Application Guide

How to Apply for Electrical Engineering Lead, Data Centers

at AECOM

🏢 About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure leader known for delivering sustainable, innovative solutions across transportation, water, energy, and buildings. Its growing Data Center practice offers the chance to work on hyperscale and mission-critical projects that power the digital economy, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and technical excellence. Employees value the collaborative culture, remote flexibility, and the opportunity to shape the future of data center infrastructure.

About This Role

As Electrical Engineering Lead, you will spearhead the electrical design and delivery of hyperscale, colocation, and mission-critical data centers across North America and globally. You'll serve as a technical authority, client advisor, and mentor, driving the growth of AECOM's Canadian Data Center team. This newly created role offers the chance to make a significant impact on a rapidly expanding practice while working remotely from anywhere in Canada.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start with a design review meeting with your project team, then spend time developing basis-of-design documentation or reviewing calculations for a hyperscale data center. Later, you could mentor a junior engineer, join a client call to discuss power distribution options, or travel to a site visit to ensure construction aligns with design. The role blends technical depth, leadership, and client interaction, all while working remotely.

🎯 Who AECOM Is Looking For

  • Possesses 10+ years of electrical engineering experience with a focus on data centers or mission-critical facilities, including hyperscale environments.
  • Demonstrates expertise in medium-voltage and low-voltage power distribution, standby generation, UPS systems, and emergency power design.
  • Has a proven track record as an Engineer of Record (EoR) or in a technical leadership role, with strong client-facing and mentoring skills.
  • Is proficient in power system modeling tools (e.g., SKM, ETAP) and familiar with Canadian Electrical Code and relevant standards.
  • Holds a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) license in Canada and thrives in a remote, collaborative work environment.

📝 Tips for Applying to AECOM

1

Highlight specific data center projects you've led, including scale (e.g., MW capacity), hyperscale or colocation experience, and your role as EoR.

2

Emphasize your ability to work remotely and manage projects across time zones, as AECOM values self-driven professionals for this remote role.

3

Showcase your experience with Canadian Electrical Code and North American standards, as compliance is critical for this position.

4

Demonstrate leadership and mentoring capabilities by quantifying team sizes you've led or mentored, and mention any client advisory experience.

5

Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description, such as 'medium-voltage distribution,' 'UPS systems,' 'load analysis,' and 'basis-of-design.'

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your track record leading electrical design for hyperscale or colocation data centers, including specific project examples and outcomes.', "Your expertise in power distribution, standby generation, and UPS systems, and how you've optimized designs for reliability and efficiency.", "Your experience as a technical leader and mentor, and how you've contributed to growing a data center practice or team.", 'Your motivation to join AECOM specifically, referencing its sustainability focus and global data center projects.']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore AECOM's recent data center projects and press releases to understand their scale, clients, and geographic reach.
  • → Review AECOM's sustainability initiatives and how they integrate into their data center practice, as this aligns with their company values.
  • → Investigate the Canadian data center market, including key players, regulations, and trends, to speak knowledgeably about the landscape.
  • → Look up the backgrounds of AECOM's data center leadership team to understand their expertise and potential interviewers.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through a complex data center project you led from concept to completion, highlighting your role as Engineer of Record.
2 How do you approach medium-voltage distribution design for a hyperscale facility, and what factors influence your decisions?
3 Describe a time you mentored a junior engineer or led a technical team through a challenging project.
4 What strategies do you use to ensure compliance with Canadian Electrical Code and other standards in data center designs?
5 How do you handle client expectations and scope changes during the design phase of a mission-critical project?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Avoid generic resumes that don't highlight specific data center or mission-critical electrical design experience.
  • Don't downplay remote work ability; emphasize your self-discipline and communication skills for remote collaboration.
  • Avoid focusing only on technical skills without demonstrating leadership, mentoring, or client advisory experience, as this role requires all three.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to AECOM!