Design Manager

The Design Manager leads design management and technical assurance for hyperscale data centre projects in Japan, ensuring compliance with baseline standards. They audit design deliverables, chair technical knowledge-share sessions, and act as the primary subject matter expert for design escalations.

Responsibilities

• Lead design management and drive designs to meet Zerra baseline and Japanese standards
• Review and QA/QC all design deliverables in Japan for compliance
• Audit designs for inconsistencies, discrepancies and missing information, tracking close‑out
• Serve as Subject Matter Expert in design reviews and handle escalations from Japan project teams
• Chair regular Japan Design Team knowledge‑share meetings and technical discussions
• Participate in consultant selection and annual performance reviews in Japan
• Enforce Zerra DC standards and adapt documentation to Japanese codes and standards
• Engage external consultants to implement best‑in‑class processes
• Identify quality and latent‑defect issues, focusing on seismic, typhoon, flood and grid‑interconnection risks
• Evaluate and propose electrical, vendor and digital design improvements

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a CSA or MEPH engineering discipline or equivalent experience
• Mechanical engineering background preferred
• Japanese Professional Engineer (Gijutsushi) or equivalent chartered status preferred
• 10+ years of design or design‑management experience with data centre or large‑scale industrial projects in Japan
• Working knowledge of Japanese codes and standards (Building Standards Act, JIS, Fire Service Act, METI, OCCTO/TSO requirements)
• Strong commercial awareness of the Japanese construction market
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills, fluent in business‑level Japanese and English
• Willingness to travel domestically across project sites

Key Skills