Principal Engineer Electrical - Data Centre - Dubai

About the Role
The Principal Electrical Engineer will be the power systems authority at the heart of our regional team, working on mission-critical data center projects. This role requires complete lifecycle ownership, from power architecture definition and utility strategy to detailed design, construction support, commissioning, and performance validation. The position involves leading cross-discipline conversations and requires extensive experience in electrical and mechanical systems.

Responsibilities

• 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, 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, 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 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.

Qualifications

• Technical Expertise

  • 8+ years of electrical engineering experience, with at least 5 years focused on data centres 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.
  • UAE regulatory landscape expertise: utility approval processes, 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 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.
• 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
We believe that the purpose of sustainable change is to create a thriving world for both nature and people. 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, and we embrace an inclusive mindset that invites diversity in all forms to actively cultivate an environment where everyone can flourish and realize their full potential.