Lead Mechanical Engineer (Data Center Infrastructure)
Why Join Giga
- The Pace: We're building at a speed most companies talk about but never actually operate at. If you've been bored somewhere else, you won't be here.
- The Impact: Every person at Giga touches the work that matters. No layers, no waiting for approval chains. You'll see your fingerprints on what we ship.
- The Team: A team of operators defining the future of AI infrastructure. We recruit A-players from the most innovative companies in the world, and they choose Giga because the work here means more.
- The Moment: AI doesn't run without power, and that's us. Giga is the picks and shovels behind the AI revolution. This industry is about to explode, and you'll be in the room where it's already happening.
What you'll do
Giga's mission is to manufacture data centers to support the AI ramp. We're moving beyond traditional construction to a product-based approach, designing and mass-producing high-performance infrastructure that can keep pace with the exponential demand for compute. As Lead Mechanical Engineer, you'll own the mechanical design of these next-generation facilities.
This is a rare opportunity to define the mechanical DNA of a rapidly scaling infrastructure company. You won't just be managing a single build—you'll be creating the Plan of Record (POR) for Giga Data Centers, a standardized, manufactured product that will be deployed globally.
You'll set the standard for high-density AI cooling, designing liquid cooling loops, thermal management systems, and mechanical infrastructure that can handle the most demanding compute workloads on the planet. The AI ramp is the defining industrial challenge of our time, and you'll build the engine that powers it. Your designs will be manufactured and deployed rapidly, with direct impact visible across hundreds of facilities.
Where you'll work
If based outside of our Houston, Long Beach, Reno, or San Francisco hubs, this role will be based remotely from your home office. You must be willing to travel as needed to our job sites and to one of our hub offices.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain the mechanical POR for Giga Data Centers, defining the "Gold Standard" design that enables manufacturing of reliability and efficiency at scale
- Author and own the internal engineering library including technical specifications and Basis of Design documents, deciding what we build and how we measure it
- Design to global and local standards, leveraging ASHRAE TC 9.9 to define environmental envelopes for AI hardware and ensuring compliance with ASHRAE 90.1 for energy efficiency
- Guide external engineering firms to localize designs while maintaining strict adherence to core performance intent and standardization requirements
- Validate airflow patterns and rack-level thermal performance using computational fluid dynamics, ensuring compliance with ASHRAE thermal guidelines for Class A1-A4 environments
- Execute rigorous hydraulic analysis and thermal load flow studies, conducting pipe stress analysis per ASME B31 standards to ensure system integrity under thermal expansion and seismic events
- Engineer complex cooling loops (Direct-to-Chip, Immersion, RDHx) aligned with OCP (Open Compute Project) specifications for liquid cooling interoperability
- Select and specify pumps, fans, chillers, dry coolers, and control valves for high-density compute environments
- Create detailed Bills of Material (BOMs), Quantity Take Offs (QTOs), and Commissioning scripts to support a manufacturing-first supply chain
- Develop Sequence of Operations (SOO) and Control Narratives that dictate how mechanical systems respond to dynamic AI load changes
- Use advanced simulation tools to optimize thermal performance and validate designs before manufacturing
Requirements
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering
- 7+ years of mechanical engineering experience with strong focus on mission-critical or industrial facilities
- Deep working knowledge of ASHRAE TC 9.9 (Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments)
- Familiarity with ASME B31.3/B31.9 (Process Piping) for liquid cooling loops
- Strong background in CFD analysis using tools like 6Sigma or Ansys
- Experience with pipe stress analysis software (Caesar II or AutoPIPE)
- Proficiency in Revit/AutoCAD for mechanical design
- Experience with hydraulic modeling software (AFT Fathom or Pipe-Flo)
- Proven ability to create engineering standards from scratch rather than just following existing ones
- Strong understanding of high-density cooling solutions and thermal management
- Experience specifying HVAC equipment including chillers, pumps, and cooling towers
- Track record developing standardized designs for scalable deployment
Bonus points
- Understanding of OCP (Open Compute Project) cooling initiatives and specifications
- Experience with liquid cooling technologies (Direct-to-Chip, Immersion, RDHx)
- Background in data center or high-density compute facility mechanical design
- Knowledge of ASHRAE 90.1 energy efficiency requirements
- Experience with manufacturing-first design approach (DfMA principles)
- Startup or high-growth company experience
- Track record creating Plans of Record for manufactured products
- Experience managing A&E firms and maintaining design standards across partners
- Familiarity with commissioning processes and functional testing for mechanical systems
- Understanding of AI infrastructure thermal requirements and challenges
- Experience with design-build or fast-track project delivery
Benefits
- Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
- Significant equity in a profitable, IPO-bound company
- 401(k) with 4% employer match
- Unlimited PTO
- Parental leave FSA/HSA options
- Commuter benefits
- Team on-sites across all offices
Who We Hire
We don't use "A-player" loosely. Here's what it actually means at Giga:
Antifragile. You don't just survive chaos, you get better because of it. When things break, change, or move sideways, you don't freeze. You adapt faster than the problem evolves.
High Agency. You don't wait to be told what to do. You see the gap, you fill it. If something is blocking progress, you find a way around it, over it, or through it without asking for permission.
Executors. Ideas are cheap. We hire people who ship. You're the person who turns a whiteboard sketch into something real while everyone else is still scheduling the next meeting about it.
Bias to Action. Perfect is the enemy of done. You'd rather make a decision with 80% of the information and course correct than sit around waiting for 100% that never comes.
Speed. We move fast because the opportunity demands it. You're not reckless, but you understand that in this industry, the team that moves fastest wins. And you like winning.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
Giga Energy is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. Giga Energy complies with all applicable labor laws, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and other relevant state and federal regulations. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage applicants who require accommodations during the hiring process to contact us.