About Vantage Data Centers

Vantage is committed to being a workplace of inclusion, equity, respect and acceptance. We celebrate diversity and intentionally seek out opportunities to learn from one another’s experience.

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Design Team

As integral part of the EMEA Development Group, the core objective of the Design team is to drive design innovation, standardization, and continuous improvement to enable the delivery of cost-effective and high-quality infrastructure, delivered safely and always on time. Striving for operational excellence, we specialize in pioneering technical design solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers.

Position Overview

Vantage is looking for a Senior Architect in London or Cardiff to be part of a team that drives design and engineering for the largest cost centre within the construction process and become engaged in all technical aspects. In this role, you will drive designs, manage high-level campus specification development, submittal review, design document review, oversight of construction, participation in on-site walk-throughs.  Regular working and coordination is required with civil, structural, electrical, mechanical and security designers as well as the construction management team. You will be presented with complex architectural considerations and be asked to bring them to resolution with all the tools at your disposal. You will ensure existing standards are executed and enhanced for each project.  You will evaluate designs and provide engineering insights to balance CAPEX and OPEX costs.

You will provide technical architectural information and assistance to ensure that new data centre spaces comply with the project requirements, all architectural standards, applicable codes, and specifications. Knowledge of all aspects of architecture is required, including space planning, structural pre-designs, communication between spaces, evacuation routes and value engineering as they relate to designing state-of-the-art data centres.

Key Responsibilities

• Own space allocation programs within Vantage’s internal design standards and build-to-suit projects according to client requirements.

• Lead the development of architectural and associated engineering studies throughout the complete design process (RIBA stages 1-6), and complete their reviews at each gating stage.

• Participate in all aspects of architectural and structural design, including conceptual design, basis of design, scope of work, and development of construction documents, coordinating with design teams.

• Act as a subject matter expert for technical reviews, including submittals, RFIs, and architectural and engineering studies.

• Interface and manage architectural and structural design, as well as design-build contractors, on a per-project basis.

• Attend and contribute to project design team meetings, ensuring the constructed product meets architectural standards and specifications.

• Conduct value engineering reviews, providing construction method recommendations based on ROI and IRR considerations.

• Coordinate with internal engineering teams across all disciplines to ensure project deliverables meet business needs efficiently and effectively.

• Participate in the permitting application process, providing guidance on local regulation adaptations to standard designs.

• Develop and set minimum requirements for material and people paths through the data centres in both normal and emergency situations.

• Visit job sites for field investigations and coordination meetings to ensure proper implementation of designs.

• Drive project-level tasks and milestones assigned by the project management team.

• Provide oversight and review of project plans, space allocation programs, and master planning submittals.

• Help set and enforce standards for architectural, civil, and structural quality control efforts on each project.

• Collaborate with various Vantage departments to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, quality, and constructability of data centre products.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor of Architecture, or equivalent, from an accredited university or college.

• Substantial experience in architectural d