Mechanical Technical Director – Mission Critical (Data Centres)

GHD; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

GHD is seeking an experienced Mechanical Technical Director for its Global Data Centre Design Team in the UAE. The role leads technical direction across hyperscale, AI, and mission critical data centre projects, mentoring engineers and shaping engineering standards.

The position requires extensive leadership, client engagement, and a track record in delivering resilient, energy-efficient cooling solutions. You will drive innovation and pursue new opportunities within a global practice.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical/building services engineering and chartered status preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant engineering experience in mission critical/data centre environments.
• Proven track record leading design and delivery of hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and AI-focused data centre facilities.
• Strong knowledge of data centre cooling systems and mechanical-electrical integration.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across mission critical and data centre projects globally.
• Define and oversee mechanical engineering strategies for hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and AI-driven data centre developments.
• Lead development and review of cooling architectures including chilled water plants and liquid cooling.
• Mentor Lead Engineers and promote technical excellence across teams.
• Interface with clients, operators, contractors, and technology providers as a trusted advisor.
• Support business development, client engagement, and growth initiatives in the Mission Critical sector.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Presentation skills

Technical governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Building Services Engineering

Chartered Engineer status preferred

Tools

CFD modelling

BIM

Job description

Who we are

With over 14,000 professionals globally, GHD is a leading multidisciplinary professional services company delivering engineering, design, and advisory solutions across water, energy, resources, environment, property & buildings, and transportation sectors.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Mechanical Technical Director to join our Global Data Centre Design Team (Mission Critical), based in our UAE offices. This is a senior leadership role for a highly accomplished engineer with extensive experience in the design, technical leadership, and delivery of hyperscale, AI, and mission‑critical data centre facilities.

You will provide technical leadership across a portfolio of complex data centre projects, guiding multidisciplinary teams through all stages of delivery while shaping the future direction of mechanical engineering within our global data centre practice.

This role offers the opportunity to influence some of the world's most advanced AI and hyperscale data centre developments. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients, support business development initiatives, help secure new opportunities, drive innovation, and ensure the consistent delivery of technically excellent, resilient, sustainable, and commercially successful solutions.

In addition to project leadership, you will play a key role in developing engineering capability across the business, mentoring senior engineers, promoting technical excellence, and contributing to the growth of our rapidly expanding mission critical sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and governance across multiple mission critical and data centre projects globally.
• Define and oversee mechanical engineering strategies for hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and AI‑driven data centre developments.
• Lead the development and review of cooling architectures, including chilled water systems, liquid cooling solutions, direct‑to‑chip cooling, CDUs, heat rejection systems, and high‑density thermal management strategies.
• Drive technical excellence through peer reviews, design assurance processes, and the development of engineering standards, best practices, and quality procedures.
• Act as the senior technical authority for mechanical engineering matters, providing guidance and support to project teams throughout all project phases.
• Support the development, adaptation, and optimisation of global standard reference designs, modular data centre solutions, and bespoke engineering approaches.
• Interface directly with clients, operators, contractors, technology providers, and other stakeholders, acting as a trusted technical advisor and subject matter expert.
• Lead technical workshops, value engineering exercises, feasibility studies, master planning activities, and technical due diligence assignments.
• Ensure designs achieve the required performance, resilience, maintainability, energy efficiency, sustainability, and operational objectives.
• Support project delivery teams in managing technical risks, programme requirements, budgets, and quality objectives.
• Maintain strong client relationships and proactively identify opportunities for repeat business and long‑term partnerships.
• Support business development activities, client engagement, and strategic growth initiatives across the Mission Critical sector.
• Lead and support pursuits, proposals, bids, interviews, and technical presentations to help secure new project opportunities.
• Collaborate with regional and global leadership teams to develop and execute growth strategies for the Data Centres and Mission Critical business.
• Monitor emerging technologies, market trends, and client requirements to ensure GHD remains at the forefront of data centre engineering.
• Mentor and develop Lead Engineers and other team members, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Building Services Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer status (CEng, PE, RPEQ, or equivalent) preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant engineering experience, including significant experience within mission critical and data centre environments.
• Proven track record leading the design and delivery of hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and AI‑focused data centre facilities.
• Extensive knowledge of data centre cooling systems, including chilled water plants, CRAH/CRAC systems, liquid cooling technologies, CDUs, cooling towers, dry coolers, and advanced control strategies.
• Strong understanding of resilience and redundancy philosophies, including N+1, 2N, and concurrent maintainability principles.
• Strong understanding of mechanical‑electrical integration, controls and BMS systems, commissioning, integrated systems testing, and operational readiness.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams across international projects and geographically distributed delivery environments.
• Demonstrated experience undertaking technical reviews, design assurance, engineering governance, and quality management activities.
• Familiarity with CFD modelling, thermal analysis, energy modelling, digital engineering, and BIM delivery processes.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience supporting business development, client management, and project pursuits.
• Experience with hyperscale and AI data centre cooling strategies is highly desirable.
• Uptime Institute Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) certification is highly desirable.
• Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.

Why Join Us?

• Work on globally significant projects, influencing the next generation of AI and hyperscale data centre design.
• Be part of a globally recognised, fast‑growing mission critical team delivering projects that blend technical excellence, sustainability, and commercial success.
• Collaborate in a multi‑disciplinary, innovative environment where your input shapes both standardised and bespoke solutions.
• Join a team that values knowledge‑sharing, mentorship, and professional excellence.
• Be part of a workplace that combines collaboration, flexibility, and connection. Join us in the office three days per week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Our Pledge to You

At GHD, we don’t just believe in the power of commitment, we live and breathe it every day. That’s why we pledge to empower our people to make a positive impact. Combining our deep technical expertise with the capabilities of our clients and partners, we respond to some of the most complex challenges facing our planet today.

See where your commitment could take you. That’s the #PowerOfCommitment