Vice President, Data Center Mechanical Engineering

Tetra Tech; Tampa (FL); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

The Vice President, Data Center Mechanical Engineering at Tetra Tech will lead mechanical systems design and guide mission-critical facilities from strategy to delivery. You will shape engineering standards, mentor multidisciplinary teams, and drive client-focused solutions for hyperscale and campus-scale data center projects.

Join a leadership-driven practice that emphasizes energy efficiency, innovative cooling technologies, and growth of the data center portfolio while collaborating across

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.
• 10+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience in mission-critical or data center environments.
• Experience leading mechanical design for data centers, central plants, or high-density facilities.
• Experience with hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, or multi-building data center campuses.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC, cooling, plumbing, fire protection coordination, and energy efficiency.
• Proficiency with basis-of-design development and coordination with owners, contractors, and designers.
• Familiarity with building and mechanical codes, ASHRAE guidance.
• Proficiency with Revit, AutoCAD, and Microsoft Office.
• U.S. Citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Lead data center mechanical engineering strategy with a focus on technical excellence, market growth, client service, and profitable project delivery.
• Serve as a mechanical engineering subject matter expert for data center projects, pursuits, and other client engagements.
• Provide leadership for mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and cooling infrastructure design for mission-critical facilities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing technical teams across mechanical engineering and related disciplines by establishing clear technical standards, supporting career growth, developing future leaders, and ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality work.
• Support the development and refinement of basis-of-design standards, including traditional air-cooled systems and liquid-cooled environments.
• Lead or advise on large-scale hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and campus-style data center projects.
• Partner with market sector, operations, and technical leaders to grow Tetra Tech’s data center portfolio and expand client relationships.
• Support business development activities, including client meetings, capture strategy, proposal development, interviews, and go/no-go evaluations.
• Provide senior technical review and quality assurance for design documents, specifications, calculations, studies, and engineering deliverables.
• Guide teams through concept design, construction documentation, permitting, construction administration, commissioning support, and project closeout.
• Collaborate with architects, electrical engineers, structural engineers, civil engineers, environmental specialists, contractors, equipment vendors, and owner representatives.
• Evaluate and apply innovative technologies related to high-density computing, heat rejection, liquid cooling, energy efficiency, water use, modular infrastructure, and resilient operations.
• Support resource planning, staffing strategies, risk management, contract review, and financial performance for data center work.
• Represent Tetra Tech in industry organizations, client events, conferences, technical forums, and thought leadership opportunities

Skills

Mechanical leadership

Data center experience

Client-facing communication

Team leadership

Business development support

Budget & schedule management

Codes & standards knowledge

Design coordination platforms

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Job description

Vice President, Data Center Mechanical Engineering

The Opportunity:

Tetra Tech is hiring a Vice President of Data Center Mechanical Engineering to help grow and lead our data center practice. This is a high-visibility role for an accomplished mechanical engineer with deep mission-critical experience guiding complex data center projects from strategy and design through delivery.

Why Tetra Tech:

At Tetra Tech, we are Leading with Science to solve the world’s most complex challenges. Our industry-leading experts in engineering and consulting are committed to driving positive change in communities around the world. For nearly 60 years, we have been at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. Today we stand as a market leader, offering cutting-edge solutions in water, environment, energy, and international development. Our work has improved more than 625 million lives around the world.

Your Impact:

Join Tetra Tech to make a real difference. Our work leverages cutting-edge technologies, advanced analytics, and the expertise of world-class scientists and engineers to create meaningful change around the world. Discover your full potential – join us to advance your career while leaving a lasting legacy. In this role, you will serve as a senior technical and market-facing advisor for data center clients, with a focus on mechanical infrastructure, high-performance building systems, resilient operations, energy efficiency, and emerging cooling technologies. You will help shape Tetra Tech’s data center engineering strategy, support business development, provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams, and strengthen our position in the rapidly growing mission-critical market.

Position Summary:

The Vice President, Data Center Mechanical Engineering will provide strong leadership for data center projects, with an emphasis on mechanical systems, cooling infrastructure, plumbing, fire protection coordination, integrated building systems, and the development of high-performing technical teams. The ideal candidate is a licensed mechanical engineer with extensive experience in mission-critical facilities, including large-scale data center campuses, hyperscale or colocation environments, mechanical basis-of-design development, and coordination with owners, contractors, architects, and multidisciplinary teams.

Essential Job Functions:

The following duties are considered essential to the role. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions:

• Lead data center mechanical engineering strategy with a focus on technical excellence, market growth, client service, and profitable project delivery.
• Serve as a mechanical engineering subject matter expert for data center projects, pursuits, and other client engagements.
• Provide leadership for mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and cooling infrastructure design for mission-critical facilities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing technical teams across mechanical engineering and related disciplines by establishing clear technical standards, supporting career growth, developing future leaders, and ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality work.
• Support the development and refinement of basis-of-design standards, including traditional air-cooled systems and liquid-cooled environments.
• Lead or advise on large-scale hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, and campus-style data center projects.
• Partner with market sector, operations, and technical leaders to grow Tetra Tech’s data center portfolio and expand client relationships.
• Support business development activities, including client meetings, capture strategy, proposal development, interviews, and go/no-go evaluations.
• Provide senior technical review and quality assurance for design documents, specifications, calculations, studies, and engineering deliverables.
• Guide teams through concept design, construction documentation, permitting, construction administration, commissioning support, and project closeout.
• Collaborate with architects, electrical engineers, structural engineers, civil engineers, environmental specialists, contractors, equipment vendors, and owner representatives.
• Evaluate and apply innovative technologies related to high-density computing, heat rejection, liquid cooling, energy efficiency, water use, modular infrastructure, and resilient operations.
• Support resource planning, staffing strategies, risk management, contract review, and financial performance for data center work.
• Represent Tetra Tech in industry organizations, client events, conferences, technical forums, and thought leadership opportunities

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure.
• 10+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience, with significant experience in mission-critical or data center environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading mechanical engineering design for data centers, central plants, high-density technical facilities, or other complex building infrastructure.
• Experience with hyperscale, colocation, enterprise, or multi-building data center campus projects.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC, cooling, plumbing, fire protection coordination, heat rejection, controls interfaces, redundancy strategies, and resilient mechanical infrastructure.
• Experience developing or applying basis-of-design standards for data center or mission-critical facilities.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate complex technical work across offices, disciplines, and project stakeholders.
• Strong client-facing communication skills, including the ability to advise owners, developers, contractors, and executive stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to support business development, proposals, interviews, client strategy, and market growth.
• Experience managing technical quality, project budgets, schedules, staffing, and risk.
• Familiarity with applicable building codes, mechanical codes, energy codes, ASHRAE guidance, and industry best practices for mission-critical facilities.
• Proficiency with engineering design and coordination platforms such as Revit, AutoCAD, and Microsoft Office.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with large-scale data center portfolios, including projects ranging from tens of megawatts to campus-scale developments.
• Experience with liquid cooling, high-density compute environments, AI data center infrastructure, or next-generation cooling strategies.
• Experience with computational fluid dynamics tools such as 6Sigma, Autodesk CFD, TileFlow, Star CCM+, or similar platforms.
• Experience working with owners, operators, manufacturers, contractors, and consulting engineering teams across the full data center lifecycle.
• Background in mechanical equipment manufacturing, engineering sales, consulting design, or owner/operator environments.
• Strong industry network within the data center, mission-critical, technology, or advanced facilities markets.
• Experience recruiting, mentoring, and developing senior technical staff and future market leaders.

Additional Information

Work may be performed from a Tetra Tech office, remotely, or in a hybrid arrangement, depending on business needs and candidate location. Travel, up to 30%, may be required for client meetings, project workshops, site visits, industry events, and company meetings. The role will require collaboration with multidisciplinary teams across multiple offices and geographies.

The pay range for this position is between $200,000 and $250,000 annually. However, pay may vary based on primary work location, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and internal parity. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis; this position is not eligible for current or future employment visa sponsorship.

Life at Tetra Tech:

The perks of working at Tetra Tech include:

• Comprehensive and market-competitive benefits.
• Merit-based financial rewards.
• Flexibility and company-wide commitment to work/life balance.
• Collaborative team atmosphere that values the contributions of all employees.
• Learning and development opportunities for ongoing professional growth.

About Tetra Tech:

Tetra Tech is the leader in water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure, providing high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. Our 25,000 employees work together to provide clear solutions to complex problems by Leading with Science to address the entire water cycle, protect and restore the environment, design sustainable and resilient infrastructure, and support the clean energy transition.

Tetra Tech is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital or familial status, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. Tetra Tech is a VEVRAA federal contractor and we request priority referral of veterans.

We invite applications from all interested parties.

Explore our open positions at https://www.tetratech.com/careers. Follow us on social media to learn more about our people, culture, and opportunities: