Key skills
Mechanical designMetal structuresFrame designPipes and fabricationHydronic systemsPumpsPiping networksValvesHeat exchangersFluid dynamicsPressure drop calculationsPipe sizingChilled water systemsGlycol-based systemsInstallation constraintsMaintenance accessMechanical framesEnclosuresSupport structuresPower and cooling productsFEA softwareStructural analysisStatic loadsDynamic loadsSeismic loadsThermal loadsLoad path analysisStress concentration analysisFatigue life analysisMetal enclosuresAirflow managementThermal containmentEMI shieldingEnvironmental protectionMaterials selectionCoatingsFabrication technologiesCAD toolsSolidWorksCreoInventorWeldingSheet metal formingMachiningStructural designThermal considerationsAirflow considerationsDesign documentationBOMsTest plansEngineering change ordersDFMCost reductionPerformance optimizationSupplier interfaceQuality standardsLifecycle managementObsolescence planningAlternate sourcingRoot cause analysisCorrective actionsComplianceULCERoHSREACHAirflowPerformance OptimizationCommunicationCollaboration
About this role
Jabil is a trusted partner for the world's top brands, providing engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions. They are seeking a highly skilled Principal Mechanical Engineer to support the development of power and cooling infrastructure for data centers, focusing on designing robust mechanical systems and ensuring compliance with industry standards.
Responsibilities:
- Experience designing and integrating hydronic systems including pumps, piping networks, valves, and heat exchangers for data center cooling applications
- Knowledge of fluid dynamics, pressure drop calculations, and pipe sizing for chilled water and glycol-based systems
- Understanding of installation constraints, maintenance access, and serviceability in large-scale mechanical infrastructure
- Design and develop mechanical frames, enclosures, and support structures for data center power and cooling products (UPS systems, battery racks, CRAC units, containment systems, LVS, MVS)
- Perform advanced structural analysis using FEA tools to validate mechanical integrity under static, dynamic, seismic, and thermal loads
- Analyze load paths, stress concentrations, and fatigue life of structural components to ensure long-term reliability
- Design metal enclosures with considerations for airflow, thermal containment, EMI shielding, and environmental protection
- Evaluate and implement new materials, coatings, and fabrication technologies to enhance product performance and reliability
- Participate in customer engagements and site visits to understand deployment constraints and gather feedback for design improvements
- Create detailed CAD models and fabrication drawings, including weldments, sheet metal, and machined parts
- Select appropriate materials and fabrication methods to optimize cost, performance, and reliability
- Collaborate with electrical, thermal, and systems engineering teams to integrate mechanical designs with functional components
- Lead mechanical design reviews and contribute to cross-functional design validation efforts
- Develop and maintain design documentation including BOMs, specifications, test plans, and engineering change orders (ECOs)
- Drive continuous improvement in mechanical design for manufacturability (DFM), cost reduction, and performance optimization
- Interface with suppliers and customers to resolve fabrication issues and ensure quality standards are met
- Support lifecycle management of mechanical components, including obsolescence planning and alternate sourcing
- Conduct root cause analysis and corrective actions for mechanical failures or field issues
- Ensure mechanical designs support airflow management, thermal containment, and integration with cooling systems (in-row cooling, rear door heat exchangers)
- Collaborate with compliance and certification teams to ensure mechanical designs meet global regulatory requirements (UL, CE, RoHS, REACH)
- May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Requirements:
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline
- 8+ years of experience in mechanical design and fabrication, preferably in data center, industrial, or power systems environment
- Proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, Inventor) and FEA software (ANSYS, Abaqus)
- Strong knowledge of metal fabrication processes including welding, sheet metal forming, and machining is a must
- Experience with structural design for heavy equipment or large assemblies, and familiarity with thermal and airflow considerations in enclosure design is required
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Creative, self-motivated, accountable, and team-oriented
- Able to work independently with minimal oversight
- Proficient in reading, analyzing, and interpreting general business publications, professional journals, technical procedures, and government regulations
- Skilled in writing reports, business correspondence, and procedural guides
- Effective at presenting information and responding to management, clients, and public queries
- Capable of influencing others and sharing best practices
- Comfortable working as part of a global team
- Capable of assessing projects, articulating risks, and developing project milestones
- Familiar with stage-gate processes in project lifecycle management (PLCM)
- Able to mentor less experienced engineers
- Ability to travel both domestically and internationally up to 30%
- Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
- Experience designing mechanical systems for data centers, telecom, or industrial power/cooling products
- Active Professional Engineer (PE) license
- Knowledge of regulatory and safety standards applicable to data center infrastructure
- Hands-on experience with prototype fabrication and testing; Experience working with global suppliers and contract manufacturers a plus