Mechanical Design Engineer
TalentAlly · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $150,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Design mechanical infrastructure for data centers.
- Perform advanced structural analysis using FEA.
- Develop metal frames, enclosures, and support structures.
- Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams.
- Drive design improvements for manufacturability and cost.
About the role
Principal Mechanical Design Engineer - Data Center Infrastructure
TalentAlly is seeking a highly skilled, technically proficient, and detail-oriented Principal Mechanical Engineer with expertise in metal structures, frame design, pipes, and fabrication to support the development of power and cooling infrastructure for data centers. This role is critical in designing robust mechanical systems that house and support electrical and thermal management equipment, ensuring structural integrity, manufacturability, and compliance with industry standards.
How will you make an impact?
You will be instrumental in designing and integrating hydronic systems, performing advanced structural analysis, and developing mechanical frames, enclosures, and support structures for data center power and cooling products. Your work will ensure the structural integrity, manufacturability, and compliance of critical data center infrastructure.
What will you do?
- Design and develop mechanical frames, enclosures, and support structures for data center power and cooling products (UPS systems, battery racks, CRAC units, containment systems, LVS, MVS).
- Perform advanced structural analysis using FEA tools to validate mechanical integrity under static, dynamic, seismic, and thermal loads.
- Analyze load paths, stress concentrations, and fatigue life of structural components to ensure long-term reliability.
- Design metal enclosures with considerations for airflow, thermal containment, EMI shielding, and environmental protection.
- Evaluate and implement new materials, coatings, and fabrication technologies to enhance product performance and reliability.
- Participate in customer engagements and site visits to understand deployment constraints and gather feedback for design improvements.
- Create detailed CAD models and fabrication drawings, including weldments, sheet metal, and machined parts.
- Select appropriate materials and fabrication methods to optimize cost, performance, and reliability.
- Collaborate with electrical, thermal, and systems engineering teams to integrate mechanical designs with functional components.
- Lead mechanical design reviews and contribute to cross-functional design validation efforts.
- Develop and maintain design documentation including BOMs, specifications, test plans, and engineering change orders (ECOs).
- Drive continuous improvement in mechanical design for manufacturability (DFM), cost reduction, and performance optimization.
- Interface with suppliers and customers to resolve fabrication issues and ensure quality standards are met.
- Support lifecycle management of mechanical components, including obsolescence planning and alternate sourcing.
- Conduct root cause analysis and corrective actions for mechanical failures or field issues.
- Ensure mechanical designs support airflow management, thermal containment, and integration with cooling systems (in-row cooling, rear door heat exchangers).
- Collaborate with compliance and certification teams to ensure mechanical designs meet global regulatory requirements (UL, CE, RoHS, REACH).
How will you get here?
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.
- 8+ years of experience in mechanical design and fabrication, preferably in data center, industrial, or power systems environment.
- Proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, Inventor) and FEA software (ANSYS, Abaqus).
- Strong knowledge of metal fabrication processes including welding, sheet metal forming, and machining is a must.
- Experience with structural design for heavy equipment or large assemblies, and familiarity with thermal and airflow considerations in enclosure design is required.
- Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Creative, self-motivated, accountable, and team-oriented.
- Able to work independently with minimal oversight.
- Proficient in reading, analyzing, and interpreting general business publications, professional journals, technical procedures, and government regulations.
- Skilled in writing reports, business correspondence, and procedural guides.
- Effective at presenting information and responding to management, clients, and public queries.
- Comfortable working as part of a global team.
- Capable of assessing projects, articulating risks, and developing project milestones.
- Familiar with stage-gate processes in project lifecycle management (PLCM).
- Able to mentor less experienced engineers.
- Ability to travel both domestically and internationally up to 30%.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
- Experience designing mechanical systems for data centers, telecom, or industrial power/cooling products.
- Active Professional Engineer (PE) license.
- Knowledge of regulatory and safety standards applicable to data center infrastructure.
- Hands-on experience with prototype fabrication and testing; Experience working with global suppliers and contract manufacturers a plus.
Key skills/competency
- Principal Mechanical Design Engineer
- Metal Structures
- Frame Design
- Pipes and Fabrication
- Power and Cooling Infrastructure
- Data Centers
- Structural Analysis
- FEA Tools
- CAD Software
- Mechanical Systems
Skills & topics
- Mechanical Design Engineer
- Principal Engineer
- Data Center
- Power and Cooling
- Structural Analysis
- FEA
- CAD
- Fabrication
- Piping Systems
- Mechanical Engineering
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your 8+ years of mechanical design and fabrication experience, CAD/FEA proficiency, and metal fabrication knowledge.
- Showcase expertise: Emphasize experience with data center infrastructure, structural analysis, and DFM principles in your application.
- Prepare for technical questions: Be ready to discuss your experience with hydronic systems, fluid dynamics, and FEA software during the interview.
- Demonstrate collaboration: Highlight your ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and mentor junior engineers.
- Research the company: Understand TalentAlly's role in data center infrastructure and their commitment to robust mechanical systems.
Technical preparation
Master FEA tools like ANSYS or Abaqus.,Practice advanced structural analysis techniques.,Refine CAD skills for complex assemblies.,Study hydronic and fluid dynamics principles.
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex mechanical design challenge.,How do you ensure manufacturability?,Share an example of cross-functional collaboration.,How do you mentor junior engineers?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus for a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer at TalentAlly?
- The primary focus for a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer at TalentAlly is to design and develop robust power and cooling infrastructure for data centers. This involves expertise in metal structures, frame design, piping, fabrication, and advanced structural analysis to ensure the integrity and manufacturability of these critical systems.
- What are the key technical skills required for this Principal Mechanical Design Engineer role at TalentAlly?
- Key technical skills include proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, Inventor), FEA software (ANSYS, Abaqus), strong knowledge of metal fabrication processes (welding, sheet metal, machining), experience with hydronic systems, fluid dynamics, and structural design for heavy equipment. A Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering is required, with a Master's preferred.
- Can a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer work remotely for TalentAlly?
- Yes, this Principal Mechanical Design Engineer position is offered as a remote role. However, it also has a location option in Austin, TX, and may require up to 20% domestic and/or international travel, though this is noted as rare.
- What kind of projects can I expect as a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer at TalentAlly?
- You can expect to work on designing and integrating mechanical frames, enclosures, and support structures for data center power and cooling products like UPS systems, battery racks, and CRAC units. You'll also perform structural analysis, optimize designs for manufacturability, and collaborate with various engineering disciplines.
- What experience level is TalentAlly looking for in a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer?
- TalentAlly is looking for a candidate with 8+ years of experience in mechanical design and fabrication, preferably within the data center, industrial, or power systems environment. The 'Principal' title indicates a senior-level role requiring significant expertise and potentially leadership capabilities.
- Does TalentAlly require specific software proficiencies for the Principal Mechanical Design Engineer role?
- Yes, TalentAlly requires proficiency in CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, or Inventor, and FEA software like ANSYS or Abaqus. Strong knowledge of metal fabrication processes is also a must.
- What is the typical career progression for a Principal Mechanical Design Engineer at TalentAlly?