Associate Director Site Engineering & Design – Data Center Construction (Per Diem)

Description

The team is building a large data center program and is looking for an Associate Director of Site Engineering & Design to sit inside the program team.

You will manage the RFI process, coordinate design work across disciplines, track design issues and actions, and help run program governance.

You will be the main link between design, construction and program management, keeping RFIs, design deliverables and documents moving while respecting established design authority and governance rules. The role calls for strong organization, technical writing and stakeholder management, plus experience on complex capital projects in mission-critical settings.

Responsibilities

• Keep the project RFI register current, with every RFI logged, categorized, prioritized and followed through to closure.
• Review, triage and classify incoming RFIs under the project's protocols and escalation criteria.
• Draft responses to routine RFIs using contract documents, drawings, specifications and approved precedents.
• Get drafted responses reviewed and approved by the client's design representatives before they are issued.
• Pass RFIs that involve design changes, code questions, schedule or cost impact, or unclear technical points to the right design authority.
• Track RFI status, due dates and turnaround times to protect the schedule.
• Keep a clear audit trail showing who wrote, reviewed, approved and issued each RFI response.
• Coordinate design deliverables, review cycles and comment resolution across architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, controls and specialist disciplines.
• Track design risks, open issues and actions, and make sure they are followed up and closed on time.
• Run design coordination meetings, including agendas, minutes and action lists.
• Spot design process bottlenecks that could affect delivery or site work, and raise them early.
• Maintain project records, including the design basis, RFI registers, submittal logs, design issue logs and the lessons learned database.
• Encourage collaboration between stakeholders, consultants, contractors and client teams.
• Produce regular program reports covering RFI metrics, design status, issue closure and project risk.
• Study RFI trends and repeat problems to find ways to improve the process and make design intent clearer.
• Help develop and refine RFI management protocols and governance procedures.
• Make sure documentation standards, approval workflows and authority limits are followed.
• Where applicable, carry out SOX control duties that may be attached to the role.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in engineering, architecture, construction management or a related technical field, or an equivalent mix of education and experience.
• Ability to travel to remote job sites during the week. Per diem is provided.
• 8+ years in project engineering, design management, construction administration or technical coordination on large capital projects.
• Experience supporting multidisciplinary design teams through design development, construction documents and construction.
• Solid working knowledge of RFI, submittal and design change processes.
• Experience in design-build, EPC or traditional delivery.
• Hands-on use of project information platforms such as Procore, Aconex, Autodesk Construction Cloud or BIM 360, or similar collaboration tools.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
• Preferred: experience on data center, mission-critical, industrial or large infrastructure projects.
• Preferred: familiarity with data center fundamentals, including electrical distribution, mechanical cooling, building controls, and reliability and redundancy concepts.
• Preferred: experience working inside sophisticated program management and governance setups.
• Preferred: exposure to commissioning, design validation or construction quality processes.

Conditions

Base salary is $170,000 to $200,000. This is the company's good faith estimate at posting. Final pay depends on experience, skills, qualifications and internal equity.

Employees may also be eligible for bonuses and a full benefits package.

On-site requirements may change based on the client's needs.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.

Candidates are never asked to pay a fee at any stage of recruitment.

Benefits

• Eligibility for bonuses in addition to base salary.
• A comprehensive benefits package.
• A flexible working approach that supports work-life balance.
• A place to work where each person can have a say in change.