Mechanical/HVAC Engineer SME (Data Center)

Jacobs is seeking a seasoned HVAC/Mechanical Subject Matter Expert (SME) to lead technical excellence across our global data center portfolio. This role blends deep technical expertise with strategic influence, serving as both an internal leader and external ambassador of Jacobs' engineering capabilities. The SME will drive innovation, mentor emerging talent, and help shape the future of mission-critical infrastructure.

This role can be aligned with any U.S. location. Ideally, we're aiming to hire the best candidate and that individual could work from any JACOBS US based office.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Innovation

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  Provide internal technical leadership across HVAC/mechanical disciplines, setting direction and elevating standards.

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  Set design strategy with clients with up front planning. Optimization of mechanical systems for hyperscale and enterprise data centers.

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  Champion innovation in cooling technologies, energy efficiency, and sustainable design.

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  Develop and maintain Jacobs' mechanical standards, specifications, and best practices.

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Strategic Impact & Business Development

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  Act as the external face of Jacobs' technical knowledge in client engagements, industry forums, and strategic pursuits.

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  Partner with sales teams to win our most complex and high-value data center projects.

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  Participate in sales calls, client workshops, and proposal development to shape winning strategies.

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  Support business strategy through thought leadership, technical differentiation, and delivery excellence.

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Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing

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  Mentor and coach engineers and designers within the HVAC/mechanical discipline.

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  Publish technical papers and contribute to Jacobs' knowledge base.

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  Present at industry conferences and represent Jacobs in professional associations.

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Execution & Multi-Tasking

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  Balance strategic initiatives with hands-on project execution, managing multiple priorities in parallel.

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  Support commissioning, troubleshooting, and lifecycle performance of mechanical systems.

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  Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement efforts across global sites.

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  Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Master's preferred).

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  20+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, with 15+ years in mission-critical/data center environments.

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  Proven expertise in chilled water systems, economizers, CRAC/CRAH units, and airflow management, and liquid cooling.

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  Strong familiarity with ASHRAE guidelines, building codes, and environmental regulations.

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  Experience with CFD modeling, BMS systems, and energy modeling tools.

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  Proven record of technical innovation solving client's challenges.

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  Professional Engineering (PE) license or equivalent certification is a plus.

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  Exceptional communication, leadership, and multi-tasking skills.

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Preferred Experience

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  Experience with hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise data center clients.

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  Involvement in sustainability and energy-efficient telecom design.

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  Vendor management and contract negotiation experience.

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  Hands-on commissioning and retro-commissioning expertise.

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Work Environment

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  Primarily office-based with occasional travel to data center sites and client locations.

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  Travel up to 25% based on project and business needs.

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  On-call availability for critical incident support.

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Jacobs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. Learn more about your rights under Federal EEO laws and supplemental language.