Sr. Mechanical Engineer (Data Center MEP Systems)

Starbase, TX · 10+ years experience · Onsite · Posted Sep 23, 2026

At a glance

SpaceX is looking for an MEP Engineer with deep mechanical and plumbing expertise to design, specify, and commission the cooling and fluid systems that keep data center infrastructure running.
This role sits at the intersection of critical facilities engineering and the physical plant, requiring comfort in both design reviews and mechanical room walkthroughs.

Design and specify mechanical cooling systems for data center facilities: chilled water plants, CRAH/CRAC units, air handling units, and cooling towers
Own plumbing system design: domestic water, sanitary, storm drainage, makeup water, and process piping for cooling systems
Evaluate and specify facility liquid cooling infrastructure (direct-to-chip, rear-door heat exchangers, immersion cooling)
Perform heat load calculations, airflow modeling, and capacity planning to ensure design requirements are met
Develop piping design, pump sizing, and hydraulic calculations for chilled water and condenser water loops
Review and coordinate mechanical/plumbing drawings with architectural, electrical, structural, and fire protection disciplines
Support commissioning of mechanical systems: functional performance testing, integrated systems testing (IST), and level 5 commissioning for critical cooling infrastructure
Work directly with equipment vendors (chillers, CRAH units, pumps, cooling towers) on technical specifications and factory witness testing
Troubleshoot operational issues in existing facilities: water treatment, pump cavitation, control valve failures, capacity shortfalls
Support due diligence and technical evaluation for new site selection, including utility water availability and existing mechanical infrastructure condition

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
10+ years of experience in mechanical/plumbing design for mission-critical facilities, data centers, or comparable industrial environments
Must be available to work extended hours and weekends when needed based on site operational needs; flexibility required
Willingness to travel to job sites during construction, commissioning, and critical operational events
Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee, Asylee, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State under ITAR regulations

Working knowledge of HVAC and hydronic system design: chilled water plants, cooling towers, air handling systems
Experience with plumbing system design and code compliance (domestic water, sanitary, storm drainage)
Ability to read and produce mechanical/plumbing construction documents, P&IDs, and equipment schedules
Direct data center design or operations experience, ideally at hyperscale or colocation facility scale
Experience with liquid cooling technologies: direct-to-chip, rear-door heat exchangers, or immersion cooling systems
Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier standards and ASHRAE TC9.9 data center thermal guidelines
Commissioning experience, including functional performance testing (FPT) and integrated systems testing (IST)
Experience with water treatment systems and makeup water strategy for evaporative cooling systems

Willingness to travel to job sites during construction, commissioning, and critical operational events