MEP Design Director - Data Center Construction

Turner & Townsend • San Francisco, CA

15h • Onsite

About The Position

Turner & Townsend are seeking an experienced MEP Design Director to join our team. The MEP Design Director serves as the client’s MEP engineering subject‑matter expert and owner’s representative for data center development projects. This role leads and oversees all MEP engineering design activities from early site due diligence through construction, monitoring technical quality, regulatory compliance, constructability, and timely project delivery. The position manages external MEP engineering consultants and partners while working closely with clients internal Development, Construction, Utilities, Power, Environmental, and Innovation & Engineering teams. The MEP Design Lead plays a critical role in managing risk, accelerating speed‑to‑market, and monitoring that site designs support scalable, resilient, and repeatable data center campus development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in civil engineering, site development, or infrastructure delivery.
• Strong technical background in grading, drainage, stormwater management, utilities, roadways, and earthwork.
• Proven experience managing external engineering consultants and coordinating with construction teams.
• Ability to interpret and review civil engineering drawings, calculations, reports, and technical specifications.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Owner’s‑representative mindset with strong technical judgment.
• Proactive, solution-oriented approach to risk management and problem‑solving.
• Ability to lead without direct authority and influence cross‑functional teams.
• Comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, multi‑project environment with competing priorities.
• Strong communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to translate technical information for non‑technical stakeholders.
• Proactive problem-solving and decision‑making skills.
• Highly organized, adaptable, and capable of managing competing priorities.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting data center, hyperscale, mission‑critical, industrial, or large‑scale commercial developments.
• Familiarity with fast‑track delivery models and large, multi‑phase campus developments.
• Experience working with utilities, municipalities, and regulatory agencies across multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee MEP engineering design efforts across all phases of development, including due diligence, conceptual design, detailed design, construction support, and closeout.
• Serve as the client’s MEP SME, providing technical and design management oversight throughout the design development process.
• Monitor that all MEP plans, calculations, specifications, and reports are approved and “stamped” by the Engineer/Architect of Record (EoR/AoR), prior to commencing with construction activities.
• Facilitate the design assurance process and monitor that client comments and feedback are captured and addressed throughout the MEP design development process to client requirements.
• Collaborating with other disciplines leads as well as other client departments to verify compliance with applicable codes, safety requirements, and jurisdictional regulations.
• Support complex design challenges and non‑standard solutions in collaboration with the Innovation & Engineering team.
• SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
• Leverage MEP engineering project experience to support early site due diligence, test fits, conceptual grading, drainage, utility routing, access planning, and off‑site infrastructure evaluation.
• Contribute to the identification of site constraints, risks, and mitigation strategies related to grading, drainage, soils, floodplains, utilities, and constructability.
• Support site selection and acquisition decisions with clear technical recommendations.
• Manage and oversee external MEP engineering consultants, surveyors, geotechnical engineers, and permitting specialists.
• Coordinate with construction teams to resolve MEP design issues and support construction execution.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with municipalities, AHJs, public works departments, utilities, and other external stakeholders.
• Monitor MEP design progress against approved schedules and milestones, approving work plans and deliverable timelines.
• Support Identification, evaluation, and management of project risks, developing proactive mitigation strategies aligned with the client’s delivery objectives.
• Review and support responses to RFIs, construction clarifications, and field coordination items as required.
• Collaborate with estimators and cost management (pre-construction team) to support the development and management of MEP engineering budgets, cost estimates, and forecasts.
• Contributes to the development and improvement of MEP design standards, policies, procedures, and best‑practice playbooks.
• Stay current with industry trends, codes, and technologies, applying best practices to improve quality, consistency, and efficiency.
• Clearly communicate project progress, risks, and technical issues to management and project stakeholders.
• Foster a collaborative, solutions‑focused work environment aligned with the client’s culture of accountability, safety, and performance.

Benefits

• Great place to work
• Opportunity and voice to affect change
• Support a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance
• Equal opportunity employer
• Celebrate diversity
• Inclusive environment for all employees

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director