Mechanical​/HVAC Engineer SME; Data Center

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

This job opportunity is available at ANY location in the United States. Ideally, selected candidates will be near a Jacobs U.S. based office, but we intend to hire the “best” candidates.

At Jacobs, we never settle — we push boundaries, elevate standards, and deliver with purpose. As a senior subject matter expert within our Data Center team, you’ll lead mechanical engineering efforts across a portfolio of data center projects, including new builds and retrofits. As part of the vision of the Department Manager, you’ll drive the technical direction and ensure mechanical solutions meet the highest standards of performance, energy efficiency, and constructability.

You’ll serve as a key technical leader, guiding a portfolio of projects and coordinating closely with the mechanical engineering teams. You will mentor mechanical leads and support the projects by meeting with clients and upper management as required, with the ability to speak directly to the status of various projects. Your expertise will shape project execution, influence design strategy, and strengthen our delivery excellence.

This role offers significant opportunities to expand your technical authority, mentor emerging talent, and grow your leadership presence as you help define the next generation of high‑performance data center infrastructure. Your guidance will shape both design delivery and our Design‑Build delivery methodology across a fast‑growing hyperscale project portfolio.

• Provide quality reviews of complex projects spanning HVAC, cooling, and mechanical systems for hyperscale data center facilities.
• Lead complex mechanical analyses and guide the selection of appropriate cooling methodologies — including airside/water‑side economization, chilled water systems, dual temperature loop topology and direct liquid cooling — to ensure robust, code‑compliant, and constructible design solutions.
• Develop and validate advanced mechanical simulation models (airflow, thermal, psychrometric), establish modeling standards, and mentor team members in best‑practice simulation techniques.
• Oversee critical calculations for cooling load analysis, hydronic system design, and equipment selection; direct material take‑offs and estimating inputs; and provide technical governance for schedules, design documentation, and interdisciplinary coordination.
• Drive energy performance strategy, including PUE optimization, heat rejection design, and thermal storage solutions aligned with hyperscale owner sustainability commitments.
• Partners with electrical, civil, structural, and controls disciplines to ensure mechanical systems integration across the full project lifecycle, from schematic design through commissioning and turnover.

At Jacobs, we’re partnering across the globe to create the best project outcomes by maximizing the design, digital technology, and support capabilities of our Global Integrated Delivery (GID) teammates. By joining Jacobs, you’ll commit to supporting and engaging with these teams as we work to build a company like no other.

• Ability to quickly identify complex challenges, solve problems, communicate solutions, and direct junior and senior staff on best practices in mechanical design and systems integration.
• Understanding of the complexities of large contracts and different contract structures; ability to manage change orders and advocate for the engineering team against contractor liabilities.
• Experience with the full spectrum of data center mechanical systems — air-side and water-side cooling, heat rejection, chilled water plant design, power density thermal management, and liquid cooling — with the ability to speak to the executive level on any subject without advance notice.
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
• 15+ years of professional experience…