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