Senior / Principal Mechanical Building Services Engineer (Data Centres) in Bristol

Job Title – Senior / Principal Mechanical Engineer (Data Centres)

Location – Bristol

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

Data Centres are increasingly becoming a core component of our vital infrastructure. Their operators must therefore ensure the longevity of their sites, optimise them for mission‑critical tasks and equip them with the latest hardware. At the same time, it is important to ensure cost efficiency and sustainability. From solutions to make better use of existing infrastructure to designing new ‘energy efficient’ structures, we have successfully helped our clients achieve these goals.

Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, advisors and experts working globally. Founded to be humane and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners using imagination, technology, and rigor to shape a better world. Our vision is to transition to a zero‑carbon economy, ensuring that Data Centres make a positive contribution to the world.

The Opportunity

We have an opportunity for a Principal Mechanical Engineer who is looking to rise to the challenge of acting as a technical discipline lead in the data centre sector and becoming a permanent member of our friendly, supportive and creative Building Engineering Team.

As an integral member of our multi‑disciplinary engineering team, you will be responsible for the mechanical design packages and overall mechanical discipline and will be expected to take them from initial brief through scheme & detail design to installation and commissioning support. This role will harness your core data centre skills and experience to provide technical guidance on discipline‑specific data centre projects, as well as mentoring and developing junior colleagues.

We offer tailored career support and bespoke training opportunities through Arup University and will support, develop and challenge you to become a future leader within the organisation. In addition, our growing team provides opportunities for progression through experience of Sustainable, Innovation and Digital Development in the Data Centre sector and exposure to market‑leading “tech giant” and colocation data centre clients.

Responsibilities

• Leading the planning and managing the delivery of the mechanical work packages on medium and large‑scale complex projects
• Ensuring all designs and documents are prepared and reviewed to the highest standards
• Leading projects and working closely with our data centre clients to deliver quality work to meet their specific needs
• Presenting technical material for review by technical and non‑technical audiences
• Contributing to conceptual design studies and reports for your discipline and package
• Enthusiastically developing and mentoring junior team members in their career development, including technical and soft skills
• Managing finances and staffing resources to ensure successful delivery of projects within agreed budgets and timescales
• Collaborating with multi‑disciplinary teams, maximising our experience at the local, regional, and global levels

Is this job right for you?

Candidate Profile

• Degree qualified in Mechanical or Building Services Engineering (preferably to Masters level) with Chartership status (CIBSE / IMechE)
• An accomplished engineer who is interested in further developing their design and project management skills on fast‑paced, highly technical projects, working collaboratively to lead multi‑disciplinary design teams, and who seeks to take responsibility for managing projects from inception to completion to achieve outstanding results
• Experienced in data centre &/or other mission‑critical systems and facilities
• Have demonstrable experience of successfully leading complex mechanical engineering projects with strong ability to communicate with the team and clients through sketching, drawing and writing
• Competent in designing software packages

Not ready to apply just yet, or have a few questions? Contact Louise Raisbeck (Louise.Raisbeck@arup.com). Please note, to ensure we remain GDPR compliant do not send your CV directly to us via this email.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We also provide private medical insurance, life assurance, accident insurance and income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Different People, Shared Values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross‑cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference.

Our Application Process

Please visit our recruitment process page: https://www.arup.com/careers/recruitment-process/

Stay safe online

Arup will never ask for payment or your bank details as part of our recruitment process.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a Preferred Supplier List of trusted partners to assist us when required and do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on the list.

Closing Date

1st February 2026 – We may close the role earlier than the advertised date should we receive a large number of applications, so please ensure you apply early.