Principal Mechanical Engineer, Construction

At Cloud

HQ, our mission is to deliver flexible, efficient, and resilient data center solutions to businesses worldwide. Founded by a pioneer in data center REITs, we are a rapidly growing organization with state-of-the-art data center sites globally in locations such as Ashburn, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Osaka, and São Paulo. As we embark on an exciting phase of global growth, we are looking for top-tier talent to drive our success and shape the future of Cloud

HQ.

This role can be located in either the UK, France or Germany (London, Paris or Frankfurt preferable)

The Principal Mechanical Engineer, Construction, Subject Matter Expert (SME) will provide specialized expertise in the design, installation, and commissioning of mechanical systems for developer-led data center construction projects across Europe. Acting as a technical authority, the SME will ensure mechanical systems such as HVAC infrastructure, cooling systems, and fire suppression systems are designed and delivered efficiently, meeting the highest standards for scalability, reliability, energy efficiency, and compliance.

As a key advisor to Cloud

HQ's Construction Management and Development teams, the Mechanical SME will guide technical decisions, resolve challenges, and ensure best practices and innovations are incorporated into all project phases.

• Serve as Cloud
  
  HQ's technical leader for mechanical systems, including :
• HVAC systems
• Chillers and cooling towers
• Fire suppression systems
• Fuel delivery systems
• Air-handling and distribution systems (AHUs)
• Provide guidance during architectural and engineering design reviews to ensure mechanical systems adhere to Cloud
  
  HQ standards, tenant requirements, and operational goals.
• Ensure designs incorporate redundancy, maintainability, and energy optimization for hyperscale environments.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external consultants to establish technical performance guidelines for mechanical infrastructure.
• Identify opportunities for value engineering to improve cost efficiency while maintaining quality and operational requirements.

• Support the Construction Management team during installation and commissioning phases by providing technical guidance on :
• Installation best practices for HVAC and cooling systems
• Optimization of fire suppression system deployment
• Work on-site as necessary to oversee mechanical system testing, troubleshooting, and final handover to operations.
• Proactively resolve on-site technical issues, ensuring alignment with design intent, schedule milestones, and operational standards.

• Lead factory witness testing and validate critical system performance for equipment such as :
• Chillers
• Air handling units (AHUs)
• Cooling towers
• Fire suppression systems
• Oversee commissioning activities for mechanical systems to ensure quality and compliance with specifications.
• Collaborate with commissioning agents and contractors to ensure all equipment undergoes rigorous testing and meets performance benchmarks prior to operational handover.
• Provide detailed documentation and performance analysis for final commissioning reports.

• Ensure mechanical designs and installations comply with European Union building codes, fire safety regulations, and environmental standards for energy efficiency and sustainability.
• Assess risks associated with mechanical system design or delivery and develop mitigation strategies to minimize delays or disruptions.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure regulatory and tenant-specific compliance, including permitting processes and fire impairment management.

• Act as a trusted technical advisor across all project phases, providing subject matter expertise to internal construction, engineering, and development teams.
• Collaborate with general contractors, consultants, vendors, and operations teams to align mechanical system delivery with overall project goals.
• Engage with tenants and their engineering teams to tailor mechanical infrastructure…