Principal Engineer - Mechanical, Data Centers

AECOM; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM in Cape Town seeks a senior mechanical engineer with extensive experience in HVAC, wet services, and fire protection to lead complex design projects. You will mentor staff, review technical work, and ensure project quality while delivering within budget and schedule.

The role requires registration with ECSA and at least 12 years in the built environment, with hands-on design and leadership capabilities across multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science or Engineering from an accredited university.
• 12+ years of experience within the built environment after obtaining an undergraduate degree.
• Professionally registered as an Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
• Experience in all three mechanical engineering disciplines (HVAC, Wet Services & Fire) advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Act as a senior technical resource and serve as a technical advisor for the team.
• Plan work, provide technical reviews and manage quality.
• Share technical expertise and experience with others in the company through internal technical communication and presentations.
• Develop high‑quality design outputs and perform hands‑on design when required.
• May act as a line manager, mentoring, monitoring timekeeping and carrying out performance reviews and providing feedback to allocated technical staff.
• Act in a supporting role to the Team Leader/Manager/Associate Director/Director by delegating work and directing less experienced staff to complete assigned projects’ technical tasks.
• Monitor and track the budget for specific tasks within the project.
• Prepare technical specification sections, complete feasibility studies, and add input and value to designs.
• Perform quality control reviews of design calculations and drawings, serve as Lead Verifier, confirming that the technical approach satisfies client scope of services and expectations.
• Provide specialised input to studies and design within the specific area of expertise and act as an in‑house expert on specific technologies or processes.
• Develop solutions to complex and challenging issues, creating new procedures where needed.
• Independently evaluate, select, and apply standard industry techniques to execute work assignments.
• Identify and develop new processes that improve efficiency or work quality.
• Engage with project technical teams to confirm project approach and review deliverables within budget and scope.
• Liaise with authorities to obtain permits and approvals and discuss technical advances.
• Resolve technical issues concerning conflicting requirements or complex coordination.
• Develop construction cost estimates and estimates of technical effort/man‑hours for projects.
• Support the design team with design tasks and perform hands‑on design when required.
• Support the design team on technically complex and challenging projects, bringing innovation into the design.
• Assist with project bids and lead verification.
• Act as Project Manager on small to medium size discipline‑specific projects.
• Have an excellent understanding of project delivery requirements and be well versed with the company’s project delivery procedures.
• Be well versed in the use of Earned Value Management to assess progress of design against budget.
• Support business development and selling initiatives, manage client relationships and expectations, and assist with proposals.
• Lead communication with clients to discuss work scope, request information to support execution, and receive client comments on draft work products.
• Present to clients, senior leadership and other project stakeholders to demonstrate progress and clearly explain design principles.
• Coordinate with other disciplines to ensure no design gaps and provide fully coordinated design deliverables.
• Provide support of the construction supervision teams.

Skills

Technical leadership

Project management

Quality assurance

Design reviews

Mentoring

Client coordination

Education

Bachelor of Science or Engineering from an accredited university

Tools

Earned Value Management

Job description

Responsibilities

• Act as a senior technical resource and serve as a technical advisor for the team.
• Plan work, provide technical reviews and manage quality.
• Share technical expertise and experience with others in the company through internal technical communication and presentations.
• Develop high‑quality design outputs and perform hands‑on design when required.
• May act as a line manager, mentoring, monitoring timekeeping and carrying out performance reviews and providing feedback to allocated technical staff.
• Act in a supporting role to the Team Leader/Manager/Associate Director/Director by delegating work and directing less experienced staff to complete assigned projects’ technical tasks.
• Monitor and track the budget for specific tasks within the project.
• Prepare technical specification sections, complete feasibility studies, and add input and value to designs.
• Perform quality control reviews of design calculations and drawings, serve as Lead Verifier, confirming that the technical approach satisfies client scope of services and expectations.
• Provide specialised input to studies and design within the specific area of expertise and act as an in‑house expert on specific technologies or processes.
• Develop solutions to complex and challenging issues, creating new procedures where needed.
• Independently evaluate, select, and apply standard industry techniques to execute work assignments.
• Identify and develop new processes that improve efficiency or work quality.
• Engage with project technical teams to confirm project approach and review deliverables within budget and scope.
• Liaise with authorities to obtain permits and approvals and discuss technical advances.
• Resolve technical issues concerning conflicting requirements or complex coordination.
• Develop construction cost estimates and estimates of technical effort/man‑hours for projects.
• Support the design team with design tasks and perform hands‑on design when required.
• Support the design team on technically complex and challenging projects, bringing innovation into the design.
• Assist with project bids and lead verification.
• Act as Project Manager on small to medium size discipline‑specific projects.
• Have an excellent understanding of project delivery requirements and be well versed with the company’s project delivery procedures.
• Be well versed in the use of Earned Value Management to assess progress of design against budget.
• Support business development and selling initiatives, manage client relationships and expectations, and assist with proposals.
• Lead communication with clients to discuss work scope, request information to support execution, and receive client comments on draft work products.
• Present to clients, senior leadership and other project stakeholders to demonstrate progress and clearly explain design principles.
• Coordinate with other disciplines to ensure no design gaps and provide fully coordinated design deliverables.
• Provide support of the construction supervision teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science or Engineering from an accredited university.
• 12+ years of experience within the built environment after obtaining an undergraduate degree.
• Professionally registered as an Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
• Experience in all three mechanical engineering disciplines (HVAC, Wet Services & Fire) advantageous.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.