Associate Director - Mechanical Engineering (Data Centers)

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AECOM's Enterprise Capabilities is seeking for an experienced Associate Director - Mechanical Engineering (Data Centers) to join our Mechanical Engineering team in Bogota, Colombia. This role will be pivotal in designing HVAC systems with a particular focus on Data Center and Mission Critical, Chilled water plants, heating and cooling control systems.

The responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Data Center Heat Rejection and HVAC System Design: Developing and designing Heat Rejection and HVAC systems specifically tailored for data centers, considering factors such as type of cooling requirement as air cooled or direct fluid cooled, associated cooling loads, future flexibility of the system to accommodate variable heat distribution scenarios, phased construction and operation, airflow management, humidity control, system redundancy providing concurrent maintainability, energy efficiency, and compliance with industry standards and best practices.
• Cooling System Selection: Selecting appropriate air/water side cooling systems for data centers, including Fan wall units, computer room air handlers (CRAHs), chilled water systems, DX systems and CRAC units, in-row cooling, and containment solutions, based on the specific cooling requirements of the data center and the criticality of the equipment.
• Requirements identification and calculation of cooling and heating thermal loads using various software such as HAP, Tracer 3d, EESV, and CYPE.
• Design of chilled water systems, variable refrigerant, centralized systems, and precision systems.
• Equipment selection and component sizing. Knowledge of ASHRAE and SMACNA standards.
• Preparation of specifications, drawings, calculation reports, and technical reports, fluent in English.
• Preparation of plant drawings, system architecture, schematic diagrams, control single-line diagrams, P&IDs, and installation details for HVAC and mechanical ventilation systems.
• System modeling in Revit, quality review of drawings prepared by modelers.
• Generation of pressure drop reports and equipment tables in Revit.
• Coordination with other disciplines to avoid clashes between elements using Revit and/or Navisworks.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering + 8 YORE or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education in Data Center Projects. 
• Must have excellent knowledge about data center TIER Standard Topology as per Uptime Institute, TIA 942, ANSI/BICSI 002, etc.
• Experience with calculation software such as HAP, Tracer 3d, EESV, and/or CYPE.
• Experience in design and analysis of air conditioning and mechanical ventilation systems for datacenters, industrial and institutional use.
• Experience in developing air and fluid flow diagrams, P&IDs and sequence of operations (SOO) is required.
• Experience in data center mechanical and electrical equipment installation and operation is required.
• Experience performing early project design work such as conceptual studies, estimate electrical loads, equipment sizing and selection, datasheets, and general arrangements.
• Experience with Revit to create 3D BIM models of electrical systems, adhering to all Levels of Development (LOD).
• Knowledge of local and international regulations (American and European).
• High level of English, written and spoken.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience in air conditioning and/or ventilation installations
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis: Conducting internal CFD simulations to optimize airflow distribution, transient period analysis, identify hotspots, and ensure efficient cooling throughout the data center
• Software experience: Six Sigma CFD, TileFlow, Cradle CFD, Ansys
• Candidates with CDCP certification or similar shall be given preference.

Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

Sponsorship for Colombia work authorization is not available for this position, now or in the future.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM 

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan. 

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com. 

What makes AECOM a great place to work 

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.