Job Description

🏢 Company Context

This role is with HDR, a global architecture, engineering, and consulting company that designs:

• Data centers
• Hospitals
• Infrastructure
• Mission-critical facilities

So this job is on the design & construction side of data centers, not operations like AWS or Microsoft technician roles.

⭐ Role Level

This is a:

👉 Mid-Level Management / Project Role

Not entry level, but also not senior leadership yet.

Typical experience required:

• ~5 years engineering / construction / project coordination

🎯 Core Purpose of the Job

Main goal:

Help manage the design and execution of data center projects.

You are not installing equipment yourself.

You are coordinating teams that do.

🧠 What You Actually Do Daily

Key responsibilities:

Project Coordination

• Manage timelines
• Track deliverables
• Coordinate engineering teams (MEP, civil, structural)
• Monitor progress

Financial Tracking

• Budget monitoring
• Cost control
• Project reporting

Client Interaction

• Meetings with customers
• Status updates
• Relationship management

Quality & Risk

• QA/QC procedures
• Risk assessment
• Documentation

You work under a Senior Project Manager.

🏗️ Technical Domain

Focus areas include:

• Data center facility design
• Mechanical systems (cooling)
• Electrical systems (power)
• Structural infrastructure
• Mission-critical buildings

This is construction + engineering management.

📊 Career Track Type

There are 3 major data center career paths:

1️⃣ Operations (Technician → Engineer → Manager)
2️⃣ Deployment / Network Build (Engineer → Senior → Architect)
3️⃣ Design / Construction / Project Management ✅ (This role)

This job is Track 3.

🎓 Requirements Interpretation

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5 years experience
• Strong coordination skills

Preferred:

• PMP certification
• Data center design experience

PMP is a big advantage for promotion.

💰 Salary Level (Typical USA)

Assistant PM range usually:

• $75k – $105k per year
• Higher with experience

Lower than senior engineers but higher than technicians.

📈 Career Growth Path

Assistant Project Manager
→ Project Manager
→ Senior Project Manager
→ Program Manager
→ Director

This path can reach very high salaries long-term.

⚖️ Difficulty Comparison With Other Roles You Shared

Role	Level
DSV Associate	Entry
Microsoft / AWS Technician	Mid
Controls Technician	Mid-High
Assistant Project Manager	⭐ Mid-High
Oracle Senior Engineer	Very High
Implementation Lead	Senior

🔥 Biggest Difference From Technician Jobs

Technician:

“Do the work”

Assistant PM:

“Coordinate the people doing the work”

👍 Good Fit For People With

• Engineering background
• Construction experience
• Data center projects exposure
• Leadership interest
• Communication skills

⚠️ Not Ideal For People Who Prefer

• Hands-on technical work
• Networking configuration
• Hardware troubleshooting

This role is more meetings and planning.

🧠 Important Insight

If your goal is:

High Salary Fast → Engineering Track Better

Leadership & Management → Project Management Track Better

Both are good, but personality matters.

🚀 If You Want, I Can Tell You

• Which is better: Engineer vs Project Manager
• Easiest path to enter data center industry
• Which role fits your profile
• Salary comparison India vs USA