Director, Data Center Mechanical Engineering
Keel Infrastructure is a digital and energy infrastructure company that develops and owns data centers and power assets for high-performance computing workloads, including AI. It serves hyperscalers, neocloud providers, and enterprise customers in North American markets.
Funding history
Investors
About Keel Infrastructure
Keel Infrastructure is an infrastructure-first developer and owner of energy-secured data-center campuses and power assets. Headquartered in New York City, it integrates power, land, and connectivity to support high-performance computing and AI deployments at scale. Its portfolio includes campuses in Washington, Pennsylvania, and Québec, with energized, secured, and expansion capacity across a multi-year development pipeline.
Skills
Candidate Availability
Required and preferred rules are kept separate and reflect the wording in the original posting.
About the Role
This director-level role owns mechanical engineering standards across data center development projects, leads technical reviews through commissioning, guides cooling and mechanical plant design, builds an internal engineering team, manages consultants and vendors, and evaluates emerging cooling technologies for high-density AI, machine learning, and HPC workloads.
Requirements
- 12+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience.
- Experience leading mechanical design for hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise data center projects; 50MW+ preferred.
- Experience as a technical owner or discipline lead on large capital projects.
- Experience managing or mentoring engineering staff and external consultants.
- Deep knowledge of data center cooling architectures, including economization, chilled water, DX, evaporative cooling, and hybrid approaches.
- Proficiency with mechanical modeling and simulation tools such as CFD, EnergyPlus, or Trane TRACE.
- Knowledge of ASHRAE Standards 55, 90.1, and TC9.9, plus relevant TIA/EIA and Uptime Institute standards.
- Familiarity with high-density and liquid-cooled AI, ML, and HPC deployments.
- Experience with mechanical commissioning and integrated systems testing protocols.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
- Professional Engineer license preferred.
- Professional certifications such as CDCDP, PMP, ATD, LEED AP, or DCEP are an asset.
Responsibilities
- Develop and own mechanical engineering design standards, specifications, and basis-of-design documentation.
- Establish criteria for chilled water plants, technology cooling, DX/CRAC systems, air handling, and containment.
- Lead evaluation, selection, and standardization of mechanical systems and equipment.
- Improve PUE performance through mechanical design strategies and define portfolio KPIs.
- Align construction, finance, engineering, procurement, and operations functions.
- Lead technical reviews from site feasibility through commissioning and approve external design packages.
- Lead value engineering and support RFPs, bid evaluation, and contractor/vendor selection.
- Build and mentor an internal mechanical engineering team.
- Manage engineering consultants, manufacturers, and specialty subcontractors.
- Present design strategies and investment recommendations to executive leadership and investment committees.
- Evaluate emerging cooling technologies for high-density AI and HPC workloads.
- Benchmark designs and contribute to industry thought leadership.
Benefits
- Bonus opportunities
- Equity opportunities
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
- Retirement savings with company contribution
- Employee referral program
- Friday remote work