Associate Director Electrical Engineering

Description

Zutari: Co-creating an engineered impact.

Zutari is a well-established, management-owned engineering firm with almost 90 years’ experience. As human-centred engineering consultants and advisors, we are trusted by our clients, business partners, communities and other stakeholders across Africa and the Middle East.

We co-create engineering solutions that have a positive impact and improve people’s lives. Zutari values inclusion and recognises the importance of a diverse, talented workforce, believing that people need other people to succeed.

What kind of talent do we pursue?

We employ high performing talent with the right attitude and a positive mindset, who are motivated by doing the right thing, getting things done and share a sense of urgency. People who have an impact in our teams and the broader community. People who think differently and connect with those around them to co-create new opportunities and leave a meaningful legacy.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Electrical Engineering professional to join our Data Centre Design Team, located our Tshwane or Cape Town offices.

As part of our team, you will be a key member of the delivery team, virtually designing and constructing a wide range of projects. Your experience, ability to see the greater picture, accuracy, drive for standardization, commercial acumen and eye for detail will assist our team to co-create an engineered impact to our clients.

Your experience will see you leading dynamic project teams to co-create engineering solutions digitally.

You will bridge the gap between the various design and execution teams, ensuring that our designs are:

• Holistically delivered at high quality.
• Feasible.
• Within budget.
• Meet client requirements.
  
  
  

Role Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to a team of electrical engineers, technicians, and designers.
• Lead electrical design efforts for data centres and other critical infrastructure projects, ensuring designs meet client requirements, timelines, and budgets.
• Oversee and develop conceptual designs through to detailed construction documentation, ensuring compliance with relevant electrical standards, codes, and regulations (e.g., NEC, IEC, EN).
• Manage and resolve design issues, discrepancies, and technical challenges in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Review and interpret client scope of work (SOW) documents, ensuring electrical designs are aligned with client specifications, proactively identifying and raising variance orders.
• Act as the primary electrical point of contact between the project design team, clients, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate electrical design elements with other building systems (e.g., mechanical, structural, fire) for seamless integration.
• Translate complex technical electrical design details into clear, comprehensible information for clients and non-technical stakeholders.
• Identify potential design risks and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring quality and safety compliance throughout all stages of the project.
• Stay current with emerging electrical technologies, energy-efficient solutions, and best practices specific to data centres and mission-critical facilities.
• Support the integration of renewable energy systems, UPS, and electrical infrastructure redundancy in line with latest standards.
• Provide guidance on the application of appropriate electrical design software (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit, ETAP), including scripting for automation (e.g., Python, Dynamo) to improve design efficiency and accuracy.
• Ensure cost-effective electrical design solutions by working closely with cost estimators, ensuring budgets are maintained without compromising quality.
• Lead and participate in design coordination meetings, ensuring electrical systems align with project goals and industry standards.
• Ensure that all electrical design documentation (drawings, calculations, specifications, etc.) are properly maintained and meet quality control standards.
• Drive continuous learning and professional development within the electrical design team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Contribute to the virtual construction of electrical systems in data centres and other critical infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with local and international standards.
• Maintain accurate project records in compliance with internal quality assurance systems.
• Act as the single point of responsibility for projects, main point of contact for clients, providing technical guidance and solutions throughout project lifecycles.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for new work with current and prospective clients.
• Support business development efforts, including proposal preparation, client presentations, and project planning to align with client needs.
  
  
  

Minimum Requirements

• Proven experience in electrical engineering with a focus on data centres or other mission-critical infrastructure.
• BSc/BEng/BTech/BTechEng in Electrical Engineering or similar engineering discipline. A completed relevant Masters degree would be advantageous.
• Professionally registered with the Engineering Coucil of South Africa or similar affiliation.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant consulting experience in the built environment and with experience in data centres within as an Electrical Engineer.
• Strong proficiency with Revit, ACC, Navisworks and other related digital coordination tools.
• Knowledge of various MEP simulation programs as well as proficiency in prime discipline programs (ETAP/EOM).
• Keen interest in BIM, inclusive of the metadata information associated with designs produced .
• Client facing with strong presentation skills.
• Commercial and financial awareness and management of projects and fees.
• Ability to work autonomously, as part of a wider team, and leading a team.
• A willingness to learn and improve delivery systems.
• A strong interest in working on innovative and complex projects.
• A passion for mentoring and teaching others.
• Experience in leading multidisciplinary teams would be advantageous.
• International project experience with data centre and mission critical facilities focus would be advantageous.
  
  
  

We believe that a diverse workforce is key to our business success. We seek the best people for our jobs based on their skills, qualifications, and experience. We embrace the principle of equal opportunity in employment, and we work towards eliminating all forms of unlawful discrimination in our employment practices. In support of diversity and the equal opportunity principle, preference will be given to individuals from designated groups within South Africa.