Director, Data Center Mechanical Engineering
$205,000–$275,000 year
HybridNew York City, New York, United States
Job Summary
Develop and own mechanical engineering design standards, specifications, and basis-of-design documentation for all new data center development projects. Establish criteria for critical systems including chilled water plants, technology cooling, and containment strategies while leading the evaluation and standardization of mechanical equipment across the portfolio. Provide technical review and approval of design packages from external engineers of record, ensuring compliance with company standards and best practices from site feasibility through commissioning. Lead value engineering efforts to balance first cost, lifecycle cost, reliability, and schedule, while defining KPIs and portfolio analytics for executive leadership. Manage relationships with external consultants, equipment manufacturers, and subcontractors, and present design strategies to investment committees. Evaluate emerging cooling technologies for high-density AI/HPC workloads and benchmark designs against industry peers. Based in NYC with a Monday-Thursday office schedule and Friday remote work, this Director-level role offers a base salary of $205,000–$275,000 USD.
Required Qualifications
- 12+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience
- Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design on hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise data center projects
- Experience as a technical owner or discipline lead, not just a contributor, on large capital projects
- Prior experience managing or mentoring engineering staff and external consultants
- Deep knowledge of data center cooling architectures: air-side economization, water-side economization, chilled water systems, DX systems, evaporative cooling, and hybrid approaches
- Proficiency in mechanical system modeling and simulation tools (e.g., CFD for airflow, EnergyPlus, Trane TRACE, or similar)
- Strong working knowledge of ASHRAE Standards 55, 90.1, TC9.9, and relevant TIA/EIA and Uptime Institute standards
- Experience with mechanical commissioning (Cx) and integrated systems testing (IST) protocols
- Ability to translate complex mechanical engineering concepts for non-technical audiences including executives and investors
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Collaborative mindset with experience working cross-functionally in fast-paced development environments
- Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
- Monday-Thursday in office, Friday working remotely
- NYC
Desired Qualifications
- 50MW+ preferred
- Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred
- Professional certifications (CDCDP, PMP, ATD, LEED AP, DCEP, or similar) are a significant asset
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