Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

About the Role

Kent Data Centres is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join their team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role requires extensive technical experience in data centre cooling systems, HVAC, plumbing, fire protection, and associated mechanical infrastructure. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering designs from feasibility and concept stages through detailed design, tender, and construction support, ensuring compliance with project requirements, Saudi regulations, and international data centre standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design for mission-critical data centre projects from feasibility and concept through schematic, detailed, and IFC design stages.
• Develop mechanical design philosophies, Basis of Design reports, technical calculations, equipment schedules, specifications, and drawings.
• Design and evaluate chilled-water cooling systems, including various chiller types, cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, and distribution systems.
• Design and evaluate HVAC, CRAH, CRAC, Fan Wall Unit systems, primary and secondary chilled-water systems, thermal-storage systems, hot/cold-aisle containment, and liquid-cooling systems.
• Perform cooling-load, hydraulic, and ventilation calculations, including equipment, pipe, and duct sizing.
• Develop resilient mechanical system configurations in accordance with project redundancy requirements and assess system availability and maintainability.
• Support project energy-efficiency and PUE targets through system optimisation and energy modelling.
• Design diesel fuel storage and distribution systems for standby generators, including tanks, pumps, piping, and controls.
• Design plumbing systems (domestic water, drainage, stormwater) and complete data centre fire-protection systems.
• Prepare calculations and specifications for fire pumps, sprinklers, pre-action, and clean-agent systems, ensuring compliance with NFPA and Saudi Civil Defense.
• Prepare mechanical single-line diagrams, schematics, layouts, plantroom arrangements, and control philosophies.
• Coordinate mechanical designs with electrical, architectural, structural, civil, ICT, security, and fire-and-life-safety disciplines.
• Lead mechanical BIM coordination and review Revit models to the required Level of Development.
• Review CFD analyses for data halls, plantrooms, generator yards, and other critical areas.
• Prepare technical specifications, equipment data sheets, tender documents, and contractor scopes of work.
• Conduct technical evaluations of vendors, manufacturers, specialist subcontractors, and tender submissions.
• Review contractor shop drawings, material submittals, method statements, RFIs, and technical deviations.
• Participate in design workshops, risk reviews, value-engineering exercises, and client meetings.
• Coordinate with local authorities, licensed engineering offices, utility providers, and other Authorities Having Jurisdiction in Saudi Arabia.
• Ensure compliance with the Saudi Building Code, Civil Defense, environmental, municipality, and utility requirements.
• Support Uptime Institute TCDD certification, including technical responses and closure of review comments.
• Monitor assigned deliverables, resources, and design programmes to ensure timely, high-quality submissions.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in mechanical design, with a strong focus on data centre infrastructure.
• Demonstrated expertise in data centre cooling systems, HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection.
• Proficiency in relevant design software and tools.
• Strong understanding of Saudi regulations and international data centre standards.

Desired Outcomes

• Delivery of safe, resilient, and maintainable mechanical designs that meet Tier III or Tier IV requirements and avoid single points of failure.
• Production of accurate, coordinated, and compliant design deliverables issued on programme and to the required quality.
• Optimisation of mechanical systems to achieve project energy-efficiency and PUE targets.
• Effective multidisciplinary, client, authority, vendor, and Uptime Institute coordination with timely closure of comments.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, within a dynamic environment focused on critical data centre projects.

Application Process

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply for this role. Salary details will be discussed during the interview process.