Principal Design Manager

A Principal Design Manager at Microsoft based in Tokyo, Japan leads the engineering scope, schedule, and budget for greenfield, brownfield, and retrofit datacenter design projects. This role supports network and regional growth in the North-East Asia region, manages internal and external resources, and aligns datacenter building, power, cooling, telecom, and controls infrastructure with Microsoft’s APAC capacity roadmap. The Design Manager provides leadership across site due diligence, design development, permitting, construction, and turnover to Operations, delivering multiple concurrent, complete datacenter design solutions that meet defined scopes, schedules, and budgets. The role involves engaging with key Microsoft stakeholders as well as external datacenter architecture and engineering vendors to drive innovative technology and advanced concepts.

Responsibilities

• Support the network growth and upgrade refresh project pipeline across the APAC region, including investigation and project scoping.
• Work with external and internal stakeholders to conduct feasibility studies, report findings, propose solutions and programs.
• Manage implementation and ensure compliance with the execution process.
• Build and maintain a pipeline by coordinating a team of architects, engineers, and designers to deliver projects within scope, schedule, and budget.
• Collaborate with on-site operations teams to perform feasibility and gap analyses for converting existing data center spaces to new or upgraded uses.
• Demonstrate excellent communication, organization, and leadership skills; maintain a high level of proficiency in commercial and industrial architecture and engineering with a focus on datacenter design.
• Work effectively with both technical and non-technical groups in a fast-paced environment with integrity, methodical approach, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related field (e.g., Project/Programme Management).
• Technical understanding of mission-critical environments at a multidisciplinary level.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience leading teams of architects and engineers in advanced engineering and operational processes for large data center environments.
• Experience with design and construction procurement and contract management.
• Fluency in Japanese and English.
• Preferred: minimum of 10 years in engineering, equipment, and/or construction for mission-critical or hi-tech industries, and minimum of 5 years’ experience as a project or team manager.