Lead Mechanical Engineer Mission Critical (Data Centres)
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
Lead mechanical design for mission critical facilities, focusing on cooling systems, energy efficiency, and mentoring junior engineers in a collaborative environment.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Lead the mechanical design for mission critical facilities, covering HVAC, chilled water systems, air distribution, heat rejection systems, and integration with electrical and ICT systems.
- Develop high quality designs, specifications, and technical reports in line with client requirements, local regulations, and international standards.
- Deliver thermal load assessments, capacity planning, redundancy and resilience strategies (e.g., N+1, 2N) for critical cooling systems.
- Integrate energy efficiency, free cooling, and sustainable technologies into design strategies.
- Coordinate closely with electrical, structural, public health, fire protection, and ICT teams to ensure fully integrated, clash free, and optimised designs.
- Lead technical reviews, ensure quality control of design deliverables, and manage budgets, deliverables, and programme schedules.
- Maintain strong client relationships, presenting solutions, managing expectations, and acting as a trusted technical advisor.
- Mentor and develop junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.
- Contribute to the development, adaptation, and optimisation of client standard designs, as well as bespoke engineering solutions.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Building Services Engineering
- Minimum 10 years of relevant experience
- At least 3 years focused on mission critical and/or data centre projects
- Proven expertise in cooling system design for high availability environments
- Proficiency in design tools such as Revit, AutoCAD, IES, CFD modelling or equivalent
- Strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and problem solving skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Master's degree or Chartered Engineer status preferred
- Experience with hyperscale and AI data centre cooling design strategies highly desirable
Full Job Posting
Who we are
- GHD is a leading multidisciplinary professional services company with over 14,000 professionals globally, delivering engineering, design, and advisory solutions across water, energy, resources, environment, property & buildings, and transportation sectors.
About the Role
- We are seeking an experienced and driven Lead Mechanical Engineer to join our Global Data Centre Design Team (Mission Critical), based in our UAE offices.
- This is a senior leadership position for a technically accomplished engineer with a strong track record in the design and delivery of complex data centre and mission critical projects.
- You will lead mechanical engineering design for advanced AI and hyperscale data centres, including standardised global reference designs and fully bespoke high performance facilities.
- You will play a central role in shaping mechanical engineering strategies for high availability infrastructure, collaborating with clients, architects, and multi disciplinary teams from early concept through to post handover.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the mechanical design for mission critical facilities, covering HVAC, chilled water systems, air distribution, heat rejection systems, and integration with electrical and ICT systems.
- Develop high quality designs, specifications, and technical reports in line with client requirements, local regulations, and international standards.
- Deliver thermal load assessments, capacity planning, redundancy and resilience strategies (e.g., N+1, 2N) for critical cooling systems.
- Integrate energy efficiency, free cooling, and sustainable technologies into design strategies to minimise operational costs and environmental impact.
- Coordinate closely with electrical, structural, public health, fire protection, and ICT teams to ensure fully integrated, clash free, and optimised designs.
- Lead technical reviews, ensure quality control of design deliverables, and manage budgets, deliverables, and programme schedules.
- Maintain strong client relationships, presenting solutions, managing expectations, and acting as a trusted technical advisor from bid stage through to project completion.
- Mentor and develop junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.
- Contribute to the development, adaptation, and optimisation of client standard designs, as well as bespoke engineering solutions.
Experience & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Building Services Engineering (Master's degree or Chartered Engineer status preferred).
- Minimum 10 years of relevant experience, with at least 3 years focused on mission critical and/or data centre projects.
- Proven expertise in cooling system design for high availability environments, including CRAC/CRAH, chilled water, direct expansion, and adiabatic cooling solutions.
- Strong understanding of mechanical electrical integration, controls/BMS strategies, and commissioning processes for data centres.
- Experience with hyperscale and AI data centre cooling design strategies is highly desirable.
- Proficiency in design tools such as Revit, AutoCAD, IES, CFD modelling, or equivalent.
- Demonstrated ability to produce technical designs, calculations, and specifications to a high standard.
- Strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and problem solving skills.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to lead discussions, influence outcomes, and work across multiple disciplines and geographies.
Why Join Us?
- Work on globally significant projects, influencing the next generation of AI and hyperscale data centre design.
- Be part of a globally recognised, fast growing mission critical team delivering projects that blend technical excellence, sustainability, and commercial success.
- Collaborate in a multi disciplinary, innovative environment where your input shapes both standardised and bespoke solutions.
- Join a team that values knowledge sharing, mentorship, and professional excellence.
- Be part of a workplace that combines collaboration, flexibility, and connection.
Workplace
- Join us in the office three days per week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.
Our Pledge to You
- At GHD, we don't just believe in the power of commitment, we live and breathe it every day.
- We pledge to empower our people to make a positive impact.
- Combining our deep technical expertise with the capabilities of our clients and partners, we respond to some of the most complex challenges facing our planet today.
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