Principal Mechanical System Architect ¦ Hyperscale Data Center Infrastructure

Hunter Philips Executive Search; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Long-term incentive

Job summary

Hunter Philips Executive Search seeks a Principal Mechanical System Architect to lead cooling architecture for hyperscale data center programs in the USA. You will own the mechanical design from concept through commissioning and operation, setting standards and repeatable solutions for scalable AI infrastructure.

You will define central plant topology, liquid-cooling and high-density strategies, and partner with Electrical, Controls, Construction and Operations to ensure integrated performance.

Qualifications

• 10+ years mechanical engineering experience in hyperscale data centers or mission-critical infrastructure.
• Deep expertise in data center cooling systems and thermal management.
• Experience defining system architecture and standards beyond individual projects.

Responsibilities

• Own mechanical system architecture from concept to commissioning and operations.
• Define cooling topology, redundancy philosophy and design criteria for high-density compute environments.
• Establish mechanical standards and reference designs across the portfolio.
• Lead technical strategy across central plant, chilled-water, liquid-cooling systems.
• Direct design reviews and resolve complex system and integration issues.
• Collaborate with Electrical, Controls, Construction, Commissioning and Operations teams.
• Translate field lessons into continuous improvement for future designs.

Skills

Hyperscale data center experience

Mechanical system architecture

Cooling systems expertise

Engineering standards development

Technical leadership

Tools

CAD tools

CFD simulation

Job description

Principal Mechanical System Architect ¦ Hyperscale Data Center Infrastructure – USA ¦ $Excellent + Bonus + Long-Term Incentives + Full Benefits Package

Are you the technical authority others turn to when defining cooling architecture for high-density data center environments? Do you have the depth to establish mechanical systems and engineering standards rather than simply deliver against an existing design? Are you looking for a Principal-level role where your decisions will directly shape how next-generation AI infrastructure is designed, built and operated? If so, read on...

The Company

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

The business is building its Design & Engineering capability around senior technical specialists who can establish the infrastructure architecture, standards and repeatable solutions required as the portfolio scales.

The Role

As Principal Mechanical System Architect, you will:

• Own mechanical system architecture across next-generation data center developments from concept through commissioning and operations
• Define cooling topology, system configuration, redundancy philosophy and mechanical design criteria for high-density compute environments
• Establish mechanical standards, reference designs and engineering requirements that can be deployed consistently across the portfolio
• Lead technical strategy across central plant, chilled-water, heat rejection and liquid-cooling systems
• Evaluate emerging cooling technologies and determine how they can be integrated into scalable, reliable infrastructure solutionsAct as the senior mechanical technical authority across internal teams, consultants, OEMs and engineering partners
• Direct critical design reviews and resolve complex system, integration and performance issues throughout project delivery
• Partner with Electrical, Controls, Construction, Commissioning and Operations to ensure mechanical systems operate as part of an integrated infrastructure architecture
• Translate lessons from construction, commissioning and live operations into continuous improvement of future designs

The Person

The successful candidate will likely bring:

• 10+ years’ mechanical engineering experience within hyperscale data centers, mission‑critical infrastructure or similarly complex environments
• Deep expertise in data center cooling systems, thermal management, central plant and high‑density mechanical infrastructure
• Strong understanding of liquid cooling and the evolving thermal requirements associated with AI and high‑performance computing
• Experience defining system architecture, engineering standards or reference designs beyond individual project delivery
• Proven technical ownership across design, construction, commissioning and operational phases
• Strong understanding of resilience, redundancy, controls, efficiency and mechanical system integration
• The technical credibility to challenge consultants, OEMs and engineering partners and make significant system‑level decisions
• Experience operating as a Principal Engineer, technical lead, SME or equivalent technical authority

Salary & Benefits

• Performance‑related bonus
• Long‑term incentive opportunity
• Principal‑level technical ownership within a scaling data center platformOpportunity to define the critical power architecture behind next‑generation AI infrastructure

Due to the continued growth of the platform, this role offers significant scope to shape the mechanical architecture and engineering standards that underpin future developments.