Principal Mechanical Engineer

Network Talent Partners; Dublin; On-site; EUR 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Talent Partners seeks a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead data centre projects in Ireland and Europe, owning complex mechanical design packages and mentoring junior engineers.

You will coordinate across disciplines, manage programmes and budgets, review submissions and support client meetings, focusing on resilient cooling systems and high-quality design.

Qualifications

• Proven data centre experience is essential across hyperscale or large-scale projects.
• Experience in an engineering design consultancy or MEP consultancy is essential.
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Engineer status, or progress towards chartership, is advantageous.
• Strong client-facing and leadership abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design across data centre projects from concept to commissioning.
• Coordinate with electrical, CSA, fire protection and BMS teams.
• Manage project programmes, resources and technical quality.
• Review contractor designs, RFIs and vendor proposals.
• Lead client and design meetings and manage scope changes.
• Mentor engineers and junior team members.

Skills

Data centre design experience

Mechanical building services design

Project leadership

Client relationship management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Chartered Engineer status (advantage)

Job description

Principal Mechanical Engineer - Data Centres

Data centre experience within an engineering design consultancy is essential.

An opportunity for an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer to take a leading role in the design and delivery of major data centre projects within a specialist engineering consultancy.

This position is suited to a technically strong engineer who can take ownership of complex mechanical designs while leading project delivery, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and building trusted client relationships.

The role

• Lead mechanical design across data centre projects, from concept and detailed design through construction and commissioning.
• Take responsibility for critical cooling systems, including chilled water, chillers, CRAHs/CRACs, AHUs, pumps and heat rejection.
• Develop and review mechanical calculations, specifications, schematics, equipment selections and technical reports.
• Lead design coordination with electrical, CSA, fire protection and BMS teams.
• Manage project programmes, deliverables, resources, technical quality and competing priorities across multiple projects.
• Review contractor designs, technical submissions, RFIs and vendor proposals, providing construction-stage technical support.
• Lead client and design meetings, manage technical risks and oversee scope changes and commercial considerations.
• Mentor and review the work of engineers and junior team members, maintaining high technical and delivery standards.

What we're looking for

• Proven data centre experience is essential, ideally across hyperscale, colocation or other large-scale mission-critical projects.
• Previous experience within an engineering design consultancy or MEP consultancy is essential. Candidates whose experience is primarily in facilities operations or contractor-side delivery will not be suitable.
• A strong background in mechanical or building services design, with the ability to take personal ownership of complex mechanical design packages.
• Extensive knowledge of data centre cooling, HVAC, chilled water systems, mechanical plant and resilient design principles, including N+1 and 2N.
• Experience leading mechanical workstreams, coordinating engineers and managing project delivery against programme, scope and budget.
• Strong client-facing, communication and technical leadership skills.
• A degree in Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Engineer status, or progress towards chartership, is advantageous.
• Knowledge of liquid cooling, PUE, heat recovery, ASHRAE and EN 50600 would be beneficial.

The opportunity

• Salary of €95,000-€125,000, depending on experience.
• Work on major data centre projects across Ireland and Europe.
• Take ownership of complex technical challenges and lead mechanical design delivery.
• Develop your career within a growing specialist engineering consultancy.

Location: Dublin, Ireland.