data centers, mission‑critical, industrial, semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, or complex infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience working on data‑center projects as a core area of technical focus, ideally across hyperscale, cloud, AI, colocation, or enterprise environments.
• Strong understanding of structural systems for large‑scale technical facilities, including steel framing, concrete systems, foundations, equipment supports, modular systems, seismic design, vibration control, and phased expansion.
• Experience supporting fast‑track design and construction programs with integrated engineering, construction, procurement, and client teams.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with mechanical, electrical, architectural, civil, telecoms, security, fire protection, commissioning, and operations teams.
• Knowledge of applicable North American building codes, seismic standards, structural design standards, sustainability considerations, and data‑center‑specific performance requirements.
• Experience with BIM, digital delivery, coordinated model‑based design, clash resolution, and interdisciplinary design reviews.
• Proven ability to review and approve technical deliverables, manage engineering risk, and drive high‑quality project outcomes.
• Strong client‑facing skills, with the ability to support business development, technical presentations, proposals, and executive‑level design discussions.
• Experience mentoring engineers, building technical capability, and supporting recruitment or team growth.
• Excellent communication, judgement, problem‑solving, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier Standards, TIA‑942, LEED, ASHRAE, and mission‑critical facility design principles preferred.

Benefits & Reward

• Personal and group performance bonuses giving employees a stake and a voice in the business.
• Comprehensive benefit package including 401(k), medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Short‑term and long‑term disability coverage.
• Paid holidays, paid time off (PTO), and parental leave.
• Company‑paid life insurance.
• Individual pay determined by work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

Collaboration at Our Core

Our hybrid approach centers on an in‑office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face‑to‑face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, allowing you and your manager to choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

Employment Details

• Location: The Woodlands, TX, US
• Contract Type: Regular (US only)
• Work Pattern: Full Time
• Market: Buildings
• Discipline: Structural
• Job Ref: 16301
• Recruiter Contact: Sam Kitchin