Mechanical Design Lead - Hyperscale Data Centres (Hong Kong / APAC)
Our client, a leading international data centre developer developer/operator, is seeking a Mechanical Design Lead to support the delivery of a major hyperscale data centre development in Hong Kong.
This APAC role will initially focus on leading the mechanical design strategy, technical reviews, and consultant management for a large-scale mission-critical facility currently under development in Hong Kong. Following successful delivery of the project, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to support additional data centre developments across the APAC region, providing exposure to regional projects and strategic engineering initiatives.
Working closely with senior leadership, project stakeholders, and external consultants, the Mechanical Design Lead will oversee the design, optimization, and delivery of critical mechanical infrastructure including cooling systems, HVAC, thermal management, fire protection, pumping, and drainage systems from concept design through commissioning.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced mechanical engineer who wants to play a key role in shaping hyperscale and next-generation data centre developments across Asia.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Engineering Leadership
- Lead the technical design, review, and optimization of critical mechanical infrastructure systems for hyperscale and mission-critical facilities.
- Provide subject matter expertise across HVAC, chilled water systems, thermal management, fire protection, pumping, drainage, and advanced cooling technologies.
- Drive engineering best practices and support the development of technical design standards.
Early-Stage Planning & Design
- Prepare and review concept designs, cooling load calculations, capacity planning studies, and infrastructure strategies.
- Develop space allocation studies and support performance benchmarking initiatives, including Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE).
- Evaluate alternative mechanical system configurations to optimize reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and total cost of ownership.
Consultant & Stakeholder Management
- Manage external engineering consultants through all project phases, from feasibility studies and schematic design through to detailed design and construction support.
- Review engineering submissions and ensure design quality, consistency, and compliance with project requirements.
- Collaborate with internal leadership, project teams, contractors, and clients to achieve successful project outcomes.
Technical Reviews & Vendor Engagement
- Conduct design review workshops and technical discussions with consultants, contractors, and equipment suppliers.
- Evaluate equipment selections and technical submissions for key mechanical systems.
- Support procurement activities through technical specification development and tender evaluations.
Compliance & Standards
- Ensure all mechanical designs comply with client requirements, applicable codes, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
- Promote compliance with ASHRAE, Uptime Institute, TIA-942, NFPA, and other relevant mission-critical design standards.
- Support sustainability initiatives and energy-efficiency objectives across projects.
Testing & Commissioning
- Review commissioning procedures, testing scripts, method statements, and engineering documentation.
- Witness factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), integrated systems testing (IST), and commissioning activities where required.
- Support troubleshooting and resolution of technical issues during project execution.
Site & Regional Project Support
- Attend site meetings and perform quality inspections during construction and commissioning stages.
- Travel within the APAC region as required to support project delivery, design reviews, inspections, and stakeholder engagement.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
Essential Experience
- Minimum 2 years of direct experience in mechanical engineering design within data centres, mission-critical facilities, or similar high-availability environments.
- Strong understanding of chilled water systems, HVAC infrastructure, thermal management, fire protection systems, pumping systems, and drainage systems.
- Experience working across concept, schematic, detailed design, construction, and commissioning stages.
- Experience reviewing and managing external engineering consultants and technical stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of data centre resiliency and reliability requirements.
Technical Knowledge
- Working knowledge of ASHRAE Thermal Guidelines.
- Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier III / Tier IV design principles.
- Understanding of TIA-942, NFPA, and relevant local building regulations.
- Experience with mechanical calculation software, thermal modeling tools, and AutoCAD.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Chartered Engineer status (CEng, HKIE, PE, or equivalent).
- Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) or other relevant data centre certifications.
- Experience supporting hyperscale or large-scale colocation developments.
- Exposure to advanced cooling technologies and emerging data centre infrastructure trends.
- Experience working across multiple APAC markets.
- Ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders, consultants, contractors, and clients.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- Strong technical judgment and problem-solving skills.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Commercially aware and capable of balancing technical, operational, and business considerations.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced project environment with multiple stakeholders.
WHY JOIN?
- Lead the mechanical design of a major hyperscale data centre project in Hong Kong.
- Gain exposure to regional developments across APAC following successful project delivery.
- Work closely with senior decision-makers and industry-leading engineering teams.
- Contribute to the delivery of next-generation mission-critical infrastructure.
- Competitive salary, benefits package, and long-term career development opportunities.
Please note if you weren't contacted please assume you were not shortlisted.
