Head of Engineering (Data Centers)

Location: Singapore / APAC
Confidential Search

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Head of Engineering to lead the engineering strategy, standards, and technical governance for a rapidly growing digital infrastructure platform across the Asia Pacific region.

Reporting directly to senior leadership, this individual will be responsible for overseeing the end-to-end engineering function across data center development projects, ensuring technical excellence, operational reliability, scalability, and alignment with business objectives. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership across design, engineering, construction support, commissioning, and operational readiness initiatives.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring strong stakeholder management, deep technical expertise in mission-critical environments, and proven experience delivering large-scale hyperscale or colocation data center projects.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership

• Define and execute the organization's engineering strategy across APAC.
• Establish engineering standards, design guidelines, and technical governance frameworks.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary engineering teams across Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Structural, Architectural, and Controls disciplines.
• Build a high-performance engineering culture focused on innovation, quality, reliability, and continuous improvement.

Design & Development

• Oversee feasibility studies, site assessments, concept development, and detailed design activities.
• Review and approve all engineering and design deliverables throughout project lifecycles.
• Ensure designs meet customer requirements, operational objectives, sustainability goals, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Drive standardization and repeatable design methodologies across multiple markets and projects.

Project Delivery Support

• Partner closely with Development, Construction, Procurement, and Operations teams throughout project execution.
• Provide technical leadership during contractor selection, design reviews, and value engineering exercises.
• Manage engineering risk and resolve complex technical issues arising during construction and commissioning.
• Ensure projects achieve cost, schedule, quality, and performance objectives.

Operational Excellence

• Support operational teams in maintaining reliability, resilience, and efficiency across live facilities.
• Lead root cause analysis and technical investigations for major incidents or performance issues.
• Develop strategies to enhance energy efficiency, sustainability, and operational performance.

Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary engineering representative with customers, consultants, contractors, utilities, and regulatory authorities.
• Present technical recommendations and project updates to executive leadership and investment stakeholders.
• Support customer technical due diligence processes and solution development initiatives.

Innovation & Sustainability

• Evaluate emerging technologies and industry best practices.
• Drive adoption of advanced cooling technologies, renewable energy integration, and AI-ready infrastructure solutions.
• Champion sustainability initiatives including energy efficiency, water conservation, and carbon reduction programs.

Requirements

Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Master's degree or professional engineering qualifications preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in mission-critical facilities, data centers, or large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Minimum 7 years in a senior engineering leadership role.
• Proven track record delivering hyperscale, colocation, cloud, or mission-critical facilities across APAC.
• Experience managing consultants, contractors, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Technical Expertise

• Deep understanding of Tier III and Tier IV data center infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Electrical systems (HV/MV/LV)
  • Mechanical cooling systems
  • Critical power infrastructure
  • BMS/EPMS/DCIM platforms
  • Fire protection systems
  • Commissioning methodologies
  • Reliability engineering
• Familiarity with local codes, international standards, and industry best practices.

Leadership Competencies

• Strong executive presence and communication skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders across multiple levels and geographies.
• Commercially astute with strong decision-making capabilities.
• Proven ability to scale teams and build organizational capability.
• Strategic thinker with hands-on problem-solving skills.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit an application along with an updated CV of yours detailing your relevant experience to this job ad.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Recruitment Consultant: Ken Tan

EA Registration No: R22111317

EA License No: 16S8194