Senior MEP Engineer (Data Centers & Mission-Critical Facilities)
Location: Houston, TX (Hybrid)
Role Type: Full-Time (W-2)
Start Date: ASAP
Company: Guardian Engineering Enterprises, LLC
Company Overview
Guardian Engineering Enterprises is an engineering and project management firm supporting energy, rail, and industrial infrastructure projects. With 30+ years of experience, the team delivers end-to-end services—from design and consulting through execution—focused on quality, safety, and long-term partnerships.
As an MBE, SDVOSB, and SBE-certified firm, Guardian is continuing to expand its presence in mission-critical and data center design.
Role Description
The Senior MEP Engineer will serve as a hands-on technical leader responsible for the integrated design of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems for mission-critical data center facilities.
This role is built for a true designer—someone who remains actively involved in engineering work rather than operating purely in a management capacity.
You will lead MEP system design across projects ranging from edge facilities to hyperscale campuses, supporting Guardian’s growing data center practice and government-facing programs.
Responsibilities
- Lead integrated MEP design for mission-critical data center facilities
- Design and coordinate HVAC systems including air-cooled, water-cooled, adiabatic, and liquid cooling solutions
- Engineer high-density cooling environments (20–100+ kW/rack), including CRAH/CRAC units, chilled water plants, cooling towers, pumping systems, and containment strategies
- Develop plumbing systems including water service, sanitary and storm drainage, chilled and condenser water distribution, and humidity control systems
- Design fire protection systems including pre-action sprinklers, VESDA detection, clean agent suppression, and smoke control systems
- Perform thermal modeling and CFD analysis to optimize airflow and eliminate hot spots
- Complete cooling load calculations, psychrometric analysis, equipment selection, pipe sizing, and ductwork design
- Coordinate with electrical engineers on power capacity, UPS room cooling, generator layouts, and redundancy strategies
- Manage BIM coordination using Revit MEP and Navisworks for routing and clash detection
- Support construction activities including submittal reviews, RFIs, commissioning coordination, and test and balance verification
- Ensure designs align with PUE and WUE targets, sustainability goals, and applicable codes and standards
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical Engineering preferred; ABET-accredited program strongly preferred)
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required or obtained by time of hire
- 5–8+ years of engineering experience
- Strong background in data centers or mission-critical facilities
- Hands-on experience with HVAC, cooling infrastructure, and/or MEP systems
- Ability to independently own and deliver complex engineering designs
Preferred Qualifications
- 7+ years total experience with at least 4 years in data center or critical facilities design
- Experience leading multi-discipline projects
- Strong knowledge of ASHRAE standards, NFPA codes, and Uptime Institute Tier requirements
- Experience designing N+1, N+2, and 2N systems
- Proficiency with AutoCAD, Revit MEP, Trane TRACE, HAP, or similar tools
- Experience on projects exceeding $50M in construction value
- Background working with firms focused on data center infrastructure
Tools & Technologies
- Design and Analysis: AutoCAD, Revit MEP, Navisworks, CFD tools
- Mechanical Systems: HVAC, chilled water plants, cooling towers, liquid cooling
- Codes and Standards: ASHRAE, NFPA, ASME, ASTM, Uptime Institute Tier standards
Compensation & Benefits
- Base Salary: $130,000 – $165,000
- Full-time W-2
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) plan
- Opportunity to grow into leadership as Guardian scales its data center practice
Additional Job Application Terms
This job is part of LinkedIn’s Full-Service Hiring beta program. Eligibility is limited to candidates located in and performing services in the United States, excluding those based in Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, South Carolina, or West Virginia.
We’re committed to making our hiring process as smooth and timely as possible, and we understand that waiting to hear back can add to the anticipation. If you’re a potential fit, our team will reach out within two weeks to progress you to the next stage. If you don’t hear from us in that time, we encourage you to explore other opportunities with our team in the future, and we wish you the very best in your job search.
