Senior Mechanical Engineer – Mission Critical / Data Centers

GDA; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SWI Digital invites applications for a Senior Mechanical Engineer to support design and delivery of data center developments in the United States, based in Houston, TX. The role requires strong knowledge of US codes and senior-level coordination with an international design team.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in mechanical engineering with data center or mission-critical experience; PE in Texas is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in mechanical engineering.
• 5+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience; 8+ years preferred.
• Data center or mission-critical experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of US mechanical codes and standards.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary consultancy, owner-side, EPC, or contractor environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide mechanical engineering support for hyperscale and mission-critical data center developments in the United States.
• Act as local interface between client team, design consultants, EPC contractors, vendors and project stakeholders.
• Review and develop mechanical design documentation including calculations, schematics, equipment schedules and specs.
• Support design and technical review of cooling systems (chilled-water, air-cooled, water-cooled) and related infrastructure.
• Support high-density and liquid-cooling infrastructure interfaces where applicable.
• Advise on localization of designs for US, Texas, and local codes and AHJ requirements.
• Coordinate with authorities and permitting teams as required.
• Review designs for compliance with project requirements and good engineering practice.
• Identify risks, deviations and coordination issues and communicate to the team.
• Coordinate mechanical interfaces with electrical, architectural, structural, controls, BIM and other disciplines.
• Support evaluation of equipment and alternative design solutions.
• Participate in design reviews, value engineering and multidisciplinary coordination meetings.
• Review submittals, shop drawings, RFIs and construction-stage information.
• Undertake site visits, surveys, inspections and commissioning support as required.
• Provide day-to-day technical support to Houston-based client development team.
• Coordinate with international leadership for decisions, risks and actions.
• Contribute to US data center design standards and technical processes.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Data center experience

US codes & standards

HVAC systems

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Revit/BIM

Job description

Job Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer – Mission Critical / Data Centers

Location: Houston, Texas

Experience: 5+ years professional experience; 8+ years preferred; Data Center experience preferred

Role Overview

We is seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer to support the design and

delivery of major data center developments in the United States.

The role will be based in Houston, Texas, working closely with the local client development team

while forming part of a wider international design and engineering team.

The successful candidate will provide local mechanical engineering support across design

development, localization, procurement and construction. The role requires relevant data center

or mission-critical experience, strong knowledge of US mechanical codes and standards, and the

ability to work independently while coordinating without discipline leads based internationally.

This is a technically hands-on position with a strong focus on critical cooling and associated data

center mechanical infrastructure.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. 1. Provide mechanical engineering support for hyperscale, AI and other mission-critical data center developments in the United States.
2. 2. Act as a local mechanical engineering interface between the client team, design consultants, EPC contractors, vendors and other project stakeholders.
3. 3. Review and develop mechanical design documentation including calculations, schematics, equipment schedules, specifications and technical reports.
4. 4. Support the design and technical review of critical cooling systems including chilled-water systems, air-cooled and water-cooled plant, CRAH units, fan walls, CDUs, pumps, heat rejection systems, ventilation and associated mechanical infrastructure.
5. 5. Support the design and review of high-density and liquid-cooling infrastructure and associated interfaces where applicable.
6. 6. Advise us and client teams on localization of designs for applicable US, Texas and local code, regulatory and authority requirements.
7. 7. Support coordination with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), local consultants and permitting teams as required.

Senior Mechanical Engineer - USA

1. 8. Review consultant, EPC and vendor designs for compliance with project requirements, design intent, applicable codes and good engineering practice.
2. 9. Identify technical risks, design deviations, coordination issues and potential compliance concerns and communicate these clearly to the wider project team.
3. 10. Coordinate mechanical requirements and interfaces with electrical, architectural, structural, controls, BIM and other engineering disciplines.
4. 11. Support technical evaluation of equipment, vendors and alternative mechanical design solutions.
5. 12. Participate in design reviews, value engineering, technical workshops and multidisciplinary coordination meetings.
6. 13. Review technical submittals, shop drawings, RFIs and other construction-stage information where required.
7. 14. Undertake site visits, surveys, inspections and construction or commissioning support as required.
8. 15. Provide direct technical support to the Houston-based client development team on day-to-day project matters.
9. 16. Coordinate closely with our mechanical and multidisciplinary design leadership based internationally, maintaining clear communication of decisions, risks and actions.
10. 17. Contribute to the development and improvement of a US data center design standards, specifications and technical processes.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution.
• 5+ years of relevant professional mechanical engineering experience, with 8+ years preferred.
• Meaningful experience in data center or mission-critical mechanical design, with hyperscale and/or high-density data center experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working on projects in the United States.
• Strong working knowledge of US mechanical codes, standards and engineering practice relevant to mission-critical facilities.
• Strong understanding of critical cooling infrastructure and HVAC systems used in large-scale data centers.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary consultancy, owner-side, EPC, design-build or contractor environments.
• Ability to review complex technical designs and identify material compliance, performance and coordination issues.
• Experience supporting projects through design development and construction stages.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to operate effectively and independently within a geographically distributed engineering team.

Senior Mechanical Engineer - USA

Professional Registration

• Professional Engineer (PE) registration in Texas is strongly preferred.
• Candidates holding an active PE license in another US jurisdiction who are suitably qualified and able to obtain Texas licensure will also be considered.

Preferred Experience

• Hyperscale, colocation or AI / high-density data center projects.
• Chilled-water and central plant systems.
• Liquid cooling and CDU-based systems.
• CRAH, fan-wall and high-density cooling solutions.
• Large-scale mechanical plant and hydronic systems.
• EPC and design-build project delivery.
• Technical due diligence and owner-side design review.
• Texas permitting and AHJ processes.
• Construction, testing and commissioning of mission-critical mechanical systems.
• Familiarity with Revit/BIM-based multidisciplinary coordination.

Reporting and Working Structure

The position will be based in Houston and work closely with the local client development team.

The engineer will form part of a wider design team, with functional technical management

provided by our senior mechanical/design leadership based internationally. The role therefore

requires an individual capable of managing day-to-day technical matters independently while

maintaining effective coordination with the wider engineering team.