Principal Engineer, Mechanical Innovation

IREN; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

IREN seeks a Principal Engineer, Mechanical Innovation to lead advanced HVAC and mechanical design for data center infrastructure. You will translate innovation standards into executable designs, working with NGDC and IMDC project engineers to resolve complex thermal system issues.

This role requires deep experience in air-side cooling, CFD studies, and development of design criteria, with travel to domestic and international sites as needed.

Qualifications

• 12+ years progressive mechanical engineering experience with deep specialization in HVAC and cooling systems within data center, mission-critical, energy, or industrial infra.
• Experience delivering mechanical design deliverables for construction and procurement (cooling layouts, fluid schematics, CFD studies, design basis documents).
• Experience bridging innovation and project execution across development and active construction projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as internal SME in mechanical and HVAC engineering providing guidance on air-side cooling systems, fluid systems, CFD, and plant design for data centers.
• Develop and maintain mechanical design deliverables establishing IREN's technical standards for cooling and fluid systems.
• Evaluate emerging HVAC technologies and provide recommendations to improve thermal performance and deployability.

Skills

HVAC engineering

CFD analysis

Thermal modeling

Fluid systems

Cross-discipline collaboration

Technical communication

Design deliverables

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

PE registration preferred

Job description

IREN is a vertically integrated AI Cloud provider, delivering large-scale data centers and GPU clusters for AI training and inference. IREN’s platform is underpinned by its expansive portfolio of grid-connected land and power in renewable-rich regions across North America, Europe and APAC.

The Principal Engineer, Mechanical Innovation is IREN's subject matter expert in mechanical and HVAC engineering within the Innovation organization, reporting to the VP, Mechanical Innovation. This role operates at the intersection of innovation and execution — translating the mechanical engineering standards and architectural concepts developed by the Innovation team into practical designs and technical guidance that project teams can act on.

Job Description

IREN is a vertically integrated AI Cloud provider, delivering large-scale data centers and GPU clusters for AI training and inference. IREN’s platform is underpinned by its expansive portfolio of grid-connected land and power in renewable-rich regions across North America, Europe and APAC.

The Principal Engineer, Mechanical Innovation is IREN's subject matter expert in mechanical and HVAC engineering within the Innovation organization, reporting to the VP, Mechanical Innovation. This role operates at the intersection of innovation and execution — translating the mechanical engineering standards and architectural concepts developed by the Innovation team into practical designs and technical guidance that project teams can act on.

The Principal Engineer works directly with the NGDC and IMDC project engineers to execute new designs, ensures cross-discipline alignment with electrical, Next-Gen Data Center, and Industrialized Manufacturing programs, and serves as a technical resource to IREN's broader engineering, construction, and commissioning organizations.

Job Requirements

• 12+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience with deep specialization in HVAC and cooling systems — including air-side cooling design, cooling distribution, fluid system engineering, thermal modeling, and CFD analysis — within data center, mission-critical, energy, or industrial infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience developing mechanical engineering design deliverables — cooling system layouts, fluid schematics, equipment schedules, CFD studies, and design basis documents — at a level of technical depth and completeness suitable for direct use in construction and procurement.
• Experience working across both innovation/development and project execution environments — able to develop standards and design concepts in a research context and apply them practically within the constraints of active construction projects.
• Strong cross-discipline collaboration skills with the ability to coordinate mechanical decisions with electrical, structural, controls, and construction stakeholders; clear and precise technical communication, both written and verbal.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering required; PE registration preferred. Hyperscale or owner-operator data center experience highly valued. Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required (estimated 20–35%).

Job Responsibilities

Mechanical & HVAC Engineering — Subject Matter Expertise

• Serve as IREN's internal subject matter expert in mechanical and HVAC engineering — providing authoritative technical guidance on air-side cooling systems, cooling distribution, fluid systems, thermal management, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and mechanical plant design for next-generation and industrialized data center infrastructure.
• Develop and maintain mechanical engineering design deliverables within the Innovation program, including cooling system layouts, equipment schedules, fluid system schematics, CFD analyses, thermal performance models, and design basis documents that establish IREN's technical standards for mechanical systems.
• Evaluate emerging mechanical and HVAC technologies, equipment, and methodologies — providing technically grounded recommendations to the VP, Mechanical Innovation on opportunities to improve thermal performance, system efficiency, and deployability across IREN's infrastructure portfolio.

Design Execution — NGDC & IMDC Programs

• Partner directly with the NGDC and IMDC project engineers to translate Innovation-developed mechanical standards and architectural concepts into executable designs — providing hands-on technical support through design development, review, and resolution of complex mechanical and thermal system issues.
• Review and provide technical approval of mechanical designs, calculations, and specifications produced by NGDC and IMDC project teams, ensuring alignment with Innovation standards and identifying deviations that require resolution before designs are released for procurement or construction.
• Support the development of mechanical systems within IREN's modular and prefabricated assemblies — including cooling distribution units, mechanical skids, and prefabricated fluid handling systems — providing mechanical engineering expertise through design, factory acceptance testing, and field commissioning.

Cross-Discipline Coordination

• Ensure mechanical and HVAC designs are coordinated with the electrical team — resolving interdependencies between cooling systems, power distribution, and thermal loads at the design stage to prevent field conflicts and ensure integrated system performance.
• Maintain active technical alignment with the NGDC and IMDC programs — participating in design reviews, interface meetings, and technical workshops to ensure that mechanical decisions made within each program are consistent with Innovation standards and do not create downstream conflicts across disciplines or projects.
• Identify and elevate cross-discipline interface issues — including mechanical-to-electrical, mechanical-to-structural, and mechanical-to-controls conflicts — to the VP, Mechanical Innovation with clear technical framing and recommended resolution paths.

Support to Engineering, Construction & Commissioning

• Serve as a technical resource to IREN's engineering, construction, and commissioning teams on mechanical and HVAC matters — responding to RFIs, supporting design clarifications, reviewing submittals, and providing field technical support for complex mechanical installations.
• Support commissioning activities for mechanical systems — including review of commissioning plans, participation in functional testing and thermal performance validation, troubleshooting of HVAC and fluid system anomalies, and documentation of as-commissioned performance against design intent.
• Capture field learnings and construction observations, feeding technically validated lessons back into Innovation's mechanical engineering standards to continuously improve design quality and reduce rework on future projects.

Standards & Documentation

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of IREN's mechanical engineering standards library — authoring and updating design criteria, equipment specifications, and calculation templates for cooling and fluid systems in alignment with applicable codes (ASHRAE, SMACNA, ASME, NFPA) and IREN-specific requirements.
• Produce clear, complete technical documentation for all mechanical engineering deliverables — ensuring that design intent, thermal assumptions, and interface requirements are captured in a form that enables downstream teams to execute accurately without requiring further interpretation.

Job Benefits

At IREN, we offer a highly competitive compensation package that includes base salary, annual performance incentives, and opportunities to build long-term wealth through equity programs. These offerings are part of our broader totalrewards package , thoughtfully designed to support your health, well-being, and long-term success.

Compensation

• Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, qualifications, and market data for the region.
• Total Compensation package may be inclusive of annual incentive bonus, equity (long-term incentive).

Health & Wellness

• 100% company paid health insurance premiums (medical, dental, and vision) for employees, 75% company paid coverage for dependents
• Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary life, critical illness, and accident coverage available
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) – when combined with the High Deductible Health Plan
• Employee Assistance Program and wellness resources

Retirement & Financial Wealth

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Access to financial planning and legal services

Time Off & Leave Programs

Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays

Growth & Development

• Internal skills training and advancement pathways
• Professional development to support certifications, continuing education, or role related training

Community & Culture

• Company events and team-building activities

We value diverse perspectives and believe that skills can be developed. If you’re passionate about this role, we want to hear from you — whether you meet every criteria or not. Your unique experiences might be exactly what we need!

IE US Operations Inc., the employingentityand proud member of the IREN group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We are committed to evaluating qualified applicants and do not discriminate against protected characteristics under applicable legislation.

IE US Operations, Inc. “IREN” participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.

By applying for this position and submitting your resume and application materials, you consent to the processing of your personal information in accordance with our Job Applicant Privacy Statement available on our website at www.iren.com.