Director, Data Center Mechanical Engineering

Keel Infrastructure is a publicly traded energy and digital infrastructure company that develops and owns data centers and power assets across North America. The Director of Data Center Mechanical Engineering will define and advance mechanical engineering standards across data center projects, overseeing cooling, airflow management, mechanical plant design, project execution, team leadership, and emerging cooling technology initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and own the company's mechanical engineering design standards, specifications, and basis-of-design documentation for all new data center development
• Establish and enforce mechanical engineering criteria for critical systems including chilled water plants, technology cooling systems, DX/CRAC systems, air handling, and containment strategies
• Lead the evaluation, selection, and standardization of mechanical systems and equipment across the portfolio
• Drive continuous improvement of PUE performance targets through innovative mechanical design strategies
• Define KPIs and portfolio analytics for executive leadership and the Board
• Ensure alignment between construction, finance, engineering, procurement, and operations functions
• Provide mechanical engineering leadership and technical review across all phases of development — from site feasibility and schematic design through design development, construction documents, and commissioning
• Review and approve mechanical design packages from external engineers of record (EORs), ensuring compliance with company standards and best practices
• Lead value engineering efforts for mechanical systems, balancing first cost, lifecycle cost, reliability, and schedule
• Support RFP development, bid evaluation, and contractor/vendor selection for mechanical scopes of work
• Build, mentor, and lead an internal mechanical engineering team as the company's portfolio grows
• Manage relationships with external engineering consultants, equipment manufacturers, and specialty subcontractors
• Collaborate with operations teams to ensure designs are optimized for long-term maintainability and operator efficiency
• Present mechanical design strategies and investment recommendations to executive leadership and investment committees
• Evaluate and pilot emerging cooling technologies including direct-to-chip solutions and rear-door heat exchangers for high-density AI/HPC workloads
• Benchmark company designs against industry best practices and competitive peers; identify and close gaps
• Participate in industry organizations (ASHRAE, 7x24 Exchange, The Green Grid) and contribute to thought leadership

Requirements:

• 12+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience
• Experience as a technical owner or discipline lead, not just a contributor, on large capital projects
• Prior experience managing or mentoring engineering staff and external consultants
• Deep knowledge of data center cooling architectures: air-side economization, water-side economization, chilled water systems, DX systems, evaporative cooling, and hybrid approaches
• Proficiency in mechanical system modeling and simulation tools (e.g., CFD for airflow, EnergyPlus, Trane TRACE, or similar)
• Strong working knowledge of ASHRAE Standards 55, 90.1, TC9.9, and relevant TIA/EIA and Uptime Institute standards
• Familiarity with high-density and liquid-cooled deployments for AI/ML and HPC environments
• Experience with mechanical commissioning (Cx) and integrated systems testing (IST) protocols
• Ability to translate complex mechanical engineering concepts for non-technical audiences including executives and investors
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication; experience authoring design standards and technical specifications
• Collaborative mindset with experience working cross-functionally in fast-paced development environments
• Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• We are considering candidates who can work remotely with 1 week per month travel to collaborate in person with our engineering team in NYC
• Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design on hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise data center projects (50MW+ preferred)
• Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred
• Professional certifications (CDCDP, PMP, ATD, LEED AP, DCEP, or similar) are a significant asset