MEP Design Engineer
Mechanical and electrical design for new data center builds.
Pay range
$90,000 – $150,000
Entry path
ABET-accredited mechanical or electrical engineering degree; PE optional but valuable
About the role
MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) design engineers are responsible for the engineering drawings and specifications behind every new data center build and retrofit. They size the cooling and power systems, model PUE, run Computational Fluid Dynamics for airflow, and coordinate with construction managers. The role typically sits at a specialized engineering firm (kW Mission Critical, Page Southerland Page, etc.) or in-house at a hyperscaler.
What you do
- •Design power distribution, UPS, and generator topology for new builds
- •Specify cooling plants, airflow strategy, and containment systems
- •Model PUE, EUE, and capacity scenarios
- •Produce construction documents and review submittals
- •Coordinate with contractors and commissioning teams during construction
Certifications and credentials
- •EIT (Engineer in Training) immediately after degree
- •PE (Professional Engineer) license after 4 years — highly valued
- •BICSI DCDC (Data Center Design Consultant)
- •Uptime Institute ATD
Best fit for
- •Recent or current ABET-accredited engineering students
- •Mechanical or electrical engineers from adjacent industries (industrial, commercial)
- •Engineers who want design over operations
A typical day
Review marked-up redlines from yesterday's design coordination meeting. Update electrical one-line diagrams in Revit. Run a load calculation for a hyperscale tenant requesting 6 MW. Joint meeting with the construction team. Submit a stamped drawing set before EOD.
See open roles
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