Principal Engineer Electrical - Data Centre - Dubai

Company Description Working at Ramboll To work at Ramboll means being part of a people organisation. We are focused on knowledge sharing and collaboration across competence areas and geography, and we aim for a strong diversity among our employees. This enables us to solve a broad range of projects, and we firmly believe that cross-collaboration leads to creative and longstanding solutions. Thus, the possibilities at Ramboll are many and diverse –we invest a lot in the development of people and offer career paths tailored for each individual. Ramboll in Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa Ramboll has more than 1,500 experts working across 15 offices in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. We are present in Dubai, Doha, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, China, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. Our experts are applying their passion to deliver innovative solutions in markets as diverse as Buildings, Transport, Planning & Urban Design, Water, Environment & Health and Energy. Founded in Denmark, Ramboll is a people company. We invite you to contribute to a sustainable future working in an open, collaborative and empowering culture. Role Overview Power infrastructure is the fundamental constraint of AI-scale data centres. Hyperscale facilities now demand 80+ MW from single substations, with racks drawing 40–100+ kW continuously and demanding resilience at scales that fundamentally reshape electrical architecture. Ramboll is building its MENA data centre practice from the ground up with 450+ dedicated data centre MEP engineers globally. The Principal Electrical Engineer will be the power systems authority at the heart of the regional team, working on mission-critical data center projects. Job Description The Principal Electrical Engineer will act as a technical lead and subject matter expert for mission-critical Data Center projects, responsible for end-to-end electrical system design, engineering, coordination, and commissioning support. This role goes beyond design and requires complete lifecycle ownership, from power architecture definition and utility strategy to detailed design, construction support, commissioning, and performance validation. You will lead cross-discipline conversations on electrical-mechanical interfaces (UPS thermal load, busway cooling), fire safety integration, and structural routing. Therefore, it's required to possess experience and working knowledge of mechanical systems (HVAC loads, CDU electrical interfaces), fire protection, structural coordination, DC operations & maintenance, and commissioning procedures. 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 (DEWA, ADDC, FEWA), 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 with DEWA/ADDC/FEWA, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence electrical submissions, PUE

8+ years of electrical engineering experience, with at least 5 years focused on data centre or mission-critical facilities

The Principal Electrical Engineer will act as a technical lead and subject matter expert for mission-critical Data Center projects, responsible for end-to-end electrical system design, engineering, coordination, and commissioning support. This role goes beyond design and requires complete lifecycle ownership, from power architecture definition and utility strategy to detailed design, construction support, commissioning, and performance validation. You will lead cross-discipline conversations on electrical-mechanical interfaces (UPS thermal load, busway cooling), fire safety integration, and structural routing. 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 (DEWA, ADDC, FEWA), 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. 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 with DEWA/ADDC/FEWA, 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. 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. 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. Lead multidisciplinary coordination across Mechanical, Structural, Architectural, Fire Protection, BMS/EPMS, and BIM teams. Interface with utilities (DEWA, ADDC, FEWA) 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). 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.