Data Center Mechanical Engineer

Data Center Mechanical Engineer

Location: Holly, Michigan | Employee Type: Full-time

Our client is a leader in the design, engineering, fabrication, installation, and service of modular industrial equipment and mission-critical facilities. They offer customers a single point of contact to execute a wide variety of critical needs across multiple markets including Data Centers, Battery Manufacturing, Automotive, Aerospace, Renewable Energy, and Healthcare.

Job Summary

The Data Center Mechanical Project Engineer is responsible for the engineering, coordination, and technical execution of mechanical systems supporting mission-critical data center environments. This role focuses on the design and implementation of air cooled and liquid cooling systems, along with associated equipment, controls, and system components.

The Project Engineer works closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams, contractors, and owners to ensure mechanical systems are designed, coordinated, installed, and commissioned to meet redundancy, reliability, and performance requirements for data center infrastructure.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Essential duties include some or all of the following:

• Design process & facility water & piping systems for mission-critical and data center cooling applications.

• Perform hydraulic calculations and support system sizing, including evaluation of pump curves, system head loss, and Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) requirements.

• Select and specify pumps, valves, instrumentation, and piping accessories including expansion tanks, air separators, strainers, and balancing devices.

• Support the design of air- and liquid-based cooling strategies used in data centers, including CRAC/CRAH units, Fan walls, chillers, dry coolers, in-row cooling units, and rear-door heat exchangers.

• Assist in the development of redundant and concurrently maintainable cooling architectures such as N 1 and 2N configurations.

• Coordinate mechanical cooling infrastructure with electrical load requirements and IT equipment heat rejection profiles.

• Utilize Revit to review and coordinate piping layouts, mechanical rooms, equipment placement, and required service clearances.

• Participate in multi-disciplinary BIM coordination with electrical, structural, and architectural teams to ensure constructability and system integration.

• Interpret and coordinate across P&IDs, process flow diagrams, and Revit-based 3D models to ensure consistency between engineering documentation and modeled systems.

• Review and manage shop drawings, fabrication packages, contractor submittals, and Requests for Information (RFIs) to confirm compliance with design intent.

• Provide field engineering support including pipe routing verification, equipment placement coordination, and installation reviews.

• Support system startup and commissioning activities including flushing procedures, functional performance testing, and system balancing documentation.

• Prepare mechanical specifications, system design narratives, and supporting performance documentation.

• Review and redline fabrication drawings and as-built documentation to ensure alignment with project requirements and engineering standards.

• Contribute to owner turnover documentation, commissioning reports, and permit submission packages.

• Ensure designs comply with applicable codes and standards including ASHRAE, NFPA, IMC, and relevant local plumbing and mechanical codes.

• Apply industry best practices and data center standards such as ASHRAE TC 9.9, Uptime Institute Tier guidelines, and sustainability or commissioning frameworks including LEED and MBCx.

• Maintain regular attendance at work as an essential duty.

• Travel to project sites as required.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Conform to company Quality, Environmental, and Safety policies and comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Strong knowledge of hydronic piping system design and mechanical component selection.

• Proficiency using Revit for mechanical coordination and BIM-based design review.

• Understanding of mission-critical cooling strategies and data center mechanical infrastructure.

• Ability to coordinate across engineering disciplines within complex, multi-system environments.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, P&IDs, and technical documentation.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

• Familiarity with construction support activities including shop drawing review, commissioning coordination, and field implementation support.

Education, Experience, and Training

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Architectural Engineering (MEP focus), or a closely related field required.

Experience: Mid-level experience supporting mechanical system design and project execution in data centers, mission-critical facilities, or other complex mechanical infrastructure environments preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

• Occasional standing, walking, and travel to construction sites, mechanical rooms, or commissioning activities.

Work Environment

This position is primarily based on-site at our Holly, MI headquarters and fabrication facility. The role involves regular time on the shop floor in a manufacturing environment, including exposure to machinery, fabrication processes, and varying temperatures. Occasional travel to customer sites or project locations may be required.