Mechanical Technical Director – Mission Critical (Data Centres)

Who we are

With over 14000 professionals globally GHD is a leading multidisciplinary professional services company delivering engineering design and advisory solutions across water energy resources environment property & buildings and transportation sectors.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Mechanical Technical Director to join our Global Data Centre Design Team (Mission Critical) based in our UAE offices. This is a senior leadership role for a highly accomplished engineer with extensive experience in the design technical leadership and delivery of hyperscale AI and mission-critical data centre facilities.

You will provide technical leadership across a portfolio of complex data centre projects guiding multidisciplinary teams through all stages of delivery while shaping the future direction of mechanical engineering within our global data centre practice.

This role offers the opportunity to influence some of the worlds most advanced AI and hyperscale data centre developments. You will act as a trusted advisor to clients support business development initiatives help secure new opportunities drive innovation and ensure the consistent delivery of technically excellent resilient sustainable and commercially successful solutions.

In addition to project leadership you will play a key role in developing engineering capability across the business mentoring senior engineers promoting technical excellence and contributing to the growth of our rapidly expanding mission critical sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and governance across multiple mission critical and data centre projects globally.
• Define and oversee mechanical engineering strategies for hyperscale colocation enterprise and AI-driven data centre developments.
• Lead the development and review of cooling architectures including chilled water systems liquid cooling solutions direct-to-chip cooling CDUs heat rejection systems and high-density thermal management strategies.
• Drive technical excellence through peer reviews design assurance processes and the development of engineering standards best practices and quality procedures.
• Act as the senior technical authority for mechanical engineering matters providing guidance and support to project teams throughout all project phases.
• Support the development adaptation and optimisation of global standard reference designs modular data centre solutions and bespoke engineering approaches.
• Interface directly with clients operators contractors technology providers and other stakeholders acting as a trusted technical advisor and subject matter expert.
• Lead technical workshops value engineering exercises feasibility studies master planning activities and technical due diligence assignments.
• Ensure designs achieve the required performance resilience maintainability energy efficiency sustainability and operational objectives.
• Support project delivery teams in managing technical risks programme requirements budgets and quality objectives.
• Maintain strong client relationships and proactively identify opportunities for repeat business and long-term partnerships.
• Support business development activities client engagement and strategic growth initiatives across the Mission Critical sector.
• Lead and support pursuits proposals bids interviews and technical presentations to help secure new project opportunities.
• Collaborate with regional and global leadership teams to develop and execute growth strategies for the Data Centres and Mission Critical business.
• Monitor emerging technologies market trends and client requirements to ensure GHD remains at the forefront of data centre engineering.
• Mentor and develop Lead Engineers and other team members fostering a culture of technical excellence collaboration innovation and continuous learning.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering or Building Services Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer status (CEng PE RPEQ or equivalent) preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant engineering experience including significant experience within mission critical and data centre environments.
• Proven track record leading the design and delivery of hyperscale colocation enterprise and AI-focused data centre facilities.
• Extensive knowledge of data centre cooling systems including chilled water plants CRAH/CRAC systems liquid cooling technologies CDUs cooling towers dry coolers and advanced control strategies.
• Strong understanding of resilience and redundancy philosophies including N1 2N and concurrent maintainability principles.
• Strong understanding of mechanical-electrical integration controls and BMS systems commissioning integrated systems testing and operational readiness.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams across international projects and geographically distributed delivery environments.
• Demonstrated experience undertaking technical reviews design assurance engineering governance and quality management activities.
• Familiarity with CFD modelling thermal analysis energy modelling digital engineering and BIM delivery processes.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience supporting business development client management and project pursuits.
• Experience with hyperscale and AI data centre cooling strategies is highly desirable.
• Uptime Institute Accredited Tier Designer (ATD) certification is highly desirable.
• Excellent leadership communication stakeholder management and presentation skills.

Why Join Us

• Work on globally significant projects influencing the next generation of AI and hyperscale data centre design.
• Be part of a globally recognised fast-growing mission critical team delivering projects that blend technical excellence sustainability and commercial success.
• Collaborate in a multi-disciplinary innovative environment where your input shapes both standardised and bespoke solutions.
• Join a team that values knowledge-sharing mentorship and professional excellence.
• Be part of a workplace that combines collaboration flexibility and connection. Join us in the office three days per week to contribute connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Our Pledge to You

At GHD we dont just believe in the power of commitment we live and breathe it every day.

Thats why we pledge to empower our people to make a positive impact. Combining our deep technical expertise with the capabilities of our clients and partners we respond to some of the most complex challenges facing our planet today.

See where your commitment could take you.

Thats the #PowerOfCommitment