How to apply for Senior Architect (Licensed Building Architect), Data Centers - Remote (U.S.)

About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm with data center teams in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The company describes its work as building sustainable legacies through infrastructure and environmental solutions. Architects who want to work on high-profile data center projects for global clients may find the international team structure relevant.

About the role

This is a lead architect role focused on colocation and hyperscale cloud data center design and delivery, from concept through commissioning. The position is primarily remote but requires occasional travel for client meetings, project milestones, and onsite collaboration. The architect will shape high-performance, secure, and scalable data center environments for top-tier cloud and colocation clients.

A typical day

A typical day may include leading architectural design work for a hyperscale or colocation data center project, coordinating with global team members and clients, and reviewing progress against project milestones. Some days involve travel for client meetings, onsite collaboration sessions, or commissioning activities. The role is hands-on and client-facing, so expect a mix of technical design leadership and direct client communication.

Who AECOM is looking for

• A licensed building architect with direct experience designing and delivering colocation and hyperscale cloud data center facilities.
• Has led complex, mission critical projects from concept to commissioning, not just contributed to portions of them.
• Comfortable in a hands-on, client-facing role with global clients and distributed teams.
• Able to work remotely while traveling occasionally for client meetings, key project milestones, and onsite collaboration sessions.

Tips for this application

• Confirm you hold an active architect license and state the jurisdiction clearly on your resume, since the posting requires a licensed building architect.
• Quantify your data center project experience: scale in MW or square footage, colocation versus hyperscale, and your specific role from concept to commissioning.
• Name the phases you have personally led (concept, schematic, design development, construction documents, commissioning) rather than listing project names alone.
• Address the remote-plus-travel setup directly in your application so the hiring team knows you understand periodic travel is expected.
• Reference AECOM's global data center teams in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia and any experience you have coordinating across regions or time zones.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your license and your specific experience with colocation and hyperscale cloud data center facilities.', 'A concrete example of leading a mission critical project from concept to commissioning, including your role and the outcome.', 'Your ability to work as a hands-on, client-facing lead architect with global clients.', 'Your track record with remote work and willingness to travel occasionally for client meetings and project milestones.']

Research before applying

• Review AECOM's data center consulting practice and the regions where its teams operate (Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia).
• Look at AECOM's stated focus on sustainable legacies and infrastructure and environmental solutions, and consider how it applies to data center work.
• Identify AECOM office locations in the U.S., since the role can be based from a variety of locations where AECOM has an office.
• Find examples of AECOM's published data center projects or client work to reference in your application.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk through a hyperscale or colocation data center project you led from concept to commissioning. What was your scope and what decisions did you own?
• How do you approach architectural design for high-performance, secure, and scalable data center environments?
• Describe a time you worked with global clients or distributed teams across regions. How did you handle coordination?
• How do you manage client-facing responsibilities alongside technical design leadership on fast-paced projects?
• What is your experience with the commissioning phase of mission critical facilities, and how does it shape your earlier design decisions?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without an active architect license when the posting specifically requires a licensed building architect.
• Describing data center experience in general terms without naming colocation or hyperscale projects and your specific role on them.
• Ignoring the travel requirement or implying the role is fully remote with no travel, since the posting states periodic travel is expected.