Welcome to the first edition the Data Centre Dispatch focused on the data centre and critical infrastructure industry.
Each month, I’ll be sharing:
- Key data centre industry news and investment trends
- Insights shaping data centre delivery, design, and operations
- Live job opportunities across the data centre market
- Market insight and advice to help clients hire smarter and candidates plan their next move
🤿Let’s dive into what’s shaping the sector right now 👇
🔥 1. Meta Signals a $135B AI & Data Centre Infrastructure Push
I’ve been watching Meta's ambitious investment strategy closely, and they have announced they are targeting $115–135 billion in capex for 2026, marking an aggressive expansion in both AI and digital infrastructure. This is a huge opportunity for the industry, as Meta plans to ramp up compute capacity by tens of gigawatts, placing substantial demand on engineering and construction teams.
For those in roles such as data centre engineers, commissioning managers, and project delivery leads, this expansion signals massive growth potential. As companies like Meta push to build hyperscale data centres faster than ever, the demand for skilled professionals in energy-efficient operations, chip deployment, and networking is set to skyrocket.
It’s an exciting time to be in the data centre recruitment space, with companies scrambling to fill these high-demand roles as quickly as possible.
⚡ 2. JLL Global Data Centres Market Outlook
JLL’s Global Data Centres Market Outlook reveals that the sector is evolving rapidly, driven by hyperscale and colocation projects worldwide. The demand for data centre capacity continues to surge, and the sector will be one of the fastest-growing industries through 2026. This is particularly evident in regions like Europe, North America, and parts of Asia Pacific, where demand for new capacity is outpacing supply.
From a recruitment standpoint, this report underscores the growing need for talent across all facets of data centre operations - from design engineers to site selection specialists. As the market expands, we’re seeing a greater emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency, which is influencing hiring trends. Professionals with experience in these areas will be in high demand.
With projects scaling in size and complexity, data centre delivery teams need professionals who can navigate the increasing pressures on timelines, budgets, and resources. The market is moving fast, and those who can deliver on these high-profile projects will be the ones who shape the future of the industry.
🏗️ 3. Data Centres, Semiconductors & Infrastructure Driving Growth into 2026
As we move further into 2026, data centres are going to be at the heart of global infrastructure development. Linesight’s latest outlook highlights how data centres, semiconductor growth, and infrastructure projects are becoming major drivers of expansion.
From a recruitment perspective, this means an explosion of opportunities for data centre commissioning engineers, construction managers, and site operations specialists. The push for faster delivery and larger, more powerful infrastructure is placing heavy demands on construction timelines, with major projects now expected to deliver in just 24–36 months, often with capacities of 80–120MW+.
As talent shortages continue to be a major concern, companies are turning to trusted partners (like Eligo Recruitment ) to help fill key roles in this rapidly evolving market. Agility and clear ownership are going to be the deciding factors in the successful delivery of these large-scale projects.
🤖 4. NVIDIA Unveils the Vera Rubin NVL72 AI Supercomputer
NVIDIA’s unveiling of the Vera Rubin NVL72, a new AI supercomputer, marks an important milestone for data centre professionals. This supercomputer offers 10x lower cost per token and 5x better inference performance than previous platforms, signalling a major shift towards more efficient, scalable infrastructure solutions.
For data centre operators, engineers, and project managers, this will require next-gen designs, innovative cooling solutions, and more robust power infrastructures. AI specialists, hardware engineers, and data centre architects with expertise in high-performance computing (HPC) are going to be in high demand.
The integration of technologies like NVLink 6, BlueField-4 DPUs, and ConnectX-9 SuperNICs shows just how important interconnectivity and security will be moving forward.
📊 5. New: Eligo 2026 Data Centre Salary Guide
In case you missed it, we’ve just released the 2026 Data Centre Salary Guide, providing up-to-date benchmarks for salaries across the data centre industry. Whether you’re hiring for critical environment jobs or seeking your next role, this guide offers crucial insights into where salaries stand and how they are evolving.
This guide is invaluable for ensuring competitive compensation packages. Companies need to align their offerings with the market to attract top talent, especially when hiring for roles like commissioning engineers, data centre technicians, sales and more.
For professionals, this guide provides insights into how your experience and expertise impact your salary expectations. Understanding market trends and aligning your compensation expectations with industry standards is key to advancing your career.
If you’re looking for tailored benchmarking or need insights into a specific role, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Featured Data Centre Jobs
Here are a few live roles I’m currently recruiting for:
- Commissioning Manager 👉 https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs/commissioning-manager-35106746/
- Senior Electrical Design Engineer 👉 https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs/senior-electrical-design-engineer-35107223/
- Senior Project Mechanical Engineer 👉 https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs/senior-project-mechanical-engineer-35107218/
- Project Manager – Data Centres 👉 https://www.eligo.co.uk/jobs/project-manager-35106743/
🔎 View all current data centre roles
Final Thoughts
The data centre market is moving faster than ever — driven by AI, power constraints, compressed delivery timelines, and an ongoing shortage of experienced talent.
If you’re:
- Hiring and want market insight or salary benchmarking
- Considering a move and want a confidential conversation
- Or just want to stay close to what’s happening in the industry
Feel free to connect or message me.
Thanks for reading — and I’ll see you in next month’s edition 👋
Lee Howard - Global Data Centre Recruiter
leeh@eligo.co.uk | +44 203 807 2267