Principal Mechanical Engineer - Chillers

ESP Enterprises, Inc.; Plano (TX); Hybrid; USD 171,000 - 192,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation and sick time

15 paid holidays

Job summary

ESP Enterprises, Inc. is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead technical and commercial coordination with U.S.-based manufacturers of modular chiller plants and dry coolers.

You will translate customer needs into robust specs, define interfaces, and protect the project critical path from bid to commissioning. The role requires deep data center cooling knowledge, 12+ years supplier-facing experience, and strong negotiation and project-management skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or controls engineering or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of supplier-facing technical coordination for industrial equipment such as HVAC systems, centrifugal chillers, pumps, heat exchangers, packaged/skid systems, or control systems.
• Strong knowledge of data center cooling, including centrifugal chiller applications and modular chiller plant/dry cooler configurations.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, GA drawings, electrical schematics, and I/O diagrams at a system and interface level.
• Proven ability to manage execution through issue tracking, change control, and cross-functional coordination.
• Strong negotiation skills for aligning scope, schedule, and commercial terms before award.
• Solid project management skills, including risk and issue tracking and escalation.
• Ability to work effectively with Japanese colleagues in a global, cross-cultural environment.

Responsibilities

• Turn customer requirements into clear, complete specifications for modular chiller plant and dry cooler systems.
• Define scope, interface points, and responsibility splits between customers, manufacturers, and internal teams.
• Serve as the primary technical and commercial contact for modular chiller plant manufacturers before and after contract award.
• Align contracts, schedules, and milestones with suppliers to protect long-lead procurement and the project critical path.
• Manage action items, decision logs, and escalations to close open issues quickly.
• Work with dry cooler manufacturers to develop opportunities and align requirements early in projects.
• Support competitive bids by clarifying assumptions, exclusions, and system-level responsibilities.
• Identify, evaluate, and develop new manufacturers so projects are not dependent on any single supplier.
• Coordinate across sales, engineering, supply chain, quality, and service, and track technical and schedule risk.
• Improve specification processes and supplier collaboration over time.

Skills

12+ years experience

Data center cooling knowledge

P&IDs/GA drawings reading

Cross-functional coordination

Negotiation skills

Project management

Cross-cultural collaboration (Japanese

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or controls engineering, or equivalent experience

Job description

Principal Mechanical Engineer – Chillers

Location: Plano, TX (Hybrid; onsite for the first 30 days)
Employment Type: Direct Hire
Compensation: $171,000 – $192,000 base
Relocation: Up to $25,000 in relocation assistance
Travel: Up to 25%

About the Opportunity

Our client, a global leader in industrial and energy technology, is building a new division focused on data center cooling solutions across North America. As a new division, it offers long-term stability and room to grow. They are seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to serve as the lead technical and commercial link between customers and U.S.-based manufacturers of modular chiller plants (MCPs) and dry coolers. This person will make sure specifications are clear, responsibilities are well defined, and projects run smoothly from bid through commissioning. They will also help build a strong, flexible supplier base.

What You'll Do

• Turn customer requirements into clear, complete specifications for modular chiller plant and dry cooler systems.
• Define scope, interface points, and responsibility splits between customers, manufacturers, and internal teams.
• Serve as the primary technical and commercial contact for modular chiller plant manufacturers before and after contract award.
• Align contracts, schedules, and milestones with suppliers to protect long-lead procurement and the project critical path.
• Manage action items, decision logs, and escalations to close open issues quickly.
• Work with dry cooler manufacturers to develop opportunities and align requirements early in projects.
• Support competitive bids by clarifying assumptions, exclusions, and system-level responsibilities.
• Identify, evaluate, and develop new manufacturers so projects are not dependent on any single supplier.
• Coordinate across sales, engineering, supply chain, quality, and service, and track technical and schedule risk.
• Improve specification processes and supplier collaboration over time.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or controls engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of supplier-facing technical coordination for industrial equipment such as HVAC systems, centrifugal chillers, pumps, heat exchangers, packaged/skid systems, or control systems.
• Strong knowledge of data center cooling, including centrifugal chiller applications and modular chiller plant/dry cooler configurations.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, GA drawings, electrical schematics, and I/O diagrams at a system and interface level.
• Proven ability to manage execution through issue tracking, change control, and cross-functional coordination.
• Strong negotiation skills for aligning scope, schedule, and commercial terms before award.
• Solid project management skills, including risk and issue tracking and escalation.
• Ability to work effectively with Japanese colleagues in a global, cross-cultural environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with modular chiller plants or packaged skid systems (design, manufacturing, or supplier coordination).
• Experience with dry coolers or other heat rejection equipment suppliers.
• Familiarity with UL/CSA, ASME, NFPA, and NEC requirements.
• FAT/SAT, commissioning, and field troubleshooting experience.Supplier audit or supplier development experience.
• Familiarity with U.S. tendering, RFQ, and proposal processes.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k) with company match; paid vacation and sick time; 15 paid holidays; and strong growth potential in a newly launched division.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.