Lead Mechanical Engineer Data Centre Design

The Company Our client is a globally recognised multidisciplinary engineering and professional services consultancy, with expertise spanning engineering, design and advisory services across property & buildings, energy, water, resources, environment and transportation, the organisation partners with clients to deliver complex, technically challenging projects across international markets.

Their rapidly expanding Mission Critical team is at the forefront of next-generation data centre design, supporting the development of advanced hyperscale and AI infrastructure.

Combining global technical expertise with a strong focus on innovation, resilience, energy efficiency and sustainability, the business is helping shape the future of digital infrastructure worldwide.

The Role An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Lead Mechanical Engineer – Data Centre Design to join a growing Global Mission Critical / Data Centre Design team in Abu Dhabi.

This is a senior technical leadership position offering the opportunity to lead mechanical engineering design for some of the world's most advanced AI and hyperscale data centre projects.

The portfolio includes both standardized global reference designs and bespoke, high-performance facilities, requiring innovative engineering solutions to meet increasingly demanding requirements for cooling capacity, reliability, energy efficiency and operational resilience.

Working closely with clients, architects and multidisciplinary engineering teams, you will lead mechanical design from early concept and technical development through detailed design, commissioning and post-handover.

You will also contribute to the evolution of global design standards, provide technical leadership and mentor engineers within a growing mission critical practice.

Key Responsibilities

Lead mechanical engineering design for mission critical facilities, including HVAC, chilled water, air distribution and heat rejection systems. Develop engineering designs, calculations, specifications and technical reports in accordance with client requirements, local regulations and international standards.

Undertake thermal load assessments, cooling capacity planning and redundancy strategies, including N+1 and 2N configurations. Develop efficient, resilient cooling solutions incorporating free cooling, adiabatic cooling and other sustainable technologies.

Coordinate mechanical design with electrical, structural, public health, fire protection and ICT disciplines to deliver fully integrated solutions. Lead technical reviews, design quality assurance and the delivery of engineering outputs in line with programme, budget and quality requirements.

Build and maintain strong client relationships, providing technical advice and presenting engineering solutions throughout the project lifecycle. Support bids, proposals and client engagements, contributing to the development of technically robust and commercially competitive solutions.

Contribute to the development and optimisation of global reference designs and bespoke solutions for hyperscale and AI data centres. Mentor and develop engineers, promoting technical excellence, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Experience & Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering or a related discipline. A master's degree and/or Chartered Engineer status would be advantageous.

Minimum 10 years relevant engineering experience, including at least three years specialising in mission critical facilities and/or data centre projects. Proven experience leading mechanical design for data centres or other high-availability environments.

Strong technical knowledge of critical cooling systems, including CRAC/CRAH, chilled water, direct expansion and adiabatic cooling solutions. Understanding of mechanical-electrical integration, controls and Building Management Systems (BMS), redundancy requirements and commissioning processes.

Experience with hyperscale and AI d