"Senior Principal Engineer / Associate Architect"

About NUS IT

NUS Information Technology is the cornerstone to providing reliable, high-performance and secure IT solutions and effective IT governance for the campus. Here at NUS IT, we aim to transform NUS into a borderless computing community providing knowledge at its fingertips by enhancing the use of effective applications and services for teaching and learning.

We drive a culture that is forward-looking. With a strong passion for IT, our people are always striving to improve, push boundaries and innovate with a "can-do" attitude. We embrace collaboration, open communication and knowledge sharing. If you see yourself thriving in a dynamic environment and breaking new grounds with innovative ideas, you will find yourself at home in NUS IT.

As part of our team, you can look forward an empowered work environment that allows you to take charge of your own career path. We provide competitive remuneration as well as flexible work arrangements to enable your growth and development. We pride ourselves on our diverse workforce and are committed to transforming NUS into a leading global University shaping the future.

https://nusit.nus.edu.sg/

Job Description

The Senior Principal Engineer/Associate Architect is responsible for providing technical leadership in the oversight of data centre operations, vendor management, and infrastructure procurement. The incumbent will ensure operational excellence, reliability, and scalability of the organisation’s data centre facilities and hybrid storage infrastructure (on-premise and cloud). This role requires deep technical expertise in mechanical and electrical (M&E) systems, data centre management, and enterprise storage and backup technologies.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Data Centre Operations & Vendor Oversight

• Oversee daily operations and maintenance of mission-critical data centres to ensure optimal uptime, efficiency, and compliance with operational and safety standards.
• Manage and coordinate Data Centre Facility Management (DCFM) vendors, ensuring adherence to SLAs, preventive maintenance schedules, and incident response procedures.
• Review and approve method statements, risk assessments, and change management plans related to data centre works.
• Conduct periodic performance reviews, audits, and technical evaluations of vendors to drive continuous improvement and sustainability goals.

2. Procurement & Project Management

• Lead end-to-end procurement for data centre M&E equipment, including UPS systems, chillers, CRAC units, racks, and power distribution systems.
• Develop technical specifications, tender documentation, and evaluation criteria in collaboration with consultants, procurement officers, and internal stakeholders.
• Evaluate bids and proposals based on technical compliance, lifecycle cost, and sustainability performance.
• Oversee project implementation, infrastructure upgrades and data centre expansions.

3. Infrastructure Architecture & Technical Expertise

• Provide subject-matter expertise in storage and backup infrastructure across on-premise and cloud environments.
• Evaluate, design, and optimize storage solutions such as Block Storage (SAN), File Storage (NAS), and Object Storage (S3, on-prem/cloud).
• Collaborate with IT operations and application teams to ensure high availability, scalability, and data protection through modern backup and replication technologies.
• Contribute to hybrid cloud architecture planning, including storage tiering, disaster recovery, and cost optimization strategies.

4. Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure all operations and procurement activities comply with the University’s governance frameworks, standards, and sustainability targets.
• Develop and maintain documentation for