Design Manager
Full-time and Austin, Texas
About the role
The Datacenter Design Manager will lead the internal design coordination, management of engineering deliverables, and client-facing technical documentation for data center projects. This role is responsible for overseeing design changes, responding to Requests for Information (RFIs), managing drawing updates, and ensuring alignment between client requirements, engineering teams, and construction execution. Strong experience in data center or mission-critical facility design, along with proven leadership in coordinating multidisciplinary teams, is essential.
Responsibilities
Manage the full lifecycle of architectural and engineering drawings, specifications, and design deliverables for data center projects
Review, track, and respond to client RFIs, design change requests, and requests for proposals or clarifications in a timely and accurate manner
Coordinate design updates, revisions, and redlines across mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), structural, and architectural disciplines
Lead internal design review meetings and facilitate resolution of design conflicts or discrepancies.
Collaborate closely with external architecture/engineering firms, clients, and construction teams to ensure requirements are clearly communicated and met
Maintain version control of drawings and documentation; ensure compliance with client standards, building codes, and industry best practices
Identify potential design risks, propose mitigation strategies, and escalate issues as needed to project leadership
Develop and maintain design schedules, track progress, and report on deliverables to stakeholders
Mentor and manage a team of design coordinators, drafters, or junior engineers as the function grows
Be directly responsible for engineering costs and value engineering exercises for overall cost of the program
Skills & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or Civil), or related field; Master’s degree or Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred
0+ years in architectural/engineering design management, with at least 5 years in data centers, mission-critical facilities, or large-scale hyperscale projects
Proficiency in design and documentation tools (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit, BIM 360, Bluebeam Revu)
Deep knowledge of data center systems (MEP infrastructure, power distribution, cooling systems, structural requirements)
Familiarity with design standards (Uptime Institute, ASHRAE, IBC) and permitting processes
Exceptional organizational and project management abilities
Strong communication skills for client interactions, RFI responses, and cross-functional coordination
Proven leadership in managing teams and driving accountability in fast-paced environments
Experience across power / utility environments to accommodate different RAM Analysis and costs for battery / capacitor ramp
Occasional travel required for client meetings, site walks, design workshops, and project reviews
Process
Intro call w/Molly Anderson, Sr Manager TA & People Ops
Interview w/Lance Smith, VP of Datacenters
Interview w/Mike McBrayer, Construction Manager
Interview w/Bill Gauthier, Director of Critical Facilities
Interview w/Margarida Garcia, COO
Data Retention
Except as otherwise permitted or required by applicable law or regulation, we will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes we collected it for, as required to satisfy any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements, or as necessary to resolve disputes. To determine the appropriate retention period for personal data, we consider our statutory obligations, the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal data, the potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure of your personal data, the purposes we process your personal data for, and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means. We specify the retention periods for your personal data in our data retention policy. Under some circumstances we may anonymize your personal data so that it can no longer be associated with you. We reserve the right to use such anonymous and de-identified data for any legitimate business purpose without further notice to you or your consent. If you are offered and accept employment with Poolside, the personal data we collected during the application and recruitment process will become part of your employment record, and we may use it in connection with your employment consistent with our employee personal data policies. If you do not become an employee, or, once you are no longer an employee of Poolside, we will retain and securely destroy your personal data in accordance with our document retention policy and applicable laws and regulations.
Rights of Access, Correction, Erasure and Objection
It is important that the personal data we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your personal data changes during the recruitment process. By law you may have the right to request access to, correct, and erase the personal data that we hold about you, or object to the processing of your personal data under certain circumstances. You may also have the right to request that we transfer your personal data to another party. If you want to review, verify, correct, or request erasure of your personal data, object to the processing of your personal data, or request that we transfer a copy of your personal data to another party, please contact us at legal@poolside.ai . Any such communication must be in writing. We may request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and your right to access, and to provide you with the personal data that we hold about you or make your requested changes. Applicable law may allow or require us to refuse to provide you with access to some or all of the personal data that we hold about you, or we may have destroyed, erased, or anonymized your personal data in accordance with our record retention obligations and practices. If we cannot provide you with access to your personal data, we will inform you of the reasons why, subject to any legal or regulatory restrictions.
Right to Withdraw Consent
Where you have provided your consent to the collection, processing, and transfer of your personal data, you may have the legal right to withdraw your consent under certain circumstances. To withdraw your consent, if applicable, contact us at legal@poolside.ai
Changes to this Privacy Notice
We reserve the right to update this Privacy Notice at any time, and we will provide you with a new Privacy Notice when we make any updates. If we would like to use your previously collected personal data for different purposes than those we notified you about at the time of collection, we will provide you with notice and, where required by law, seek your consent, before using your personal data for a new or unrelated purpose. We may process your personal data without your knowledge or consent only where required by applicable law or regulation.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our processing of your personal data or would like to make an access or other request, please contact us at legal@poolside.ai