AI Factory Mechanical Engineer

NVIDIA•Santa Clara, CA

About The Position

NVIDIA is seeking a highly motivated AI Factory Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the development of next-generation liquid cooling and thermal systems for AI factories. The role covers the full project lifecycle, from concept through construction, commissioning, and handover, for greenfield, leased, and retrofit facilities. The engineer will establish technical direction for hydronic, airside, and facility heat-rejection systems and help bring large-scale AI compute capacity online. This position leads mechanical systems strategy and execution, balancing cost, energy efficiency, schedule, flexibility, and sustainability while integrating emerging technologies. The engineer serves as NVIDIA’s owner’s representative, directs design and construction partners, and collaborates across engineering disciplines to align rack-level thermal needs with facility requirements. The role also advances technical roadmaps, programmatic facility plans, owner-furnished equipment strategies, modular construction approaches, and adaptation of standardized plans to local conditions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
12+ years of mechanical engineering experience supporting critical facilities or large-scale data centers.
Proven expertise in liquid cooling systems, chiller plant development, and/or hydronic system development.
Experience leading large-scale mechanical infrastructure programs from concept through construction and commissioning.
Experience across all phases of design delivery, including schematic design and design development.
Strong written and presentation communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences, including build reviews and executive briefings.
Professional Engineer (PE) license in Mechanical Engineering required.

Nice To Haves

Experience with prefabricated and modular construction, including build for manufacturing and assembly, and with operations and deployment handover for data center mechanical systems.
Hardware thermal engineering background, including thermal build validation and product reliability.
Deep expertise in availability and reliability engineering for critical infrastructure.
Proficiency in controls systems, including BMS/EPMS integration and mechanical controls logic; electrical and MEP integration; and acoustics/noise engineering and regulatory compliance for mechanical equipment.
Familiarity with advanced simulation, modeling, or AI-driven build optimization tools.
Track record of mentoring engineers and representing owner interests on large capital programs.

Responsibilities

Lead data center product and facility builds, balancing cost, energy efficiency, schedule, and sustainability while integrating new technologies.
Own mechanical systems strategy and development, including liquid cooling, chiller plants, heat rejection, CDUs, and airside and hydronic systems, from concept through construction administration and commissioning.
Deliver design documentation and lead execution across schematic design, design development, construction documentation, construction administration, and commissioning for greenfield, leased, and retrofit projects.
Partner with civil/structural, electrical, connectivity, controls, and hardware engineering teams to align rack-level thermal requirements with facility design.
Drive prefabricated and modular construction strategies and build-to-break-ground schedules to accelerate deployment.
Represent NVIDIA as the owner’s representative; hold engineer-of-record teams accountable, prepare RFPs, manage contracts, and review change orders, submittals, RFIs, and value-engineering proposals.
Participate in factory witness testing, commissioning, and quality verification, and support handover and knowledge transfer into live operations.
Evaluate emerging technologies, standards, and sustainability targets, including energy and water modeling; support site selection and master planning; and advance reliability and availability practices.
Set technical direction across hydronic, airside, and facility heat-rejection systems, mentor engineers across the organization, and drive programs that bring AI compute capacity online.
Contribute to technical roadmaps for advanced mechanical systems, programmatic facility plans, owner-furnished equipment strategies, and adaptation of standardized plans to local site conditions.