Senior Mechanical Engineer - Data Centers
Senior Mechanical Engineer - Mission Critical (Data Centers)
Location: New York, NY OR Washington D.C.
Discipline: Mechanical Engineering
Job Type: Full-time
A leading global engineering firm is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to join its mission‑critical practice, supporting data center projects across the New York metro area and broader Northeast region. This team is known for delivering innovative, sustainable, and high‑performance solutions for hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise clients worldwide.
In this role, you will contribute to the design and delivery of next‑generation mechanical systems for complex, high‑availability data center environments. You will address challenges related to energy efficiency, decarbonization, resiliency, urban constraints, and operational reliability-while navigating stringent regional codes, utility requirements, and climate‑driven design considerations. You will also collaborate with a global network of mission‑critical experts and help shape industry‑leading standards.
What You'll Do
- Lead mechanical engineering design for data center projects, including chilled-water and DX systems, airside distribution, CRAH/CRAC configurations, hydronic systems, and thermal management strategies.
- Develop resilient mechanical solutions tailored to dense urban environments, considering redundancy, phased build‑outs, noise, vibration, and spatial constraints.
- Work closely with electrical, structural, fire/life safety, ICT, and commissioning teams to deliver fully integrated and scalable designs.
- Mentor and support junior engineers, providing technical direction, feedback, and guidance.
- Build and maintain strong client relationships with mission‑critical operators and developers.
- Prepare drawings, specifications, basis‑of‑design documents, and technical reports aligned with regional codes and industry standards (e.g., ASHRAE TC 9.9, Uptime Institute).
- Present technical work to internal and external stakeholders, including design workshops and client reviews.
- Stay current on mission‑critical trends, technologies, and regulatory updates through participation in professional organizations.
- Contribute to project quality, risk management, commercial performance, and consistent client delivery.
What You Bring
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Architectural Engineering.
- 6+ years of professional experience in HVAC design, including 2-3+ years in data center or mission‑critical environments (cooling plants, redundancy planning, thermal modeling, airside/hydronic systems).
- Familiarity with New York City and Northeast regulatory environments is preferred.
- Proficiency in Revit MEP; experience with mechanical system modeling and load analysis is a plus.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate across disciplines in fast‑paced project settings.
- Confident presenter with strong commercial awareness.
- Highly organized, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver against deadlines.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred; mission‑critical certifications (DCEP, ASHRAE, Uptime, etc.) are a plus.
Why This Opportunity
This role offers the chance to work on technically demanding and socially impactful projects while contributing to the advancement of sustainable data center infrastructure. You'll join a collaborative, values‑driven engineering team committed to innovation, continuous learning, and delivering meaningful outcomes for clients and communities.
Competitive compensation, flexible working options, comprehensive benefits, professional development opportunities, and participation in a global profit‑sharing program are included as part of the total rewards package.
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your CV and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organisations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.
We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business.
That's why we recommend registering your CV so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created.
Yes, we help with CV and interview preparation. From customised support on how to optimise your CV to interview preparation and compensation negotiations, we advocate for you throughout your next career move.