Principle Mechanical Design Engineer

Principal Mechanical Design Engineer - Data Centres

Location: South London

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the design and delivery of large-scale, mission-critical data centre projects. This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone with strong technical expertise in cooling systems, resilience design, and high-performance building services within critical environments.
You will play a key role in developing innovative, efficient, and resilient mechanical systems for hyperscale and colocation data centres, working closely with multidisciplinary teams and high-profile clients.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the mechanical design of major data centre projects from concept through to delivery
Design and oversee cooling strategies including chilled water systems, CRAH/CRAC units, direct/indirect air cooling, and liquid cooling solutions
Develop resilient systems aligned with Tier classifications (N+1, 2N, etc.)
Provide technical leadership across engineering teams and mentor junior engineers
Work closely with electrical, structural, and architectural teams to ensure integrated design solutions
Engage directly with clients, contractors, and stakeholders
Lead design reviews, ensure compliance with industry standards, and drive best practice
Champion sustainability, energy efficiency, and low PUE design strategies

Key Requirements

Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering or Building Services Engineering
Chartered Engineer (CEng) or working towards chartership
Significant experience delivering data centre or mission-critical projects
Strong knowledge of:
Chilled water systems and plant design
Airflow management and thermal modelling
Cooling technologies for high-density environments
Mechanical resilience strategies for critical infrastructure
Familiarity with industry tools (e.g., IES, Hevacomp, Revit, CFD modelling tools)
Excellent leadership, communication, and client-facing skills

Desirable Experience

Experience working on hyperscale or colocation data centres
Exposure to liquid cooling or emerging cooling technologies
International project experience
Knowledge of sustainability frameworks and carbon reduction strategies

What's on Offer

Opportunity to lead cutting-edge data centre projects at scale
A collaborative, innovative engineering environment
Clear progression to Associate / Director level
Competitive salary and benefits package
Flexible and hybrid working

Apply Now

If you are a driven mechanical engineer with a passion for delivering high-performance critical infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you