Mechanical Design & Innovation Lead, EMEA

Ares Management; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading alternative investment manager is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer for the EMEA region. This role focuses on developing mechanical design strategies for data center infrastructure, ensuring compliance with codes and standards. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience in mechanical engineering, a Bachelor’s degree in the field, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. This opportunity offers a chance to influence the success of innovative data center projects across multiple regions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience in mechanical design for data center infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of MEP systems including commissioning and controls.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead mechanical design strategies for regional programs.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and building codes.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop design criteria.

Skills

Mechanical design

Cooling technologies

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Chartered Engineer / Professional Engineering license

Job description

Job Description

About the company

Ada Infrastructure is a global data center business committed to being a positive force for technology, people, and the planet. As part of the digital infrastructure platform of Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES), a leading global alternative investment manager, Ada Infrastructure is positioned to be a leader in the industry in reliable, safe, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructure. With eight in-flight campuses across Japan, the UK, and Brazil, we have over 850 MW of power currently available and more than 1,500 MW in our global pipeline.

To learn more about Ada Infrastructure, visit www.adainfrastructure.com or to learn more about Ares Management visit www.aresmgmt.com.

Why Join Us

This role is an excellent opportunity to join a deeply experienced and high‑performing team, while benefiting from the opportunity to directly impact and contribute to our global datacenter design & engineering program. Our hand‑picked team combines industry‑wide experience and in‑country expertise with unmatched customer relationships and industry intelligence.

The Team you are Joining

We are a lean team of datacenter infrastructure experts developing a global datacenter program that meets the evolving needs of our customers, at scale and in a sustainable way. We are committed to listening, collaborating cross‑functionally and partnering to drive efficient and effective solutions that achieve our business objectives. We provide regional leadership and direction that enables our regional teams to design and deliver scalable future‑ready solutions to successfully support our customers.

Summary

As the Lead Mechanical Engineer for EMEA, you will be focused on the development of the regional design and mechanical strategies and standards that are the basis of our Program, working closely with our global colleagues to align the direction of our product roadmap. You bring a holistic knowledge of data center systems that goes beyond your discipline and enables integrated & efficient solutions. You’re an expert at managing competing priorities to focus on what is necessary for the success of our program objectives. You will be responsible for the development of mechanical design strategies that enable our regional program to bring our capacity to market safely, quickly, and with high reliability and quality. With your technical expertise, you ensure compliance with codes and standards and serve as an expert in your area. You’re a valuable contributor to the development of our data center design roadmap, collaborating with our other discipline leads, to position us for success now and into the future. You understand how design can support safe and efficient construction and operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the mechanical design strategies that are the basis of our regional program. Including but not limited to mechanical systems for hyperscale data centers, including alternative cooling options and strategies for liquid cooling to racks, public health and fire systems, waste heat recovery facilities etc.
• Direct the development of our regional mechanical design roadmap. Knowledge of new technologies and the evaluation thereof to determine their value in support of our customers’ future needs, our business objectives and the development of strategies for implementation into our program seamlessly.
• Stay up-to-date with advancements in mechanical engineering and data center technologies, and recommend new technologies to improve the reliability and efficiency of our data center infrastructure.
• Provide leadership and direction to regional teams in support of implementing (“localizing”) mechanical design strategies in various regions across EMEA.
• Collaborate with other stakeholders to develop design criteria and project budget strategies that meet our customer requirements and business objectives.
• Provide technical review and design direction for our site selection program. Including coordinating waste heat exchange with utility providers.
• Technical development of reference designs and country specific amendments, embedding best practice with knowledge of international and local building codes, standards, permitting and environmental regulations across EMEA.
• In conjunction with our Operations Team set the controls strategy for systems operations.
• Support the technical review and qualification of our equipment vendor selections.
• Support budget setting for project CAPEX, interfacing with our Operations teams for a focus on OPEX and NPV.
• Support review and selection of consultant teams.
• Evaluate customer requirements / requests for proposals and provide the technical responses and documentation. Interface with customers subject matter experts directly to understand requirements, look at options and develop solutions.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, codes, and regulations.

Skills & Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in mechanical design and mechanical engineering for data center infrastructure.
• Chartered Engineer / Member of relevant Institute / Professional Engineering license.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical design, cooling technologies at campus, building and datahall level, with a good understanding of MEP systems as a whole including commissioning and controls.
• Knowledge of industry standards, codes, and regulations.
• Experience with Availability Studies
• Experience with Health & Safety processes & procedures (CDM, DSEAR etc.).
• Excellent problem‑solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with a cross‑functional team.
• Agile decision‑making to address materialized risks or unforeseen challenges stemming from changes in regulatory requirements, supply chain delays, knowledge or resource gaps in various countries, at both regional and individual project levels.
• Operational Excellence focused to embed best practice and deliver quality outcomes
• Ability to lead people and teams with commitment to build relationships both internally cross‑function, and externally with customers, suppliers and vendors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recent experience with high‑density data centers and hyperscale environments.
• Experience in construction methods, schedules and budgets for data center mechanical systems.
• Experience with prefabrication/modular construction and manufacturing techniques.

Reporting Relationships

Principal, Design & Innovation Lead, EMEA, Digital Infrastructure

Head of Ada Infrastructure, EMEA

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.