Electrical Technical Director

About this opportunity

About the Role We are seeking an experienced Electrical Technical Director to join our Global Data Centre Design Team (Mission Critical), based in our UAE offices. This is a senior leadership role for a highly accomplished engineer with extensive experience in the design, technical leadership, and delivery of hyperscale, AI, and mission-critical data centre facilities. You will provide technical leadership across a portfolio of complex data centre projects, guiding multidisciplinary teams through all stages of delivery while shaping the future direction of electrical engineering within our global data centre practice. This role offers the opportunity to influence some of the world's most advanced AI and hyperscale data centre developments. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients, support business development initiatives, help secure new opportunities, drive innovation, and ensure the consistent delivery of technically excellent, resilient, sustainable, and commercially successful solutions. In addition to project leadership, you will play a key role in developing engineering capability across the business, mentoring senior engineers, promoting technical excellence, and contributing to the growth of our rapidly expanding mission critical sector. Key Responsibilities Provide technical leadership and governance across multiple mission critical and data centre projects globally. Define and oversee electrical engineering strategies for hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and AI-driven data centre developments. Lead the development and review of resilient electrical power architectures, including utility connections, HV/MV/LV distribution systems, transformers, switchgear, UPS systems, standby generation, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and critical power distribution. Develop and review electrical resilience and redundancy strategies, including N+1, N+N, 2N, distributed redundant (4N3 ..etc), and concurrently maintainable architectures. Provide technical leadership for high-density AI and GPU infrastructure, including high-capacity power distribution, rack-level power requirements, busway systems, and the integration of electrical infrastructure with liquid-cooled technology. Lead and review electrical system studies, including load flow, short-circuit, protection coordination and selectivity, arc-flash, harmonic analysis, power quality, grounding/earthing, and transient or dynamic studies where required. Drive technical excellence through peer reviews, design assurance processes, and the development of engineering standards, best practices, and quality procedures. Act as the senior technical authority for electrical engineering matters, providing guidance and support to project teams throughout all project phases. Support the development, adaptation, and optimisation of global standard reference designs, modular data centre solutions, and bespoke engineering approaches. Interface directly with clients, utilities, operators, contractors, technology providers, OEMs, and other stakeholders, acting as a trusted technical advisor and subject matter expert. Lead technical workshops, value engineering exercises, feasibility studies, master planning activities, utility and power strategy assessments, and technical due diligence assignments. Ensure designs achieve the required performance, resilience, maintainability, safety, energy efficiency, sustainability, and operational objectives. Provide technical leadership for the integration of utility supplies, standby generators, UPS systems, BESS, renewable energy, microgrids, and other emerging power solutions. Support project teams in developing protection, controls, automation, monitoring, and electrical power management strategies, including interfaces with BMS, EPMS, SCADA, and other data centre control systems. Support commissioning strategies, integrated systems testing, failure-mode testing, and operational readiness activities for critical electrical infrastructure. Support project delivery teams in managing technical risks, programme requirements, budgets, and quality objectives. Maintain strong client relationships and proactively identify opportunities for repeat business and long-term partnerships. Support business development activities, client engagement, and strategic growth initiatives across the Mission Critical sector. Take an active role in winning new work, including identifying and developing opportunities, building client relationships, positioning GHD for future commissions, and converting opportunities into secured projects. Lead and support pursuits, proposals, bids, interviews, and technical presentations to help secure new project opportunities. Collaborate with regional and global leadership teams to develop and execute growth strategies for the Data Centres and Mission Critical business. Monitor emerging technologies, market trends, and client requirements to ensure GHD remains at the forefront of data centre electrical engineering. Mentor and develop Lead Engineers and other team members, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. Skills, Experience & Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or Building Services Engineering. Chartered Engineer status (CEng, PE, RPEQ, or equivalent) preferred. Minimum 15 years of relevant engineering experience, including significant experience within mission critical and data centre environments. Proven track record leading the design and delivery of hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and AI-focused data centre facilities. Extensive knowledge of data centre electrical infrastructure, including utility connections, HV/MV/LV distribution, transformers, switchgear, UPS systems, standby generation, BESS, PDUs, busway systems, and critical power distribution. Strong understanding of electrical resilience and redundancy philosophies, including N+1, N+N, 2N, distributed redundant, concurrent maintainability, fault tolerance, and elimination of single points of failure. Strong understanding of mechanical-electrical integration, controls and EPMS systems, commissioning, integrated systems testing, and operational readiness. Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams across international projects and geographically distributed delivery environments.