(Temp) Senior Mechanical Engineer

Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer 

Division: Development & Engineering 

Reports to: Manager Engineering 

Location: London 

Job Status: Contract

About Vantage Data Centers 

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across six markets in North America and five markets in Europe, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.  

D&E Department

The Development & Engineering (D&E) team drives the technology, innovation and new development of data center infrastructure across Vantage’s companywide portfolio.  D&E evaluates new sites, drives cost and scheduling in line with corporate goals and serves as subject matter experts across the entire project lifecycle from concept through commissioning.  The team collaborates with Sales, Operations and management along the way.  D&E also works hand in hand with the Construction team to come up with a vertically integrated design and ensures new and existing standards and designs are executed effectively.  One thing that distinguishes Vantage is that our technical staff are given the responsibility and authority to directly drive tangible results.  Our team can align long-term operational sustainability with value engineering and cost metrics to deliver products aligned with corporate goals.  This approach empowers each member of the team to drive high-impact decisions and results. 

Position Description

Vantage is looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer to be part of the design production team that leads design and engineering for the largest individual cost center within the construction process and become engaged in all technical aspects. In this role, you will be responsible for high-level schematic system design, specification development, submittal review, design document review, management of design-build contractors, oversight of installation, participation in commissioning, and transition to operations.  Regular collaboration and coordination is required with electrical and BMS contractors as well as the construction management team and the equipment procurement team. You will be presented with complex engineering challenges and be asked to bring them to resolution with all the tools at your disposal. You will ensure existing standards are executed and enhanced for each project.  You will evaluate designs and provide engineering analysis to balance CAPEX and OPEX costs. Some client interface is necessary throughout design and construction.   

You will provide technical engineering information and assistance to ensure that new datacenter spaces comply with the project requirements, all engineering standards, applicable codes, and specifications. Knowledge of all aspects of mechanical engineering is required, including built built-up mechanical rooms, packaged equipment, chilled water equipment and piping, DX systems, central utility plants, air air-side and water water-side economization, humidity control, raised access floor plenums, and value engineering as they relate to designing state-of-the-art datacenters. Knowledge in the areas of plumbing and fire protection design for data centers is preferred. 

Essential Job Functions

• Participate in all aspects of mechanical design and engineering including conceptual design, basis of design, scope of work, development of construction documents 

• Drive project level tasks and milestones assigned by the project management team 
• Create and/or review project plans and specifications 
• Subject matter expert responsible for technical reviews including submittals, RFIs and engineering studies/analysis 
• Interface and manage mechanical design and design-build contractors on a per-project basis 
• Oversee review process of engineering studies of all types 

• Visit job sites for field investigations and coordination meetings 

Duties

• Creation and/or review of the following: 

• Project specifications, schematic drawings, design and construction documents, submittals, sequence of operations, test and balance reports, CFD analysis, commissioning scripts 

• Attend project design team meetings and interface with various team members 

• Review, comment and process project plans and actively participate at various gating approvals 
• Participation in on-site job walks and meetings 
• Review complete sequence of operations for all designed mechanical systems 
• Review documentation for the mechanical part of the commissioning efforts of each project 
• Support Site Operations to troubleshoot /tune existing systems 

• Provide oversight and review of project plans, equipment and system submittals 
• Coordinate heavily with internal engineering teams across all disciplines to ensure products delivered to Operations are streamline and optimized to meet the needs of the business across all functions 
• Conduct value engineering analyses, and provide system recommendations based on ROI and IRR analysis  
• Participate in product development process flow from idea to implementation led by the innovation engineering team to apply for and obtain patents for the company to retain its IP 
• Attend project design team meetings and ensure product constructed meets engineering standards and specifications 

• Work closely with Operations to find a balance between cost-effective solutions & operational sustainability 
• Utilize engineering analysis programs and professional judgment to analyze the following: 

• CFD (computational fluid dynamic) studies 
• Rack layout optimization 
• Psychrometric chart evaluation 

• ASHRAE extreme annual design day temperatures and relative impact to supply air temperatures  

• Project coordination and commissioning support 
• Management of internal and external design teams 
• Additional duties as assigned from time to time by management 

 
Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university or college 
• 7 years of experience in mechanical systems design and construction required, 8-12 years preferred 
• Accredited engineering credentials preferred (Chartered Engineer in EU / Professional Engineer in NA) preferred 
• Data Center and/or mission critical experience is required 
• Experience with EU construction markets required, experience with NA construction markets preferred 

• Proficient in AutoCAD, Excel, and Word and Sigma6 modeling software 
• Understanding of Revit, BIM and, Navisworks and Sigma6 modeling software environments 
• Working knowledge of critical cooling infrastructure within a data center  
• Working knowledge of all building codes and ordinances, including ASHRAE and the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency 
• Working knowledge of plumbing infrastructure within a data center preferred 

• Working knowledge of fire protection infrastructure within a data center preferred 
• Travel required is expected to be 10 to 15%, but may increase over time as the business evolves 

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer