Principal Mechanical Engineer, Construction

Principal Mechanical Engineer, Construction

CloudHQ, LLC is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer, Construction to lead the design, installation, and commissioning of mechanical systems for developer‑led data center construction projects across Europe.

Role Overview

As the technical authority in mechanical engineering, the SME will ensure HVAC, cooling system and fire suppression designs meet CloudHQ’s high standards for scalability, reliability, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The SME will advise the Construction Management and Development teams, resolve technical challenges, and incorporate best practices throughout all project phases.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Expertise in Mechanical Design and Delivery
  
  • Serve as CloudHQ’s technical leader for mechanical systems, including HVAC, chillers, cooling towers, fire suppression, fuel delivery, and air‑handling & distribution systems (AHUs).
  • Guide architectural and engineering design reviews, ensuring systems meet CloudHQ standards, tenant requirements, and operational goals.
  • Ensure designs incorporate redundancy, maintainability, and energy optimisation for hyperscale environments.
  • Collaborate with internal teams and external consultants to establish technical performance guidelines.
  • Identify value‑engineering opportunities to improve cost efficiency while maintaining quality.
• Construction Oversight and Execution
  
  • Support the Construction Management team during installation and commissioning, providing technical guidance on best practices for HVAC, cooling and fire suppression systems.
  • Work on‑site to oversee mechanical system testing, troubleshooting and final handover to operations.
  • Resolve on‑site technical issues, keeping alignment with design intent and project schedule.
• Commissioning and Performance Validation
  
  • Lead factory witness testing and validate critical system performance for chillers, AHUs, cooling towers and fire suppression.
  • Oversee commissioning activities, ensuring quality and compliance with specifications.
  • Collaborate with commissioning agents and contractors to conduct rigorous testing and meet performance benchmarks.
  • Deliver detailed documentation and performance analysis for final commissioning reports.
• Compliance and Risk Management
  
  • Ensure mechanical designs and installations comply with EU building codes, fire safety regulations, and environmental standards.
  • Assess risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize delays or disruptions.
  • Ensure regulatory and tenant‑specific compliance, including permitting processes.
• Stakeholder Collaboration and Leadership
  
  • Provide subject‑matter expertise to internal construction, engineering and development teams.
  • Collaborate with general contractors, consultants, vendors and operations teams to align delivery with project goals.
  • Engage tenants and their engineering teams to tailor solutions to unique requirements.
  • Represent CloudHQ in external meetings with contractors, utilities, equipment manufacturers and regulators.
• Documentation and Knowledge Sharing
  
  • Maintain comprehensive technical records for design decisions, testing results and commissioning reports.
  • Contribute to best‑practice frameworks by incorporating lessons learned.
  • Mentor staff on mechanical systems, sharing industry trends and innovations.

Requirements

• Technical Leadership in Mechanical Systems
  
  • Experience designing and managing mechanical systems for mission‑critical facilities (data centers, pharma, semiconductor or other large‑scale industrial builds).
  • Proficiency in HVAC, fire suppression, chillers, cooling towers and heat rejection systems.
  • Knowledge of redundancy, scalability and value‑engineering concepts.
• Construction Oversight and Practical Experience
  
  • Hands‑on installation and commissioning experience for hyperscale environments, with proven troubleshooting and resolution skills.
  • Knowledge of prefabrication techniques and modular construction methodologies.
  • Experience leading factory witness testing and field performance validation.
• Code Compliance and Sustainability Expertise
  
  • Comprehensive understanding of EU building codes, safety regulations and energy efficiency practices.
  • Demonstrated application of sustainability principles to reduce energy consumption.
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
  
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills across multidisciplinary teams.
  • Proven ability to manage relationships with consultants, vendors and regulatory agencies.
• Problem Solving and Leadership
  
  • Proactive problem solver balancing timelines, budgets and operational goals.
  • Leadership skills to guide teams and align stakeholders during critical phases.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education
  
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management or Building Services Engineering.
• Experience
  
  • Minimum 7+ years designing or managing mechanical systems for data centers or industrial‑scale environments.
• Certifications
  
  • Professional certifications such as CEng, LEED AP or ASHRAE are highly desirable.

Senior​ity Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Engineering and Information Technology