Principal Civil Engineer, Data Center Design Engineering

Fleet Data Centers; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-covered medical, dental, and/

Job summary

Fleet Data Centers is seeking a Principal Civil Engineer to lead the design, development, and implementation of cutting-edge civil systems for mega-scale data centers. You will guide cross-functional teams, provide technical leadership, and ensure reliable, sustainable civil solutions across regions.

The role requires deep civil engineering knowledge and the ability to drive design standards and constructability reviews.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering MEP across multiple projects or business units.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
• Proven leadership and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Experience with Tier 1 contractor projects or complex multidisciplinary programs.
• Knowledge of sustainable MEP solutions and low-carbon design.
• Familiarity with digital design tools including BIM and lean methodologies.
• Proficiency with ACC and Procore.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of civil systems for scalable data centers.
• Oversee data center civil engineering designs and features.
• Develop CSA Basis of Design, prototype designs, and templates.
• Coordinate with internal and external MEP design engineers.
• Manage external design consultants and multi-site projects.
• Review and release civil engineering designs and scopes of work.
• Evaluate constructability of new technologies and construction methods.
• Travel for site assessments, design reviews, and stakeholder meetings (up to 25%).

Skills

MEP delivery management

Mechanical systems

Electrical systems

Leadership

Problem solving

BIM/lean

Procore

Digital construction tools

Education

Engineering degree (mechanical/electrical/building services)

Postgraduate qualification in building services or sustainability

Chartered membership (or equivalent)

Tools

ACC

Procore

Job description

Company Overview

Fleet Data Centers designs, builds and operates mega-scale data center campuses. Fleet provides its customers flexibility and predictability to meet their upside demand forecasts, addressing a key need in the market as traditional leased models are struggling to keep pace with the demand for new Cloud and AI infrastructure. Fleet is led by a team of industry veterans that have already made a lasting imprint on the evolution of global digital infrastructure and are committed and uniquely capable of upleveling data center development scale and operations in the face of rising demand. Fleet is well positioned to bring in-house design, engineering and operational capabilities to collaborate with customers on tailored solutions for campuses of 500MW+. This unique model enables Fleet to provide the world’s largest and most sophisticated customers a seamless extension of their own data center fleets with constant access to design innovation. Fleet is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with satellite offices in Seattle, WA and Arlington, VA.

Company Overview

Fleet Data Centers designs, builds and operates mega-scale data center campuses. Fleet provides its customers flexibility and predictability to meet their upside demand forecasts, addressing a key need in the market as traditional leased models are struggling to keep pace with the demand for new Cloud and AI infrastructure. Fleet is led by a team of industry veterans that have already made a lasting imprint on the evolution of global digital infrastructure and are committed and uniquely capable of upleveling data center development scale and operations in the face of rising demand. Fleet is well positioned to bring in-house design, engineering and operational capabilities to collaborate with customers on tailored solutions for campuses of 500MW+. This unique model enables Fleet to provide the world’s largest and most sophisticated customers a seamless extension of their own data center fleets with constant access to design innovation. Fleet is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with satellite offices in Seattle, WA and Arlington, VA.

Position Overview

The Principal Civil Engineer will be responsible for leading the design, development, and implementation of cutting-edge civil systems in highly efficient, scalable, and sustainable data centers. This role involves working with cross-functional teams to ensure best-in-class civil systems that support massive cloud operations across multiple regions. The candidate must be a leader but also a technical expert in civil engineering, with a deep understanding of data center operations, sustainability initiatives, and reliability requirements. Knowledge of all aspects of civil engineering is required. As a subject matter expert, you will have a direct impact on the design of prototypical DC facilities, provide technical guidance, solve large scale implementation issues, and be responsible for Civil Engineering design requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Working with the multiple design and engineering professionals on concepts and build projects.
• Managing of data center designs and features.
• Assisting the development of CSA Basis of Design, prototype design, and template specifications for civil engineering systems.
• Creating, reviewing and releasing data center Civil Engineering designs.
• Serve as a SME for DC design projects including; review of civil engineering designs such as roads, drainage, civil site works, bulk earthworks, cut/fill analysis, retaining walls; evaluating civil engineering design options, and assessing civil engineering calculation assumptions.
• Evaluating due diligence reports and creating scopes of work for geotechnical investigation testing.
• Creating, reviewing and releasing civil engineering design scope of work packages.
• Coordinate with internal and external MEP design engineers.
• Managing external design consultants.
• Work on multiple data center build projects simultaneously.
• Travel for site assessments, consultant selection activities, internal design meetings, construction review, interface with AHJs, design consultants, quantity surveyors, and building owners.
• Anticipated travel in the region of 25%.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate the constructability of new technologies and determine construction methods of data center facilities.
• Proficient with civil 3D, AutoCAD, Revit, Bluebeam, and MS Office Suite.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive experience in managing MEP delivery across multiple projects or business units
• Strong technical knowledge of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems
• Proven leadership and team management skills with ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving, analytical and strategic planning skills
• Experience with Tier 1 contractor projects or complex multi-disciplinary programmes
• Knowledge of sustainable MEP solutions and low-carbon design
• Familiarity with digital construction tools, BIM and lean methodologies
• Extensive knowledge of software packages such as ACC and Procore.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in mechanical, electrical, building services or related discipline
• Professional accreditation or membership of a relevant body (e.g., CIBSE, IET, Engineers Ireland)
• Chartered status with a relevant professional body
• Postgraduate qualification in building services, project management or sustainability
• Training in digital design, BIM management or innovative MEP technologies

Key Competencies

• Integrity and Ethical Standards: Build trust, ensure fairness, and foster long-term, transparent relationships with suppliers.
• Effective Communication: The ability to clearly convey expectations and requirements to suppliers and negotiation parties, while understanding their needs and concerns. Comfortable delivering written and verbal presentations to internal leadership teams.
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Ability to understand the emotions, cultural nuances, and motivations of others, while effectively managing one's own emotions during high-pressure negotiations.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to think big picture while also managing granular details.
• Adaptability: Proven track record of managing change and ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.
• Leadership: Ability to manage cross-functional teams and external vendors.
• Experience with complex, multi-site projects: Manage multiple projects under tight deadlines and deliver exceptional results.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills: Capable of interfacing with senior leadership and diverse stakeholders.
• Creative problem-solver: Ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance effectively.
• Team Building: Ability to lead and develop a diverse, cross-functional team in high-pressure environments.

Working Conditions

• This role requires occasional travel to data center sites across multiple regions (up to 25% travel).
• Ability to work in both office environments and active construction sites, adhering to all safety protocols.

Expected Salary range

$150,000–$195,000 + discretionary bonus

Fleet Data Centers Employment

Fleet Data Center employees enjoy competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401K program, standard paid holidays, and unlimited PTO.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the organization’s ongoing needs.

Fleet Data Centers is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.

If you need assistance applying for any of our open positions, please contact us at [e-mail].