MEP LEAD – DATA CENTRE – MANCHESTER

Darwin Recruitment; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

Bonuses

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment seeks an experienced MEP Lead to oversee design, coordination and execution of MEP systems for state-of-the-art data centre developments at our Manchester site. In this leadership role, you will ensure safety, reliability, energy efficiency, and scalable infrastructure for mission-critical facilities.

You will manage end-to-end onsite MEP lifecycles, provide technical leadership on power distribution, HVAC and BMS, coordinate with project managers, engineers and

Qualifications

• Experience: 3+ years managing MEP systems in data centre/construction environments.
• Degree: Mechanical, Electrical or Building Services engineering.
• Knowledge: high-availability power systems (UPS, generators, switchgear) and advanced cooling (CRAH, CHW).
• Location: onsite in Manchester, full-time.
• Soft skills: leadership, communication, problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Onsite oversight of the MEP lifecycle from construction to testing and handover at Manchester site.
• Provide technical leadership on power distribution, HVAC, cooling, fire suppression, and BMS.
• Coordinate daily with onsite PMs, engineers, architects, and subcontractors to avoid clashes and maintain schedule.
• Ensure installations comply with UK regulations, uptime standards, and health and safety protocols.
• Oversee subcontractors, review submittals, and manage local resources within budget.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Building Services degree

Job description

MEP Lead – Data Centre Projects

Location: Onsite, Manchester, UK

Job Type: Full-Time

Industry: Data Centre Construction & Engineering

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Lead to oversee the design, coordination, and execution of MEP systems for state-of-the-art data centre developments at our Manchester site. In this critical leadership role, you will ensure that our mission-critical facilities are built to the highest standards of safety, reliability, energy efficiency, and scalability.

Key Responsibilities

• Onsite Project Oversight: Manage the end-to-end MEP lifecycle directly from our Manchester location, guiding the project from construction through to testing, commissioning, and handover.
• Technical Leadership: Provide expert guidance on critical power distribution, HVAC systems, cooling infrastructure, fire suppression, and building management systems (BMS).
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate daily with onsite project managers, engineers, architects, and subcontractors to eliminate clashes and keep the project schedule on track.
• Quality & Compliance: Ensure all onsite installations strictly adhere to local UK regulatory standards, industry best practices (such as Uptime Institute Tier standards), and stringent health and safety protocols.
• Resource & Vendor Management: Oversee onsite contractor performance, review technical submittals, and manage local resource allocation to deliver the project within budget constraints.

Requirements

• Experience: Minimum of 3+ years of hands-on experience managing MEP systems specifically within data centre construction or mission-critical environments.
• Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services, or a related field (relevant UK certifications are a strong plus).
• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of high-availability power systems (UPS, generators, switchgear) and advanced cooling architectures (chilled water systems, CRAH/HAC units).
• Location & Availability: Must be able to work permanently onsite in Manchester on a full-time basis.
• Soft Skills: Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities with a proven track record of managing site teams.

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary: Highly competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Private healthcare, pension scheme, and performance-related bonuses.
• Career Growth: Opportunity to anchor high-value, cutting-edge digital infrastructure projects in the heart of Manchester.