Principal Mechanical Engineer ¦ Data Center Design & Engineering

Hunter Philips Executive Search; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Long-term incentive opportunity

Principal-level technical influence

Opportunity to shape engineeringStandr

Growth into broader leadership

Job summary

Hunter Philips Executive Search is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to influence design and delivery for hyperscale data centers in the United States. You will lead cooling, HVAC, and high-density systems, while guiding consultants, OEMs and partners through full project lifecycles.

You will drive technology evaluation, set engineering standards, and mentor the broader team to ensure scalable, efficient and reliable infrastructure as demand continues to grow.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of mechanical engineering experience in hyperscale data centers or mission-critical infrastructure.
• Deep knowledge of HVAC, chilled-water, central plant and high-density cooling.
• Experience leading mechanical design through concept, detailed design, construction and commissioning.
• Ability to direct consultants, OEMs and engineering partners across complex projects.
• PE registration is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical engineering across major data center developments from concept through commissioning.
• Own design across cooling, HVAC, central plant, chilled-water and high-density systems.
• Drive development of liquid-cooling solutions as compute densities increase.
• Direct mechanical consultants, OEMs and partners to maintain technical quality.
• Lead design reviews, constructability assessments and value engineering balancing performance and cost.
• Establish and improve mechanical engineering standards across the portfolio.
• Collaborate with Electrical, Controls, Construction, Commissioning and Operations to resolve interfaces.
• Evaluate new technologies to improve efficiency and reliability.
• Maintain technical ownership through construction and commissioning and address field issues.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to the team.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Leadership

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) certification

Job description

Are you a senior mechanical engineer with the technical depth to influence how large-scale data centers are designed and delivered? Do you understand the cooling challenges created by increasingly dense compute environments? Are you looking for a Principal-level position where you can remain close to the engineering while having greater influence across projects, standards and technical decisions? If so, read on...

The Company

A scaling data center infrastructure platform developing large-scale capacity to meet the increasing demands of AI and high-performance computing.

As the U.S. portfolio grows, the business is expanding its Design & Engineering team with experienced technical leaders who can drive engineering quality, challenge conventional solutions and establish scalable designs across future developments.

The Role

As Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will:

• Lead mechanical engineering across major data center developments from concept and detailed design through construction and commissioning
• Own technical design across cooling, HVAC, central plant, chilled-water and high-density thermal systems
• Drive the development and integration of liquid-cooling solutions as compute densities continue to increase
• Direct mechanical consultants, engineers, OEMs and specialist partners, maintaining technical quality throughout delivery
• Lead design reviews, constructability assessments and value engineering, balancing performance, resilience, cost and programme
• Establish and continuously improve mechanical engineering standards and repeatable design solutions across the portfolio
• Partner with Electrical, Controls, Construction, Commissioning and Operations teams to resolve complex multidisciplinary interfaces
• Evaluate new technologies and engineering approaches that improve efficiency, reliability, scalability and operational performance
• Maintain technical ownership through construction and commissioning, resolving critical field issues and protecting design intent
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across the wider engineering team

The Person

The successful candidate will likely bring:

• 6+ years’ mechanical engineering experience, including significant exposure to hyperscale data centers or comparable mission-critical infrastructure
• Deep knowledge of HVAC, chilled-water systems, central plant, heat rejection and high-density cooling environments
• Strong understanding of liquid cooling and evolving thermal requirements for AI and high-performance computing
• Experience leading mechanical design through concept, detailed design, construction and commissioning
• Proven ability to direct consultants, OEMs and engineering partners across complex projects
• Strong understanding of resilience, redundancy, energy efficiency, controls and mechanical system integration
• The technical judgement to balance performance, CapEx, operational efficiency and constructability
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline; PE registration would be advantageous

Salary & Benefits

• Performance-related bonus
• Long-term incentive opportunity
• Principal-level technical influence across a growing U.S. portfolio
• Opportunity to shape mechanical engineering standards as the platform scales

Due to the continued growth of the platform, this role offers significant scope to develop into broader technical and engineering leadership as the organisation expands.

If you are looking for a senior technical position where you can influence the mechanical engineering behind next-generation data center infrastructure, make your application without delay.