Senior Mechanical Engineer – Data Centers

MARA; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

MARA is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead mechanical Basis of Design, cooling architecture, and standards across its data center portfolio. You will coordinate with external engineers and EPCs to ensure reliability, energy efficiency, and scalable cooling solutions.

The role requires 10+ years in data centers, owner/developer experience preferred, and travel 20–25% in North America. Join MARA to shape AI/HPC cooling strategies and drive technical excellence.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience in data centers or mission-critical facilities.
• Owner/developer or hyperscale data center experience preferred.
• Demonstrated responsibility for a data center mechanical Basis of Design and cooling architecture.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical Basis of Design, cooling architecture, and design standards across MARA’s data center portfolio.
• Define redundancy philosophies (N, N+1, 2N) for mechanical systems.
• Develop preliminary mechanical designs, cooling plant sizing, hydraulic models, P&IDs, and equipment schedules.
• Lead CFD analyses, thermal capacity models, and psychrometric analyses.
• Lead commissioning across CX levels (L1–L5/L6) and ensure handover readiness.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Executive presentation

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

PE license preferred

Tools

CFD tools

Hydraulic modeling tools

Job description

MARA (NASDAQ: MARA) is a global leader in digital asset compute, developing and deploying innovative technologies to build a more sustainable and inclusive future. MARA secures the world’s preeminent blockchain ledger and supports the energy transformation by converting clean, stranded, or otherwise underutilized energy into economic value.

MARA is building a global portfolio of AI/high-performance computing (HPC) data center facilities to support Bitcoin mining, AI/HPC compute, and next-generation digital infrastructure. As a senior member of the Site Development Team, the Senior Mechanical Engineer serves as the technical authority for mechanical systems across the full project lifecycle—from design due diligence and conceptual Basis of Design (BOD) through design development, construction administration, commissioning, and as-built documentation.

The Senior Mechanical Engineer is responsible for the mechanical Basis of Design and design standards for MARA’s data center portfolio, ensuring cooling systems—including chilled water plants, direct-to-chip liquid cooling, air handling, and heat rejection infrastructure—are engineered for reliability, energy efficiency, and scalability. The Senior Mechanical Engineer leads and reviews designs prepared by external engineering consultants and EPC/design-build contractors, resolves complex field issues, and guides commissioning at all Cx levels (L1–L5/L6).

The ideal candidate brings deep hands-on mechanical engineering experience from a developer/owner, hyperscale operator, or design/consulting background in mission-critical facilities and is equally comfortable defining a cooling architecture as they are resolving commissioning issues in the field.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical Engineering & Design

• Own the mechanical Basis of Design (BOD), cooling architecture, and design standards across MARA’s data center portfolio.
• Define redundancy philosophies, including N, N+1, and 2N, for mechanical systems.
• Develop preliminary mechanical designs, cooling plant sizing, hydraulic models, P&IDs, and equipment schedules.
• Design and evaluate air-side systems, including CRAH/CAHU systems and containment.
• Design and evaluate water-side systems, including chilled water, condenser water, cooling towers, dry coolers, and associated infrastructure.
• Support high-density liquid cooling architectures, including CDUs, direct-to-chip cooling, manifolds, and rack-level hydronic interfaces.

Modeling & Technical Analysis

• Lead the development of CFD analyses, thermal capacity models, and psychrometric analyses.
• Develop and review sequences of operation and BMS/SCADA integration requirements.
• Evaluate system performance, reliability, scalability, and energy efficiency.
• Support technical analysis and design decisions throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review and approve designs, drawings, calculations, specifications, and submittals from external engineers and EPC contractors.
• Ensure designs meet applicable codes, standards, project requirements, and constructability objectives.
• Provide technical direction and resolve complex mechanical design issues.
• Lead and participate in cross-functional design reviews and project meetings.
• Develop technical specifications and bid packages for major mechanical equipment, including chillers, cooling towers, CDUs, CRAHs, and pumps.
• Lead technical evaluations of mechanical equipment and vendors.
• Provide sourcing recommendations based on technical requirements, performance, reliability, and project objectives.
• Manage consultants, EPC contractors, and vendors against technical deliverables and project schedules.
• Support mechanical site due diligence for new development opportunities.
• Evaluate water availability, cooling source options, climate conditions, and utility constraints.
• Assess site-specific mechanical infrastructure requirements and development considerations.
• Provide technical recommendations to support site selection and development decisions.
• Provide technical direction during construction and resolve RFIs, field conditions, and design deviations.
• Lead root-ca­use analysis and resolution of mechanical system failures and field issues.
• Supervise and guide commissioning activities across Cx L1–L5/L6.
• Support start-up, testing and balancing (TAB), functional performance testing (FPT), integrated systems testing (IST), and BMS/SCADA validation.
• Ensure mechanical systems are properly tested, commissioned, and ready for operational handover.

Operational Handover & Optimization

• Develop operational handover packages, including as-built documentation, O&M requirements, commissioning reports, and system operating procedures.
• Drive PUE/WUE optimization and continuous improvement across the data center portfolio.
• Evaluate emerging cooling technologies, including immersion cooling, adiabatic cooling, free cooling, and advanced liquid cooling architectures.
• Stay current with developments in AI/HPC cooling and mission-critical mechanical infrastructure.

Travel

• Travel approximately 20–25% within North America.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering; Master’s degree is a plus.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.
• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience in data centers or mission-critical facilities.
• Owner/developer experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated responsibility for a data center mechanical Basis of Design and cooling plant reference architecture within a hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise environment.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of chilled water systems, condenser water, cooling towers, dry coolers, evaporative coolers, pumps, heat exchangers, and piping.
• Experience with high-density liquid cooling, including CDUs, direct-to-chip cooling, manifolds, rear-door heat exchangers, coolant distribution, and rack-level hydronic interfaces.
• Strong knowledge of air-side systems, including CRAHs, CRACs, CAHUs, hot/cold-aisle containment, in-row cooling, raised-floor, and overhead distribution.
• Knowledge of applicable codes and standards, including ASHRAE 90.4, ASHRAE 55, ASHRAE 62.1, NFPA 13, IMC/IPC, ASHRAE Guidelines 0/1, NEBB/ACG commissioning standards, and AHJ coordination.
• Experience with CFD tools, hydraulic modeling, and psychrometric analysis.
• Knowledge of water treatment programs for open and closed cooling loops.
• Understanding of data center efficiency metrics, including PUE, WUE, and CUE.
• Fundamental knowledge of water treatment and filtration systems for data centers.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to break down complex technical issues into clear, actionable solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable presenting technical concepts to executives, engineering teams, contractors, and field personnel.
• Proven ability to manage consultants, EPC contractors, and vendors against technical deliverables and project schedules.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to make sound technical decisions.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects independently.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

What Sets a Strong Candidate Apart

• Direct owner/developer or hyperscale data center experience.
• Proven ownership of a data center mechanical BOD and cooling architecture.
• Deep experience with AI/HPC and high-density liquid cooling.
• Experience leading Cx L1–L5/L6 activities and integrated systems testing.
• Strong understanding of PUE/WUE optimization and energy-efficient cooling strategies.
• Experience evaluating emerging cooling technologies and determining their applicability to large-scale data center environments.
• Demonstrated ability to bridge detailed engineering decisions with broader project, commercial, and operational objectives.

Why MARA?

This is an opportunity to serve as a technical leader in the development of MARA’s growing AI/HPC and digital infrastructure portfolio, helping define the mechanical standards and cooling architectures that will support the next generation of high-density computing.

If you are a senior mechanical engineer with deep mission-critical experience and a passion for solving complex cooling and infrastructure challenges, we invite you to apply.