Principal Mechanical Engineer – Data Centre

Company Description

Working at Ramboll

To work at Ramboll means being part of a people organisation. We are focused on knowledge sharing and collaboration across competence areas and geography, and we aim for a strong diversity among our employees. This enables us to solve a broad range of projects, and we firmly believe that cross-collaboration leads to creative and longstanding solutions. Thus, the possibilities at Ramboll are many and diverse –we invest a lot in the development of people and offer career paths tailored for each individual.

Ramboll in Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa

Ramboll has more than 1,500 experts working across 15 offices in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. We are present in Dubai, Doha, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, China, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. Our experts are applying their passion to deliver innovative solutions in markets as diverse as Buildings, Transport, Planning & Urban Design, Water, Environment & Health and Energy. Founded in Denmark, Ramboll is a people company. We invite you to contribute to a sustainable future working in an open, collaborative and empowering culture.

Role Overview
Cooling is the defining engineering challenge of the AI era. Rack power densities that were theoretical five years ago are now standard in every sovereign AI and hyperscale project launching in the UAE. Ramboll is building its MENA data centre practice from the ground up with 450+ dedicated data centre MEP engineers globally. The Principal Mechanical Engineer will be the cooling authority at the heart of the regional team, working on mission-critical data center projects.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

The Principal Mechanical Engineer will act as a technical lead and subject matter expert for mission-critical Data Center projects, responsible for end-to-end HVAC design, engineering, coordination, and commissioning support.

This role goes beyond design and requires complete lifecycle ownership, from concept definition and cooling strategy to detailed design, construction support, commissioning, and performance validation.

You will be responsible for advising on AI deployment options and examining potential impact on the design by leading cross-discipline conversations. Therefore, it’s required to possess experience and working knowledge at least on electrical principles, structural, architectural, DC operations & maintenance requirements, installation and commissioning procedures.

1. Client Engagement & Technical Leadership

• Act as the primary cooling and mechanical technical contact for clients – leading design reviews, strategy presentations, and bid discussions with senior engineering teams
• Directly engage with client-side SMEs, global stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams
• Lead technical discussions on design intent, risks, and trade-offs
• Own preparation of design strategy documents and technical narratives
• Basis of Design (BOD)
• Design Basis Reports (DBR)
• Technical narratives and presentations
• Participation in proposals drafting and responses to RFP and TQR

1. Design Leadership & Engineering Ownership
   1. Data Center Cooling Strategy & System Design

• Own the complete mechanical design – chilled water plant, direct liquid cooling (DLC), CDU systems, hybrid architectures, heat rejection, ventilation, and fuel systems
• Design systems for hyperscale and colocation facilities in the 10–100 MW IT load range (from concept through to IFC)
• Handle high-density AI cooling: 40–142 kW per rack, CDU sizing, secondary fluid networks, glycol specification
• Ensure compliance with UAE-specific requirements: ZLD heat rejection, PUE <1.4 under Dubai Universal Blueprint for AI, high-temperature DLC for desert free cooling
• Lead design of Air-cooled & water-cooled chilled water systems (CRAH / CRAC / AHU)
• Define airflow strategies (Hot aisle / cold aisle containment)
• Establish resilience strategies (N, N+1, N+2, 2N) aligned with Uptime Tier

• 1. Engineering Calculations & Technical Validation
• Perform and direct thermal load calculations, hydraulic modelling, and CFD studies for density validation and retrofit assessment
• Validate control philosophy and BMS/EMS integration requirements
• Review all mechanical engineering calculations and ensure alignment with ASHRAE, TIA-942, and Uptime Institute guidelines
  1. Detailed Design & BIM Coordination
• Lead development of concept, schematic, and detailed design (IFC level) documentation
• Review and approve AutoCAD & BIM (Revit) models at LOD350 with coordinated multi-discipline integration
• Spot and resolve cross-discipline conflicts at concept stage (electrical, ELV, fire, structural)
  1. Project Delivery & Construction Support
• Lead multidisciplinary coordination across Electrical, Structural, Architectural, Fire Protection, and BIM teams
• Support procurement: technical specifications, BOQs, and vendor evaluations
• Provide technical support during construction, site inspections, and commissioning phases

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Develop the internal design guidelines and lead the DC Mechanical team
• Mentor mechanical and HVAC engineers
• Establishing design standards and best practices
• Contribute to the DC Academy and regional thought leadership programme
• Drive design quality, risk management, and technical issue resolution across the team

Qualifications

Mandatory Skills & Experience

Technical Expertise

• 8+ years of mechanical engineering experience, with at least 5 years focused on data centre or mission-critical cooling systems
• Strong track record in chilled water plant design: chillers, pumping configurations, cooling towers, dry coolers, and hydraulic modelling
• Hands-on experience designing direct liquid cooling systems: CDU specification, secondary fluid networks, glycol systems (PG-25)
• Deep understanding of high-density AI cooling: 40 kW/rack and above, AI cluster thermal management, liquid/air hybrid architecture
• Knowledge of UAE regulatory landscape: DEWA ZLD compliance, Dubai Universal Blueprint for AI (PUE <1.2), district cooling integration

Tools & Digital Capability

• CFD experience: ability to direct or personally run studies for density validation and retrofit assessment
• BIM delivery using Revit at LOD350 and coordinated multi-discipline modelling
• AutoCAD proficiency for detailed mechanical drawings and coordination

Communication & Leadership (NON-NEGOTIABLE)

• Exceptional verbal and written communication in English – confidence to lead technical discussions at senior level
• Ability to mentor engineers and establish design culture and standards

Qualifications & Experience

• BE / BTech / ME / MTech in Mechanical Engineering
• Professional registration as a Mechanical Engineer or equivalent

Good to Have

• Uptime Institute ATD or ATS certification
• Experience with immersion cooling systems (single-phase or two-phase) and their commissioning
• Familiarity with high-temperature DLC (30–40°C coolant supply) and free cooling integration in hot climates
• LEED AP M+E or equivalent sustainability qualification
• Experience with KSA regulatory landscape and Vision 2030 data centre programme
• Arabic language skills

Additional Information

What we can offer you

• Investment in your development
• Leaders you can count on, guided by our Leadership Principles
• Be valued for the unique person you are.
• Never be short of inspiration from colleagues, clients, and projects.
• The long-term thinking of a foundation-owned company

We offer:

• A challenging and interesting workday characterized by continuous learning, in an environment where you have many to spar with and learn from.
• Opportunity to work with varied work tasks, across the organization.
• Opportunity to develop and influence your own area of responsibility.

Work at the heart of sustainable change

Ramboll is a global architecture, engineering, and consultancy company. We believe that the purpose of sustainable change is to create a thriving world for both nature and people. So, that’s where we start – and how we work. At Ramboll, our core strength is our people, and our history is rooted in a clear vision of how a responsible company should act. Being open and curious is a cornerstone of our culture. We embrace an inclusive mindset that looks for fresh, diverse, and innovative perspectives. We respect, embrace, and invite diversity in all forms to actively cultivate an environment where everyone can flourish and realize their full potential.

Ready to join us?
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