M & E Design Lead

As our Critical Infrastructures division and award-winning data centre team continue to grow, we are seeking an experienced M&E engineering professional to act as the technical design lead on complex data centre and critical infrastructure projects.

Based at our Manchester head office, this role includes regular UK travel and occasional travel within Europe.The successful candidate will be dynamic and enthusiastic, joining a key technical team within a growing international business with and an expanding client portfolio of projects.

Role Purpose

The M&E Design Lead is responsible for the technical solution as a whole and will act as the technical authority for integrated building services design across feasibility, audits, bids, live projects, construction and commissioning. They will personally develop and review engineering designs within their own discipline and area of qualification, while providing technical leadership, coordination and assurance across the other disciplines. Across mechanical, electrical, controls, fire and specialist systems, they will be accountable for the engineering adequacy of solutions and ensure they are resilient, buildable and aligned with client, regulatory, programme and commercial requirements.

Personal Specification

You will be an experienced engineer with strong expertise in either mechanical or electrical engineering, capable of producing and approving design within that discipline, together with the breadth to lead multidisciplinary building services integration. Experience of complex, critical projects and a relevant engineering qualification are preferred.

You will understand the interfaces between critical power, cooling, fire, controls and monitoring systems, and the spatial, structural and operational constraints that shape an integrated design. You will be confident assessing existing facilities, developing design strategies, managing risk and assuring solutions for resilience, safety, efficiency, maintainability and compliance.

The role requires independent technical judgement, clear multidisciplinary engineering leadership and strong client communication. You will be comfortable taking ownership of significant technical decisions, resolving complex engineering problems and explaining the basis of design to clients and delivery teams. Data centre experience is highly desirable, although relevant experience in other critical environments will be considered. You should be comfortable producing clear technical documents and working within coordinated AutoCAD, Revit and BIM workflows; dedicated CAD and digital engineering support is available.

We welcome candidates with strong, transferable design leadership even if they have not worked with every system listed. Sudlows will support the development of data centre-specific knowledge.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Undertake and approve engineering design within their own qualified discipline, while leading, coordinating and assuring multidisciplinary M&E design from feasibility and tender through detailed design, construction, commissioning and handover. Act as a technical authority for building services design decisions, taking ownership of engineering adequacy, design intent and the resolution of complex technical issues.

2. Define design strategy, scope, responsibilities, deliverables and technical requirements with clients and project stakeholders.

3. Coordinate mechanical, electrical, controls, fire and specialist systems, managing interfaces, constraints, dependencies and change.

4. Develop proposals and tender solutions that are compliant, practical and commercially appropriate.

5. Plan, produce and review reports, calculations, specifications, schedules, drawings, schematics and technical submittals.

6. Lead reviews, workshops, surveys and audits; resolve actions and manage risks affecting safety, compliance, cost, programme or performance.

7. Support procurement, construction and commissioning teams, maintaining design intent through delivery.

8. Mentor engineers and improve design standards, engineering methods, lessons learned, technical innovation and professional practice across the business.

Skills and Qualifications

* Degree, HNC/HND or equivalent in mechanical, electrical, building services or a related engineering discipline.

* Substantial M&E design experience, including multidisciplinary coordination on complex projects.

* Strong expertise in one core discipline, with demonstrable capability to produce, review and approve engineering design and sufficient breadth to challenge and integrate the wider solution.

* Data centre experience is highly desirable; comparable critical, high-availability or regulated-sector experience is also relevant.

* Proven ability to manage deliverables, interfaces, technical risk, reviews and stakeholder approvals.

* Clear written, verbal and presentation skills, effective prioritisation and delivery to project and tender deadlines.

* Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with coordinated CAD, Revit and BIM workflows.

* Chartered status, or progress towards it, is desirable. Must be able to work from Manchester and travel within the UK and occasionally Europe