Principal Engineer in City of London

Joining Arup’s purpose, shared values and collaborative approach have set us apart for 80 years, guiding how we shape a better world. Our culture encourages innovation, personal growth and knowledge sharing, supported by global expertise and opportunities for career development across more than 140 countries. We reinvest in our people and ideas through initiatives like Invest in Arup, helping us influence the industry and deliver work that makes a positive impact.

Our Data Centre and Critical Facilities team is recognised globally for leading the sector, providing end‑to‑end services from site due diligence and master planning to integrated ACSMEP and specialist systems design. We support clients across the full lifecycle of their facilities, improving performance, sustainability and carbon outcomes, and offering strategic advisory services including M&A support and programme management. Joining the team means contributing to high‑impact projects that shape the future of critical environments, working alongside industry‑leading professionals in a collaborative, forward‑thinking setting.

This role offers an exciting pathway into leadership, supported by a large and growing team committed to mentoring and professional development. You’ll have the opportunity to build your client and team‑leadership skills, take responsibility for smaller projects and broaden your multidisciplinary understanding. Our global Data Centre Team brings together architects, engineers and specialist consultants who work with some of the most innovative organisations in the sector. While much of the work focuses on data centres, you’ll also have opportunities to contribute to other critical‑facility projects such as healthcare and TV/film studios. Our clients span developers, enterprise users, telecoms, edge providers, retail and wholesale colocation operators, and major hyperscale cloud service providers. Based in London, you’ll help deliver projects across the UK, Europe, India and Africa, working within our Engineered Architecture model where architects, engineers and specialists collaborate as one integrated team.

Your responsibilities will include managing mechanical design concepts that reflect the latest thinking in low‑energy and low‑water data centre design, resilience, commissioning and maintenance. You’ll coordinate design analysis, optimise systems with the wider team, oversee the production of models, drawings and specifications, and collaborate closely with engineers from other disciplines. Mentoring junior colleagues and continuing your own development will be central to the role, as will contributing to a culture that values individuality, shared learning and continuous improvement. Ultimately, you’ll play a meaningful part in delivering socially useful work that benefits clients, communities and your own professional growth.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas. You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

We’re looking for a candidate who:

• Chartered Engineer (or within 6–12 months of achieving it) in Building Services. (CIBSE / IMechE)
• Experience across all data‑centre design and construction stages, including cooling solutions, PUE/WUE efficiency, resilience/TIER levels, and testing/commissioning.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to plan, predict and manage resources to meet financial targets.
• Proficient in energy‑modelling tools (ideally IES), 3D modelling (Revit) and familiar with 6Sigma CFD for data‑centre applications.
• Inquisitive and proactive, with a strong interest in innovation, industry engagement and developing the Critical Systems/Data Centre offering.

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 are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts. 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.

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.

We are committed to making our recruitment process and workplaces accessible to all candidates. Please contact Aslam Hussain / aslam.hussain@arup.com to let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments throughout your application or interview process, and/or to perform the essential functions of the role. We will do everything we can to support you.