Lead Mechanical Engineer

Lead Mechanical Engineer

This is a full-time, on-site role located in Austin, TX.

About the role

The Lead Mechanical Engineer will serve as a senior technical leader responsible for defining and driving the mechanical cooling strategy across a large-scale portfolio of hyperscale AI data center developments. This owner-side engineering role oversees mechanical system design from chip to chiller, including chilled water systems, liquid cooling architectures, thermal management, and heat rejection infrastructure supporting high-density GPU environments. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in mission-critical cooling systems, large-scale data center design, and cross-functional leadership across engineering, construction, and vendor teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the mechanical cooling strategy for large-scale AI and hyperscale data center developments
• Oversee design and implementation of chilled water systems, direct liquid cooling systems, heat rejection infrastructure, and thermal management solutions
• Develop and maintain mechanical engineering standards, basis of design documents, and technical specifications across multiple projects
• Lead and mentor mechanical engineering teams while coordinating external engineering consultants and vendor partners
• Collaborate with electrical, structural, controls, and construction teams to ensure integrated infrastructure delivery
• Support development of modular and prefabricated mechanical systems designed for rapid deployment and scalability
• Review and approve engineering calculations, drawings, equipment selections, and construction documentation
• Coordinate procurement strategy and technical evaluations for chillers, pumps, piping systems, and cooling distribution equipment
• Participate in commissioning activities including chilled water plant startup, flushing programs, hydraulic balancing, and system validation
• Support site visits, construction oversight, issue resolution, and technical decision-making throughout project execution
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to cooling efficiency, reliability, scalability, and deployment speed

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience designing mechanical and cooling systems for data centers, hyperscale infrastructure, or high-performance computing facilities
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline
• Deep expertise in chilled water systems, air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, direct liquid cooling, and heat rejection plant design
• Experience leading mechanical engineering teams and managing external MEP consultants throughout the full project lifecycle
• Strong understanding of ASHRAE TC 9.9 thermal guidelines and applicable mechanical codes including IMC, ASME, and NFPA
• Experience developing and enforcing engineering standards, basis of design documentation, and master specifications across multi-site programs
• Strong vendor management and procurement experience related to chillers, pumps, piping systems, and cooling distribution equipment
• Ability to coordinate across electrical, controls, structural, and construction disciplines in fast-paced development environments
• Willingness to travel to project sites across the United States (approximately 20–30%)
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or Chartered Engineer credential preferred
• Experience with modular or prefabricated mechanical system design preferred
• Hands-on CFD modeling experience using tools such as 6SigmaET, Ansys Icepak, or Flotherm preferred
• Familiarity with Revit and BIM coordination workflows preferred
• Experience supporting medium-voltage chiller systems and high-density compute environments preferred
• Knowledge of AI/HPC cooling challenges including high rack densities and GPU thermal management preferred

Qualifications

• Experience with ASHRAE TC 9.9 thermal guidelines and applicable mechanical codes including IMC, ASME, and NFPA
• Strong understanding of HVAC and refrigeration principles
• Experience with Revit and BIM coordination workflows
• Hands-on CFD modeling experience using tools such as 6SigmaET, Ansys Icepak, or Flotherm
• Experience with medium-voltage chiller systems and high-density compute environments
• Knowledge of AI/HPC cooling challenges including high rack densities and GPU thermal management

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience with project management software

Benefits

• Medical Coverage: Two United Healthcare plans (PPO and HDHP with HSA), with employer contributions toward premiums; coverage begins the 1st of the month after 60 days of employment
• Dental & Vision: United Healthcare dental with 100% preventive care coverage and vision benefits for exams, frames, lenses, or contacts
• Wellbeing Support: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential counseling plus additional wellness and care navigation resources
• Retail & Savings: 401(k) eligible after 30 days with automatic 6% enrollment (opt-out available), 1% annual increases up to 10%, plus HSA with up to $480 employer contribution
• Voluntary Benefits: Employee-paid accident insurance and critical illness coverage for major health events

Pay

The pay for this position ranges from approximately $144.23/hr – $168.27/hr based on experience, skills, qualifications, and location.