Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager

Company: AirTrunk

Location: Singapore HQ, Singapore

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Management / Engineering Design

Date Posted: 2026-05-07T03:55:14

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic evolution and continuous improvement of AirTrunk's reference data centre products, ensuring scalability, efficiency, and alignment with market needs.

• Drive technical excellence by leading cross-functional Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and product-focused design engineers in project execution and product development.

• Oversee the development and governance of multi-disciplinary design standards, specifications, and technical documentation to ensure consistency, quality, and innovation across the APAC region.

• Foster strong feedback loops between Product, Design, and Delivery teams by integrating learnings from live projects into ongoing product evolution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Design Manager" title, combined with responsibilities like "leading the evolution of AirTrunk’s reference data centre products" and working within the "Product Management team," strongly suggests a role focused on product strategy and technical design leadership within the data centre infrastructure domain. This role is crucial for defining and standardizing the core offerings that AirTrunk deploys across the Asia Pacific and Middle East region.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional SMEs to drive outcomes in product design and development, fostering accountability, collaboration, and technical excellence without direct line management.

• Own the development, governance, and continuous improvement of AirTrunk’s reference data centre product designs across the APAC region.

• Integrate learnings from live projects and customer feedback into product evolution, establishing robust feedback loops between Product, Design, and Delivery teams.

• Collaborate primarily with internal stakeholders (Customer, Solutions, Design, Innovation teams) and engage with customers where required to inform product direction and technical requirements.

• Oversee feasibility studies, technical assessments, and the integration of new technologies into product designs to maintain competitive advantage.

• Drive alignment across all disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, civil, structural, and architectural, to deliver cohesive and optimized design outcomes for hyperscale data centres.

• Ensure all product designs meet AirTrunk's stringent standards for performance, cost-effectiveness, constructability, and sustainability.

• Communicate complex technical concepts and product roadmap updates clearly and effectively to senior stakeholders, including product innovations and key strategic decisions.

• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing project needs, priorities, and dynamic market environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic product ownership and tactical execution oversight. The emphasis on leading SMEs without direct line management indicates a strong reliance on influence and collaboration skills, typical for senior technical roles in complex organizations. The explicit mention of integrating project learnings into product evolution underscores a commitment to a continuous improvement cycle, vital for a rapidly growing company like AirTrunk.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (preferably Electrical or Mechanical) or a related technical field.

Experience: A minimum of 8 years of relevant industry experience, with at least 5 years specifically within data centre or mission-critical environments.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting major data centre projects in a client-side, consultancy, or contractor role.

• Deep understanding of multi-disciplinary building services design, including civil, structural, and architectural considerations.

• Proficiency with Building Information Management (BIM) and digital design tools.

• Strong decision-making skills and a high degree of accountability for project outcomes.

• Excellent communication skills, with a proven ability to deliver effective presentations to diverse audiences, including customers, peers, and management.

• Leadership acumen to effectively support and influence multi-disciplinary teams, both internal and external.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working directly for a data centre operator.

• Exposure to hyperscale design principles and cloud infrastructure within the APAC market.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 8+ years of experience with at least 5 years in data centres, combined with a Bachelor's in Engineering, positions this role as a senior-level position. The emphasis on both technical design ("multi-disciplinary building services design," "BIM") and leadership/influence ("leading or supporting major projects," "leadership acumen," "influence multi-disciplinary teams") is critical for success in this cross-functional role. The preference for APAC market experience and data centre operator background directly aligns with AirTrunk's business focus.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Documented examples of leading or significantly contributing to the design and development of reference data centre products or complex technical solutions.

• Case studies showcasing the integration of multi-disciplinary design elements (electrical, mechanical, civil, structural, architectural) into cohesive, scalable, and efficient data centre designs.

• Evidence of implementing or improving design standards, technical specifications, and documentation processes for mission-critical environments.

• Demonstrations of how learnings from live projects or technical assessments were integrated to enhance product designs and drive continuous improvement.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase a structured approach to managing design projects, including feasibility studies, technical assessments, and the integration of new technologies.

• Illustrate experience in establishing and governing design standards and specifications, ensuring compliance with performance, cost, constructability, and sustainability objectives.

• Provide examples of creating and maintaining robust feedback loops between product development, design teams, and project delivery to foster iterative improvement.

• Detail methodologies for leading cross-functional subject matter experts, fostering collaboration, and driving accountability towards defined project and product outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Manager role focused on product evolution and technical standards, a portfolio demonstrating a structured approach to design, project leadership, and process improvement is essential. The emphasis should be on how the candidate has driven consistency, efficiency, and innovation in data centre design, supported by tangible examples of process implementation and outcome measurement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the role's seniority (10+ years experience), leadership responsibilities, and its location in Singapore (a major global hub with a high cost of living), a competitive salary is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for Design Managers in the data centre and technology infrastructure sector in Singapore, a reasonable estimated annual salary range would be S$150,000 - S$220,000. This estimate accounts for extensive experience, specialized technical knowledge, and leadership influence.

Benefits:

• Flexible Working Environment: AirTrunk promotes flexibility, allowing for adaptability in responding to changing project needs and priorities.

• Career Development Opportunities: The company emphasizes "Grow@Hyperscale," offering opportunities for career advancement, skill development, and professional growth within a rapidly expanding organization.

• Health and Wellness Programs: (Inferred based on company culture promoting employee well-being)

• Performance-Based Bonuses: (Common in senior roles for driving outcomes)

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: (Standard for full-time positions in Singapore)

Working Hours:

The role is on-site, implying standard full-time working hours, estimated at 40 hours per week. However, the description mentions flexibility and adaptability, suggesting that occasional extended hours may be required to meet project deadlines or respond to urgent needs, which is typical for leadership roles in fast-paced environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation for senior roles in Singapore's tech/infrastructure sector requires referencing regional compensation data. The range provided reflects the senior experience level (10+ years), the specialized nature of data centre design, and the high cost of living in Singapore. Benefits are inferred from the company's stated culture of growth and flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Data Centre Infrastructure & Technology. AirTrunk operates at the forefront of hyperscale data centre development, serving the region's largest technology companies. This industry is characterized by rapid technological advancement, significant capital investment, and a strong focus on reliability, efficiency, and sustainability.

Company Size: AirTrunk is a rapidly growing company, indicated by its "platform of hyperscale data centres across the APME region" and backing from major investors like Blackstone. While specific numbers aren't provided, its operational scale suggests a significant, dynamic organization with a global reach.

Founded: AirTrunk was founded in 2015, launching Australia's first and largest hyperscale data centres in 2017. This relatively young company has experienced rapid growth and expansion, demonstrating a high-energy, innovative culture.

Team Structure:

• The Design Manager reports to the Associate Principal, Product Management, and is part of the Product Management team.

• The role involves leading cross-functional Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and product-focused design engineers, indicating a matrixed or project-based team structure where influence and collaboration are key.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Product Evolution: Integrating learnings from live projects and customer feedback to continuously improve reference data centre product designs.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Leading diverse SMEs and partnering with various internal teams to achieve cohesive and optimized design outcomes.

• Standardization and Governance: Establishing and maintaining consistent design standards, specifications, and technical documentation across the APAC region.

• Innovation Integration: Overseeing the assessment and integration of new technologies into product designs to maintain a competitive edge.

Company Website: https://www.airtrunk.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: AirTrunk's rapid growth and investor backing suggest a high-performance culture driven by innovation and efficiency. The "A-Team" and "Grow@Hyperscale" branding point to a team-oriented environment focused on ambitious goals and employee development. The "A-Team" moniker implies a high-achieving, collaborative group.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This "Design Manager" role, with its emphasis on leading product evolution, cross-functional teams without direct reporting lines, and strategic input into design standards for a rapidly expanding regional player, is a senior-level position. It sits within the Product Management and Engineering Design functions, bridging technical expertise with strategic product direction.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager reports to the Associate Principal, Product Management. This indicates a clear line of reporting into a product leadership function, with significant autonomy in managing design projects and influencing product direction.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts AirTrunk's core offering – its hyperscale data centres. By defining and refining reference designs, the Design Manager influences the scalability, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of the company's infrastructure across the APME region. This has a direct impact on AirTrunk's ability to meet customer demand, maintain competitive pricing, and achieve its growth objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Progression: Potential to advance to Associate Principal or Principal roles within Product Management or Design, or to move into broader program management or regional design leadership roles.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in hyperscale data centre design, sustainability integration, or specific engineering disciplines (electrical, mechanical).

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunity to move into related areas such as Solutions Architecture, Project Delivery, or even business development within the data centre sector.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to setting industry standards for hyperscale data centre design and sustainability through AirTrunk's innovative practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's focus on "reference data centre products" and "leading the evolution" suggests a significant strategic impact. Growth opportunities would likely involve increased scope of responsibility, leadership of larger or more complex design initiatives, and potentially team leadership as the company continues to scale.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," with the location specified as "Singapore HQ." This suggests a primary work base within AirTrunk's headquarters in Singapore, fostering in-person collaboration and immersion in the company's operational hub.

Office Location(s): Singapore HQ. As a major regional hub, Singapore offers excellent connectivity, a vibrant business ecosystem, and a high quality of life, making it an attractive location for professionals.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on leading cross-functional SMEs and partnering with internal teams implies a workspace designed for collaboration, likely featuring meeting rooms, project spaces, and open-plan areas conducive to interaction.

• Technology and Tools: Access to industry-standard design software, BIM platforms, and potentially advanced analytics tools will be crucial for the role. The company's focus on innovation suggests a commitment to providing the necessary technological resources.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with product managers, design engineers, solutions architects, and potentially project delivery teams will be integral to the daily work.

Work Schedule:

The role is on-site with an estimated 40 working hours per week. However, the description notes "flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing project needs, priorities, and environments." This indicates that while a standard schedule is expected, the nature of data centre development and hyperscale projects may require occasional extended hours or adjusted schedules to meet critical milestones or address urgent operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Singapore HQ" location suggests a central, well-equipped office environment designed to support a rapidly growing technology company. The on-site requirement emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration for complex design and product development initiatives.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter screens for basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the Associate Principal, Product Management, focusing on role-specific experience, leadership approach, and understanding of data centre design principles.

• SME/Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Design, Solutions, and potentially Delivery teams to assess technical expertise, collaborative capabilities, and ability to influence. This may include engineers and architects.

• Technical Assessment/Case Study: Candidates might be asked to present a past project, analyze a design challenge, or propose solutions to a hypothetical data centre design problem, focusing on process, methodology, and outcomes.

• Final Round: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment, cultural fit, and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Leadership & Influence: Showcase instances where you led or significantly influenced multi-disciplinary teams to achieve complex design outcomes, emphasizing your methodology for driving collaboration and accountability without direct reports.

• Quantify Impact: Present case studies that clearly demonstrate the impact of your design contributions on key metrics such as scalability, efficiency, cost savings, constructability, and sustainability. Use specific data and quantifiable results where possible.

• Process & Methodology: Detail your approach to reference design development, design governance, technical assessment, and integrating learnings. Show how you establish feedback loops and ensure adherence to standards.

• Technical Depth: Be prepared to discuss specific technical challenges encountered in data centre design (electrical, mechanical, civil, structural, architectural) and how you addressed them. Showcase your understanding of BIM and digital design tools.

• APAC Context: If applicable, highlight any experience with hyperscale design or cloud infrastructure within the APAC market, demonstrating awareness of regional nuances.

Challenge Preparation:

• Data Centre Design Fundamentals: Refresh knowledge on hyperscale data centre architectures, power distribution, cooling systems, site selection criteria, and regulatory compliance.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would approach optimizing a reference design for a specific constraint (e.g., cost, power density, sustainability, site limitations).

• Stakeholder Management: Practice articulating complex technical decisions and design rationale to both technical and non-technical audiences, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and alignment with business objectives.

• Innovation & Technology: Be ready to discuss emerging technologies or innovative approaches in data centre design and how they could be integrated into AirTrunk's product offerings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on leading SMEs without direct reports means interviewers will probe for influencing skills, collaboration effectiveness, and strategic thinking. A strong portfolio showcasing process ownership, quantifiable results, and technical leadership is crucial for this role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Building Information Modeling (BIM) Software: Proficiency in tools like Autodesk Revit, Navisworks, or similar platforms for integrated design and collaboration.

• Digital Design Tools: Experience with various CAD and design software relevant to electrical, mechanical, civil, structural, and architectural disciplines.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools such as Microsoft Project, Asana, Jira, or similar for managing project timelines, resources, and tasks.

• Collaboration Platforms: Tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, or internal company platforms for communication and team coordination.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Ability to interpret data from design simulations, feasibility studies, and performance metrics. Familiarity with Excel or more advanced analytics tools may be beneficial.

• Reporting Dashboards: Experience in creating or interpreting dashboards that track design progress, key performance indicators (KPIs), and project status for stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design specifications feed into sales/solutioning (potentially using CRM data) and how design automation can streamline workflows might be advantageous.

• Workflow Automation Tools: Awareness of how automation can be applied to design processes, documentation, or technical assessments.

Integration Tools:

• Understanding how different design disciplines and software integrate, and how designs interface with operational systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "BIM and digital design tools" requirement is explicitly stated. Given the role's focus on product development and cross-disciplinary alignment, proficiency in integrated design environments and tools that facilitate collaboration and data sharing is paramount.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Challengers and Collaborative Problem Solvers: AirTrunk fosters an environment where individuals are encouraged to question the status quo and work together to find innovative solutions. This role requires a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.

• Going Above and Beyond: A commitment to exceeding expectations and delivering high-quality outcomes, essential for a company operating at hyperscale.

• Dynamic, Transparent, and Responsive: The company culture values agility, open communication, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, which is critical in the fast-paced data centre industry.

• Sustainability: A strong focus on delivering data centres sustainably, aligning with environmental responsibility and long-term operational efficiency.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: While not explicitly stated for this role, the company's technological focus and operational scale imply an underlying reliance on data to inform strategy and decision-making.

Collaboration Style:

• Influence-Based Leadership: The role involves leading SMEs without direct reporting lines, requiring a strong collaborative style focused on building consensus, providing clear direction, and motivating teams through shared goals and expertise.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close working relationships with Product Management, Customer, Solutions, Design, and Delivery teams are essential. This necessitates effective communication and a holistic understanding of how design impacts the entire product lifecycle and customer experience.

• Feedback Culture: The emphasis on integrating learnings into product evolution suggests an open culture where feedback is actively sought, shared, and acted upon to drive continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: AirTrunk's culture is described as "electric" and characterized by "challengers and collaborative problem solvers." This implies a high-energy, innovative, and teamwork-oriented environment where individuals are empowered to make an impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Standardization: Ensuring reference designs are innovative and incorporate new technologies while maintaining consistency, scalability, and constructability across multiple projects and regions.

• Leading Through Influence: Effectively guiding and motivating cross-functional SMEs and design engineers without direct reporting authority requires strong interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.

• Rapid Expansion Pace: Keeping pace with AirTrunk's aggressive growth and expansion across the APME region demands agility, efficient design processes, and the ability to adapt designs to diverse site conditions and local regulations.

• Technical Complexity: Managing the intricate interdependencies between electrical, mechanical, civil, structural, and architectural disciplines in hyperscale data centre design.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Hyperscale Design Expertise: Deepen knowledge in advanced hyperscale data centre design principles, power and cooling technologies, and sustainability best practices.

• Product Strategy & Roadmapping: Gain exposure to product management methodologies, market analysis, and strategic planning for technology infrastructure products.

• Leadership and Influence Skills: Develop advanced capabilities in leading teams through influence, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Sustainability in Design: Become a subject matter expert in integrating sustainable design principles and technologies within large-scale infrastructure projects.

• Regional Market Dynamics: Gain in-depth understanding of the data centre market across the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the company's rapid growth, its focus on hyperscale infrastructure, and the inherent complexity of managing multi-disciplinary design projects in a dynamic market. Growth opportunities are aligned with developing specialized expertise and leadership capabilities within this niche industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a complex, multi-disciplinary design initiative where you had to influence stakeholders without direct authority. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on influence, collaboration, and process.)

• "How would you approach updating a reference data centre design to incorporate a new, emerging technology while ensuring it meets AirTrunk's standards for scalability, cost, and sustainability?" (Focus on innovation, process, and strategic alignment.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of AirTrunk, how would your design leadership style contribute to our culture of 'challengers and collaborative problem solvers'?" (Focus on cultural fit, proactivity, and teamwork.)

• "How do you ensure consistency and quality across design documentation and specifications when working with multiple subject matter experts and teams across different geographies (e.g., APME)?" (Focus on governance, process, and communication.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project presented, clearly outline the challenge, your role and approach, the solutions implemented (highlighting multi-disciplinary integration), the results (quantified where possible), and any key learnings.

• Emphasize Process and Methodology: Don't just show the final design; explain how you arrived at it. Detail your process for feasibility studies, technical assessments, stakeholder engagement, and managing design documentation.

• Showcase Leadership and Influence: Use examples to demonstrate your ability to lead SMEs, drive consensus, and influence technical decisions. Highlight instances where you improved processes or achieved significant improvements through your design leadership.

• Tailor to AirTrunk: Connect your experience and portfolio examples to AirTrunk's specific needs – hyperscale, APME market, sustainability, and rapid growth. Show how your skills directly address their challenges and goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for this role involves demonstrating not only technical depth in data centre design but also strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. The interview will likely assess how well candidates can apply their experience to AirTrunk's specific context and challenges.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the AirTrunk careers page.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight experience in data centre or mission-critical environments, multi-disciplinary design leadership, BIM/digital tools, and your 8+ years of industry experience (with 5+ in relevant sectors). Use keywords from the job description such as "hyperscale," "reference design," "product development," "BIM," and "sustainability."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate examples that showcase your leadership in design projects, process improvement initiatives, and quantifiable achievements in scalability, efficiency, or cost-effectiveness. Be ready to present 2-3 key case studies that align with the primary responsibilities.

• Research AirTrunk: Understand their mission, their rapid growth in the APME region, their focus on sustainability, and their "Grow@Hyperscale" culture. This will help you articulate your fit and ask insightful questions.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio and answering potential interview questions, focusing on clarity, impact, and demonstrating your strategic approach to design management and product evolution.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.