The Hidden Timeline of Data Center Builds

Hyperscalers, cloud providers, AI platforms and colocation operators are racing to build capacity at speed. But if you’re trying to hire, resource, or bid into these projects, chances are you’re coming in too late. 

By the time a new data center project hits the press, most of the real decisions have already been made. Design firms have been engaged. General contractors are on board. Permits are in hand. And hiring has already started, often behind closed doors. 

This isn’t bad luck. It’s how the industry works. And unless you’ve got direct access to early-stage insight and pre-construction talent plans, you’ll keep arriving at the wrong time. 

Here’s why tracking new data center projects is so difficult, and what you can do differently. 

Secrecy is a core strategy 

Data center builds are treated as commercially sensitive from the start. Developers, operators and hyperscalers don’t want competitors knowing where they’re expanding, how they’re sourcing power, or who they’re working with. 

To avoid exposure, planning applications are submitted through shell entities or third-party holding companies. Project descriptions are intentionally vague, often referring to "light industrial" or "technology facilities" with no reference to digital infrastructure, energy use or tenant type. Even internal partners may not be told who the end client is until the deal is signed or work is underway. 

There’s also a deliberate effort to limit a project’s digital footprint. Developers and hyperscalers avoid using terms like “data center,” “hyperscale,” or “cloud infrastructure” in filings, press releases, job ads or site signage. This reduces the chances of being indexed by search engines, flagged by market trackers or picked up by industry analysts. In effect, they’re controlling SEO exposure to limit brand risk, avoid media attention, and prevent early competitive response. 

Together, these tactics make new data center projects extremely difficult to track unless you have access to people and conversations inside the market. 

The talent problem 

Even if you do identify a project in time, the next challenge is building the team to support it. And this is where most companies fall short. 

The market is severely under-resourced. There are simply not enough data center-experienced professionals to match global build demand. General contractors, MEP consultancies, and operators are all competing for the same limited pool of talent. 

Experienced project managers, commissioning engineers, site leads and technical design specialists are snapped up before roles are ever posted. Many are placed through backchannel referrals or closed-door vendor networks. If you’re waiting until a job is approved or budget is signed off, you’re already weeks behind your competition. 

In some cases, hiring delays are now one of the main reasons data center timelines slip. Without early access to qualified, project-ready people, teams end up filling gaps with whoever’s available rather than who’s best suited. 

Typical Data centre construction timeline (with permits)

Typical Overall Duration

Typical overall duration depends on size, location, access to renewable energy and the strength of the local grid. For a mid-sized data center going from green field start to live operation, you can expect about 18 to 30 months once planning and permit work start. Larger high-power or hyperscale facilities may stretch to 24 to 36 months or more after permits, especially in locations with grid constraints or limited renewable energy availability.

Roles may overlap depending on the organisation's size. In a small organisation some people may cover multiple areas, for example, a single engineer acting as network engineer and migration specialist.
Having a dedicated lead, such as a Project Manager or Migration Manager, reduces the risk of confusion. Without a clear leader, migration tasks can be overlooked.

Include business stakeholders early, such as Data Owners, Application Owners and Compliance. Their input helps avoid mistakes like missing dependencies, compliance issues or misjudging business impact.
For complex transformations such as virtualisation, hybrid cloud or network redesign, involve specialists like Security, Network, Facilities and Architects to handle the technical depth.

For data-heavy migrations, Data Engineers, Migration Specialists, QA or Test Engineers and DBAs play a key role in keeping data accurate.

Data center recruitment timelines

Our data center team supports clients from land development to commissioning. We work with developers, contractors, design firms and operators across North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific. We speak daily with candidates, project leaders and delivery teams involved in active and upcoming builds. 

Because of that, we know what’s moving and when. We understand which projects are in procurement, which are lining up staffing, and which are worth ignoring. We help our clients plan, hire earlier, and build stronger teams across every project stage. 

We proactively build talent pipelines based on project scope, region and phase. That includes permanent placements, specialist contractors and phased team delivery for multi-site builds. 

You don’t just get CVs. You get market intelligence, early-stage visibility and candidates who are ready to move before your competitors even know the project exists. 

Request a call back 

If you're planning, building or hiring for a data center project, early access to the right people makes a measurable difference. But it requires more than job specs and reactive sourcing. You need partners who already understand the scope, timeline and market pressure you’re working with. 

Our data center team works confidentially with developers, contractors, design firms and operators across global markets. Whether you're hiring discreetly, planning in phases or building a new regional presence, we provide insight and staffing support without exposing your strategy to competitors. 

All conversations are held in strict confidence. We’ll align to your project schedule, workforce plans and internal approval processes. 

Request a call back today, and we’ll connect you with the talent and intelligence you need to deliver your project faster, more securely and with fewer hiring delays.