Senior Mechanical Engineer, Data Center Design Engineering

Overview

Fleet Data Centers designs, builds and operates mega-scale data center campuses. Fleet provides its customers flexibility and predictability to meet their upside demand forecasts, addressing a key need in the market as traditional leased models are struggling to keep pace with the demand for new Cloud and AI infrastructure. Fleet is led by a team of industry veterans that have already made a lasting imprint on the evolution of global digital infrastructure and are committed and uniquely capable of upleveling data center development scale and operations in the face of rising demand. Fleet is well positioned to bring in-house design, engineering and operational capabilities to collaborate with customers on tailored solutions for campuses of 500MW+. This unique model enables Fleet to provide the world’s largest and most sophisticated customers a seamless extension of their own data center fleets with constant access to design innovation. Fleet is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with satellite offices in Seattle, WA and Arlington, VA.

Position Overview:

As the Senior Mechanical Engineer you will be responsible for leading the design, development, and implementation of cutting-edge mechanical systems in highly efficient, scalable, and sustainable data centers. This role involves working with cross-functional teams to ensure best-in-class mechanical systems that support massive cloud operations across multiple regions.

Candidate must have manager experience and must be capable to lead it to data center capacity delivery projects.

Candidate must be a technical expert in mechanical systems engineering, with a deep understanding of data center operations, sustainability initiatives, and reliability requirements.

Knowledge of all aspects of mechanical engineering is required, including central utility plants, built-up mechanical rooms, packaged equipment, chilled water equipment and piping, DX systems, airside and water-side economization, humidity control, and value engineering as the relate to designing state-of-the-art data centers. Knowledge in the areas of plumbing, fire protection design and acoustic engineering for data centers is also required

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and manage internal and external data center design engineering teams

Lead the design and development of mechanical systems for large-scale data centers, including HVAC, cooling, chiller plants, rack-based cooling, and fire protection systems

Provide mechanical design oversight throughout the project lifecycle, from concept to commissioning, ensuring all systems are energy-efficient and meet performance standards

Develop innovative cooling solutions that reduce water and energy consumption and operational costs while maintaining high availability and reliability

Drive sustainability initiatives, such as water conservation and heat reuse

Manage large-scale, multi-site projects across global regions, ensuring the on-time delivery of mechanical engineering systems and solutions

Collaborate with electrical engineering, structural engineering, network, controls, and operations teams to integrate mechanical systems with other data center components

Work closely with vendors and contractors to ensure all mechanical systems meet quality, safety, and operational standards, as well as company specifications

Act as the main point of contact for all mechanical systems-related decisions and collaborate with senior leadership and stakeholders

Ensure all mechanical designs and systems comply with local, state, and federal regulations, including ASHRAE standards as required by customers, building codes, and environmental requirements

Assess and mitigate risks related to mechanical system failures, thermal performance, and energy consumption, with a focus on minimizing downtime

Lead root-cause analysis and provide technical solutions for any system failures or incidents to improve future design resilience

Stay at the forefront of industry trends and innovations in data center mechanical engineering, with a focus on energy efficiency and future scalability

Mentor and lead junior and mid-level mechanical engineers, ensuring team development and promoting a culture of continuous learning

Oversee technical troubleshooting and optimization of existing mechanical systems to enhance performance and reduce energy consumption

Develop and refine mechanical design standards and guidelines to ensure consistent and efficient mechanical systems across all data centers

Required Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Building Services engineering or a related field (master’s or Ph.D. preferred)

8+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, with at least 5 years focused on data center design and operations

Proven track record of delivering mechanical systems for large-scale data center projects, including experience with HVAC and cooling systems, chiller plants, rack-based cooling, and fire suppression systems

Extensive experience with mechanical design software (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit, CFD, etc.) and proficiency in tools for modeling and analyzing thermal and fluid dynamics

Expertise in sustainability, energy efficiency, and cost-saving measures related to data center mechanical systems

Communication: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable strategies for both technical and non-technical audiences

Stakeholder Management: Strong ability to influence and manage key stakeholders across engineering, product, and operations teams

Analytical Skills: Demonstrated success in analyzing program data, defining KPIs, and reporting on success metrics

Preferred Qualifications:

License: Professional Engineer (PE) license

Experience working in global data center projects, navigating region-specific regulations and environmental conditions

Hyperscaler: Familiarity with AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and Meta cloud providers’ data center requirements

Cloud Certifications: Relevant cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Fundamentals, etc.)

Global Experience: Experience leading product launches in global markets, including knowledge of international land, energy and/or data center regulations and compliance

Technical Background: A strong technical understanding of cloud services, networking, and software development lifecycles

Key Competencies:

Integrity and Ethical Standards: Build trust, ensure fairness, and foster long-term, transparent relationships with suppliers

Effective Communication: The ability to clearly convey expectations and requirements to suppliers and negotiation parties, while understanding their needs and concerns. Comfortable delivering written and verbal presentations to internal leadership teams

Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Ability to understand the emotions, cultural nuances, and motivations of others, while effectively managing one's own emotions during high-pressure negotiations

Strategic Thinking: Ability to think big picture while also managing granular details

Adaptability: Proven track record of managing change and ambiguity in a fast-paced environment

Leadership: Ability to manage cross-functional teams and external vendors

Experience with complex, multi-site projects: Manage multiple projects under tight deadlines and deliver exceptional results

Excellent communication and presentation skills: Capable of interfacing with senior leadership and diverse stakeholders

Creative problem-solver: Ability to troubleshoot and optimize system performance effectively

Team Building: Ability to lead and develop a diverse, cross-functional team in high-pressure environments

Working Conditions:

This role requires occasional travel to data center sites across multiple regions (up to 25% travel)

Ability to work in both office environments