Mechanical Engineering Lead, Data Centers

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Job Description

AECOM is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineering Lead to join our growing Canadian Data Center team.

This individual will lead the mechanical design and delivery of hyperscale, colocation, and mission-critical facilities throughout Canada, North America, and globally. The successful candidate will serve as a technical leader, client advisor, mentor, and project contributor, helping to expand AECOM's rapidly growing Data Center practice. This is a newly create position.

This position can be performed remotely from anywhere in Canada, with periodic travel required for client meetings, project milestones, site visits, commissioning activities, and team collaboration events.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical engineering design for hyperscale and mission-critical data center facilities.
• Act as the primary mechanical engineering contact for clients and project stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships while understanding project objectives and business requirements.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, architectural, and specialty engineering disciplines.
• Design and oversee mechanical systems including HVAC, chilled water, condenser water, plumbing, fire protection, and heat rejection systems.
• Develop basis-of-design reports, design criteria, engineering calculations, specifications, and technical documentation.
• Lead the design of cooling infrastructure including chillers, cooling towers, pumps, CRAHs, CRACs, economization systems, and liquid cooling technologies.
• Perform cooling load analyses, airflow studies, capacity planning, energy modeling, and thermal performance assessments.
• Ensure compliance with applicable Canadian codes, standards, CSA requirements, National Building Code requirements, and provincial regulations.
• Review and approve engineering deliverables and technical submissions.
• Act as Engineer of Record where applicable.
• Ensure projects are delivered within scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations.
• Provide technical support during construction, commissioning, startup, and turnover phases.
• Respond to RFIs, review shop drawings, and resolve field design issues.
• Evaluate emerging cooling technologies and recommend solutions that improve efficiency, reliability, sustainability, and operational performance.
• Analyze energy usage and identify opportunities for optimization, energy reduction, and lifecycle cost savings.
• Support business development activities, client pursuits, proposal preparation, interviews, and technical presentations.
• Mentor and develop junior and intermediate mechanical engineers and designers.
• Drive technical excellence, quality, innovation, and continuous improvement across projects.

Additional Assets

• LEED Accredited Professional designation.
• Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier requirements and mission-critical design standards.
• Experience with energy modeling, CFD studies, and thermal analysis.
• Knowledge of building automation systems (BAS), controls integration, and analytics platforms.
• Experience with sustainable and low-carbon design strategies.
• International data center project experience.
• Demonstrated success mentoring and developing high-performing technical teams.

Why Join AECOM

• Work on some of the world's most advanced hyperscale and mission-critical projects.
• Collaborate with leading data center specialists across a global network.
• Help establish and grow AECOM's Canadian Data Center practice.
• Lead innovative projects for global cloud, technology, and colocation clients.
• Access exceptional career growth opportunities within one of the fastest-growing infrastructure sectors.
• Enjoy flexible work arrangements and a collaborative team environment.
• Contribute to the future of Canada's digital infrastructure and data center industry.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) registration in a Canadian province.
• Minimum 8 (eight) years of progressive mechanical engineering experience.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC, chilled water, plumbing, and fire protection system design.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering design projects.
• Strong communication, leadership, and client relationship skills.
• Experience with BIM and digital design platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• 15+ years of mechanical engineering experience.
• 5 years of experience supporting data center, mission-critical, or critical facility projects.
• Extensive hyperscale, colocation, or mission-critical facility experience.
• Experience serving as Engineer of Record on large-scale engineering projects.
• Experience designing large chilled water plants and campus-scale cooling infrastructure.
• Expertise in liquid cooling, direct-to-chip cooling, and high-density computing environments.
• Experience with commissioning, integrated systems testing, and startup support.
• Strong knowledge of Canadian building codes, CSA standards, and industry best practices.
• Experience with Revit, Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), BIM 360, and other digital delivery platforms.
• Design-build project delivery experience.
• Strong business development and client account management experience.
• Demonstrated success leading client relationships on large and complex projects.
• Experience supporting projects across multiple provinces and jurisdictions.

• Remote work arrangement available anywhere in Canada.
• Periodic travel is required for client meetings, commissioning activities, project reviews, site visits, and business development initiatives.
• Sponsorship may be considered for qualified candidates where legally permitted.
• Relocation assistance may be available in select circumstances.
• AECOM is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Artificial intelligence will be used to support the screening, assessment, and selection of applicants for this role. Final hiring decisions are made by the hiring team.