Principal Electrical Engineer

Principal Electrical Engineer – Paris | Data Centre Design & Technical Review

About the Role

We are currently recruiting for a Principal Electrical Engineer to join a growing engineering team in Paris, supporting the design and delivery of major data centre projects.

This is a senior technical position focused on design review, technical assurance and engineering leadership. Rather than being responsible for producing every design deliverable themselves, the Principal Electrical Engineer will review the work produced by Senior Electrical Engineers, identify technical risks and potential design issues, and ensure the overall electrical design meets the required standards and project requirements.

The role will involve close collaboration with the wider design team, clients and project stakeholders, with occasional site visits, typically around 2 per month, to support the project and identify any issues arising during delivery.

The position offers a hybrid working arrangement of 3 days in the Paris office and 2 days working from home.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the senior technical point of contact for electrical design activities.
• Review electrical designs and deliverables produced by Senior Electrical Engineers and the wider design team.
• Identify technical risks, design gaps, inconsistencies and potential red flags before they impact project delivery.
• Challenge designs where required and provide clear technical direction and recommendations.
• Review electrical calculations, drawings, specifications, reports and technical documentation.
• Ensure designs are technically robust, coordinated and suitable for construction.
• Provide technical oversight across the full electrical design lifecycle.
• Review design solutions against project requirements, client specifications and relevant standards.
• Identify potential clashes, coordination issues and constructability concerns.
• Support Senior Engineers in resolving complex technical issues.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to less experienced members of the electrical engineering team.
• Participate in design reviews, technical workshops and client meetings.
• Coordinate closely with mechanical, structural, architectural and other engineering disciplines.
• Review changes to the design and assess their potential technical and project impact.
• Support the project team during construction by responding to technical queries and design issues.
• Attend project sites approximately twice per month to review progress, investigate technical issues and support the delivery team.
• Escalate significant technical risks and ensure appropriate actions are taken.
• Help maintain a consistent level of technical quality across all electrical design deliverables.

Data Centre Electrical Experience

Strong experience within data centre / mission-critical environments is essential, with a detailed understanding of the electrical systems required to support highly resilient facilities.

Experience across areas including:

• HV/MV/LV electrical distribution.
• Substations and incoming utility supplies.
• Transformers and MV/LV switchgear.
• Generators and standby power systems.
• UPS systems and critical power distribution.
• Busbar systems.
• Protection and earthing.
• Electrical containment and cable distribution.
• Redundancy and resilience strategies.
• Single-line diagrams.
• Electrical calculations and load assessments.
• Critical power systems and associated infrastructure.

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience as a Principal Electrical Engineer, Lead Electrical Engineer or Senior Electrical Engineer.
• Significant data centre / mission-critical design experience is essential.
• Strong technical understanding of electrical systems within large-scale data centres.
• Proven experience reviewing and technically assuring electrical designs.
• Ability to identify design risks, inconsistencies and potential problems before they reach site.
• Strong understanding of electrical design standards, codes and regulations.
• Experience working with and providing technical guidance to Senior Engineers and design teams.
• Strong understanding of constructability and how design decisions translate into site delivery.
• Excellent problem-solving and technical decision-making skills.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to challenge designs constructively.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Electrical Engineering degree or equivalent qualification.
• Fluent English and French are essential.
• Willingness to undertake approximately 2 site visits per month.

Working Arrangement

• Location: Paris, France
• Sector: Data Centres / Mission Critical
• Role: Principal Electrical Engineer
• Focus: Electrical Design Review & Technical Assurance
• Office: 3 days per week
• Home: 2 days per week
• Site Visits: Approximately 2 per month
• Languages: Fluent English & French – essential