Associate Director Electrical - Data Centre - Dubai

Working at Ramboll

To work at Ramboll means being part of a people organisation. We are focused on knowledge sharing and collaboration across competence areas and geography, and we aim for a strong diversity among our employees. This enables us to solve a broad range of projects, and we firmly believe that cross-collaboration leads to creative and longstanding solutions. Thus, the possibilities at Ramboll are many and diverse –we invest a lot in the development of people and offer career paths tailored for each individual.

Ramboll in Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa

Ramboll has more than 1,500 experts working across 15 offices in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. We are present in Dubai, Doha, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, China, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. Our experts are applying their passion to deliver innovative solutions in markets as diverse as Buildings, Transport, Planning & Urban Design, Water, Environment & Health and Energy. Founded in Denmark, Ramboll is a people company.  We invite you to contribute to a sustainable future working in an open, collaborative and empowering culture.

 

Role Overview

Power infrastructure is the fundamental constraint of AI-scale data centres. Hyperscale facilities now demand 80+ MW from single substations, with racks drawing 40–100+ kW continuously and demanding resilience at scales that fundamentally reshape electrical architecture. Ramboll is building its MENA data centre practice from the ground up with 450+ dedicated data centre MEP engineers globally. The Principal Electrical Engineer will be the power systems authority at the heart of the regional team, working on mission-critical data center projects.

The Principal Electrical Engineer will act as a technical lead and subject matter expert for mission-critical Data Center projects, responsible for end-to-end electrical system design, engineering, coordination, and commissioning support.

This role goes beyond design and requires complete lifecycle ownership, from power architecture definition and utility strategy to detailed design, construction support, commissioning, and performance validation.

You will lead cross-discipline conversations on electrical-mechanical interfaces (UPS thermal load, busway cooling), fire safety integration, and structural routing. Therefore, it's required to possess experience and working knowledge of mechanical systems (HVAC loads, CDU electrical interfaces), fire protection, structural coordination, DC operations & maintenance, and commissioning procedures.

Client Engagement & Technical Leadership

• Act as the primary electrical and power systems technical contact for clients – leading design reviews, system architecture presentations, and bid discussions with senior engineering and utility teams
• Directly engage with client-side SMEs, utilities (DEWA, ADDC, FEWA), global stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams
• Lead technical discussions on power distribution strategy, redundancy philosophy, risks, and trade-offs
• Own preparation of Electrical Basis of Design (BoD), Design Basis Reports (DBR), system architecture narratives, and technical presentations
• Participate in proposals drafting and responses to RFP and TQR

Electrical System Architecture & Design

• Own the complete electrical design – MV/LV distribution, substation architecture (AIS/GIS), UPS systems (centralized and modular), continuous-rated generators, busbar trunking, earthing, lightning protection, and rack-level power delivery
• Design systems for hyperscale and colocation facilities in the 10–100 MW IT load range (from concept through to IFC)
• Handle high-density AI power environments: 40–100+ kW per rack, rack-level busway, 48V DC architecture readiness, CDU electrical interfaces, and power distribution resilience at scale
• Ensure compliance with UAE-specific requirements: utility coordination with DEWA/ADDC/FEWA, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence electrical submissions, PUE <1.2 compliance under Dubai Universal Blueprint for AI, and islanding/emergency response protocols
• Define resilience strategies (N, N+1, N+2, 2N) and redundancy architecture aligned with Uptime Tier III/IV standards
• Establish power system topology evolution from Concept (30%) through Schematic to Detailed Design (IFC), including Sequence of Operations

Engineering Analysis & Power System Studies

• Perform and direct electrical load calculations, cable sizing, voltage drop calculations, and power balance studies across all voltage levels
• Lead power system studies using ETAP or equivalent: load flow analysis, short circuit analysis, protection coordination, arc flash assessment, and harmonics evaluation
• Coordinate mechanical integration: HVAC thermal loads on UPS systems, generator cooling requirements, and CDU electrical demand diversity factors
• Validate control philosophy, BMS/EPMS integration, and emergency shutdown sequences
• Review all electrical engineering calculations and ensure alignment with TIA-942, IEC/IEEE/IS standards, and Uptime Institute guidelines

Detailed Design & Documentation

• Lead development of Single Line Diagrams (SLDs), electrical layouts (substations, UPS rooms, battery rooms, cable routing), equipment schedules, and IFC documentation
• Review and approve AutoCAD & BIM (Revit) models at LOD350 with coordinated multi-discipline integration
• Spot and resolve cross-discipline conflicts at concept stage (mechanical thermal interfaces, fire safety routing, structural cable trays)
• Prepare technical specifications, BOQs, and RFP packages for vendor selection and evaluation

Project Delivery & Construction Support

• Lead multidisciplinary coordination across Mechanical, Structural, Architectural, Fire Protection, BMS/EPMS, and BIM teams
• Interface with utilities (DEWA, ADDC, FEWA) on connection strategies, approval processes, and emergency response protocols
• Support procurement: vendor technical evaluations, equipment approvals, contribute and review BOQs, and submittal reviews
• Provide technical support during construction, site inspections, and issue resolution
• Lead commissioning support, reliability validation, redundancy testing, and audit participation (CAP, ICCA, BCA standards)

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Develop the internal design guidelines and lead the DC Electrical team
• Mentor electrical engineers and power systems specialists
• Establish design standards and best practices for electrical architecture in the region
• Contribute to the DC Academy and regional thought leadership programme
• Drive design quality, risk management, and technical issue resolution across the team

Technical Expertise

• 8+ years of electrical engineering experience, with at least 5 years focused on data centre or mission-critical facilities
• Strong track record leading MV/LV electrical design: HT/MV switchgear (AIS/GIS), LV distribution (N, N+1, N+2, 2N topologies), centralized and modular UPS systems, continuous-rated generators, busbar trunking, earthing design, and lightning protection
• Hands-on experience with high-density AI data centre power: rack densities of 40 kW and above, rack-level busway, 48V DC architecture, and electrical interfaces for liquid cooling systems (CDU power demand, emergency shutdowns)
• UAE regulatory landscape expertise: utility approval processes (DEWA, ADDC, FEWA connection strategies), Abu Dhabi Civil Defence electrical submissions, and PUE compliance pathways under Dubai Universal Blueprint for AI
• Power system study capability using ETAP or equivalent: load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, arc flash analysis, and harmonics assessment
• Experience designing Uptime Institute Tier III or IV standards and familiarity with sequencing, testing, and audit frameworks (CAP, ICCA, BCA)

Tools & Digital Capability

• ETAP (or equivalent power analysis tools) – proficiency in load flow, fault analysis, and protection coordination
• AutoCAD proficiency for detailed electrical drawings and cable routing
• BIM delivery using Revit at LOD350 and coordinated multi-discipline modelling

Communication & Leadership

• Exceptional verbal and written communication in English – confidence to lead technical discussions at senior level
• Ability to mentor engineers, establish design culture, and communicate complex power systems concepts to non-electrical stakeholders

Qualifications & Experience

• BE / BTech in Electrical Engineering
• Professional registration as a Chartered or Professional Electrical Engineer (or equivalent)

Good to Have (Strong Differentiators)

• Uptime Institute ATD or ATS certification
• Experience with BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems), grid-interactive UPS topologies, or hybrid power strategies for AI data centres
• Knowledge of 48V DC power distribution architecture (OCP standards) and emerging AI power delivery paradigms
• Familiarity with SF6-free MV switchgear and sustainable electrical architecture
• Experience with KSA regulatory landscape (MISA, Saudi Council of Engineers) and Vision 2030 data centre programme pipeline
• Arabic language skills

What we can offer you

• Investment in your development
• Leaders you can count on, guided by our Leadership Principles
• Be valued for the unique person you are.
• Never be short of inspiration from colleagues, clients, and projects.
• The long-term thinking of a foundation-owned company

We offer:

• A challenging and interesting workday characterized by continuous learning, in an environment where you have many to spar with and learn from.
• Opportunity to work with varied work tasks, across the organization.
• Opportunity to develop and influence your own area of responsibility.

Work at the heart of sustainable change

Ramboll is a global architecture, engineering, and consultancy company. We believe that the purpose of sustainable change is to create a thriving world for both nature and people. So, that’s where we start – and how we work. At Ramboll, our core strength is our people, and our history is rooted in a clear vision of how a responsible company should act. Being open and curious is a cornerstone of our culture. We embrace an inclusive mindset that looks for fresh, diverse, and innovative perspectives. We respect, embrace, and invite diversity in all forms to actively cultivate an environment where everyone can flourish and realize their full potential.

Ready to join us?

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