Position Overview

The Senior Field Mechanical Engineer will serve as the Owner's Representative for the mechanical scope of a large-scale, hyperscale data center construction project. This individual will provide field-based technical leadership throughout design coordination, construction, startup, commissioning, and turnover.

The role requires an experienced mechanical engineer who can assess complex field conditions, communicate effectively with design and construction teams, and ensure installations meet the owner's requirements for quality, reliability, maintainability, and operational readiness. The Senior Field Mechanical Engineer will also mentor junior engineers, helping develop their technical knowledge, field judgment, and ability to manage issues independently.

Key Responsibilities

Field Engineering and Construction Oversight

• Represent the owner on all mechanical engineering and construction matters.
• Provide field oversight of chilled-water systems, HVAC equipment, CRAH/CRAC units, air-handling systems, cooling towers, pumps, piping, controls, and associated infrastructure.
• Verify installations comply with approved drawings, specifications, owner project requirements, submittals, and applicable codes.
• Conduct regular field walks to assess installation quality, constructability, progress, safety concerns, and commissioning readiness.
• Identify design conflicts, installation deficiencies, and operational risks before they affect the project schedule or system performance.
• Review and support the resolution of RFIs, submittals, field change requests, nonconformance reports, and design clarifications.
• Monitor pressure testing, flushing, cleaning, TAB, equipment startup, and functional testing.
• Track mechanical issues through resolution and verify corrective work has been completed properly.
• Support punch-list development, system turnover, and final acceptance.

Design and Technical Coordination

• Serve as the primary field liaison between the owner, design engineers, general contractor, mechanical trade partners, commissioning team, controls vendors, and facility operations personnel.
• Communicate field conditions and technical concerns clearly to design teams and recommend practical solutions.
• Participate in design reviews, constructability reviews, coordination meetings, and technical workshops.
• Evaluate proposed design changes for potential effects on reliability, maintainability, cost, schedule, commissioning, and facility operations.
• Ensure design intent is accurately translated into installed mechanical systems.
• Coordinate mechanical requirements with electrical, structural, architectural, controls, fire-protection, and civil disciplines.
• Escalate critical technical and schedule risks to project leadership with clear recommendations and supporting documentation.
• Align construction decisions with the owner's long-term operational and reliability standards.

Commissioning and Turnover

• Coordinate with commissioning teams to confirm mechanical systems are ready for startup and testing.
• Review pre-functional checklists, test procedures, commissioning scripts, and turnover documentation.
• Support equipment startup, functional performance testing, integrated systems testing, and issue resolution.
• Verify commissioning deficiencies are properly documented, assigned, tracked, and closed.
• Support the turnover of completed systems to facility operations teams.
• Review as-built drawings, operations and maintenance manuals, training records, warranties, and closeout documentation for accuracy and completeness.

Leadership and Mentorship

• Provide technical direction and day-to-day mentorship to junior field engineers.
• Help junior team members develop skills in drawing and specification review, field inspections, issue identification, technical documentation, and stakeholder communication.
• Delegate assignments appropriately while maintaining oversight of quality and completion.
• Review junior engineers' field reports, technical assessments, and recommendations.
• Model professional communication, sound engineering judgment, accountability, and proactive issue resolution.
• Lead technical discussions and build alignment among design, construction, commissioning, and operations stakeholders.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex mechanical issues.

Required Qualifications

• 5-10+ years of field mechanical engineering experience
• Significant experience supporting large-scale data center, or mission-critical construction
• Strong knowledge of chilled-water plants, HVAC systems, CRAH/CRAC units, pumps, piping, cooling towers, ventilation systems, TAB, and building controls.
• Experience reviewing mechanical drawings, specifications, submittals, RFIs, equipment selections, and field changes.
• Experience coordinating with engineers of record, design consultants, general contractors, trade partners, commissioning agents, and facility operations teams.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership.
• Strong understanding of construction sequencing, startup, commissioning, integrated testing, and system turnover.
• Ability to translate complex technical issues into clear recommendations for technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
• Strong written communication, documentation, and issue-management skills.
• Ability to work full-time onsite in an active construction environment.

Driver's License Requirement:

For roles that require on-site presence or travel between work locations as an essential function of the position, candidates must possess and maintain a valid driver's license appropriate for the role and be eligible to operate a motor vehicle in accordance with applicable laws.

Communication Skills:

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a professional work environment, including preparing written reports and documentation, conveying information clearly to team members, clients, and stakeholders, and responding appropriately to verbal and written communications related to job duties.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

This position operates primarily in an active data center construction environment, encompassing both indoor and outdoor work settings. The role requires the physical ability to perform essential job functions safely and effectively in a dynamic environment that includes ongoing construction activity and evolving site conditions.

The work environment includes areas and temporary structures owned, leased, or controlled by third parties over which Overwatch may have limited or no control. Because the project remains under construction, certain areas of the site - including access routes, staging zones, and temporary structures - may not yet be fully ADA-compliant until construction is complete or those third-party areas are finalized.

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to walk, stand, stoop, twist, bend, and climb stairs or ladders for extended periods while navigating uneven, unpaved, or obstructed terrain.

Must be able to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis.

Must be able to drive between job sites and access all areas of an active construction zone, including raised platforms, scaffolding, and confined spaces.

Must be able to tolerate exposure to outdoor weather conditions, dust, and construction-related noise, vibrations, and odors.

Must be able to communicate effectively with contractors, engineers, and site personnel, and maintain situational awareness in high-activity environments.

Personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety vests, hearing protection, and steel-toe boots, is required.

Must have sufficient visual acuity to read drawings, specifications, and safety signage, and to observe site activity.

Work Environment:

Work is performed primarily in and around active construction areas, which may include unfinished buildings, temporary field offices, staging areas, and partially completed infrastructure. These locations may contain uneven surfaces, limited accessibility, and other conditions typical of construction projects prior to final completion. Overwatch does not control and cannot modify accessibility conditions within areas, facilities, or temporary structures owned or managed by third parties.

Reasonable Accommodation:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position, provided such accommodations do not create safety hazards, impede essential mobility within active work zones, or require modification of facilities not owned or controlled by Overwatch.

Benefits:

Overwatch Construction offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan and paid time off.