Director, Mechanical & Plumbing Engineering - Data Centers

Do you want to work with high-caliber professionals in a dynamic and growing company? Are you entrepreneurial, hard-working, and collegial? Join us at SB Energy, a leading infrastructure company backed by SoftBank Group and Ares Infrastructure, pairing cutting-edge innovation with best-in-class execution. Our mission is to deliver reliable and secure data center and power infrastructure to strengthen America's future.

Founded in 2019, SB Energy is a SoftBank Group company headquartered in Redwood City, California. In 2026, SoftBank Group and OpenAI announced a $1 billion investment to support SB Energy as their leading development and execution partner for data center campuses, while Ares Infrastructure continues its long-standing support of the company's growth. SB Energy develops, builds, owns, and operates some of the largest and most technically advanced energy and data center infrastructure projects in the United States. Since its founding, the company has rapidly grown into a top-tier integrated platform with more than 3 gigawatts (GW) in operation and a multi-GW pipeline of energy and data center infrastructure nationwide.

SB Energy also leverages a strong culture of innovation to identify and integrate new technologies into its projects, including its AI-based digital platform, delivering energy infrastructure that is local, reliable, and matched to load. We are building the energy and infrastructure future-today.

Come join us in accelerating the energy and infrastructure transition!

Basic Function

SB Energy is looking for a Director, Mechanical Engineering to be part of the Data Center team.   

In this role, you will lead the design development of mechanical and plumbing systems for large-scale, mission-critical data center campuses. You will play a key role in establishing and evolving engineering standards, specifications, and design frameworks that enable scalable, efficient, and cost-effective procurement and delivery across a growing portfolio. 

You will also lead and mentor a team of engineers, providing technical guidance, driving consistency in engineering practices, and supporting the development of high-performing talent across the organization. 

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of mechanical and plumbing engineering standards, specifications, and design guidelines across data center projects  

• Drive innovation and standardization efforts by evaluating new technologies, materials, and vendor solutions to improve performance, reduce cost, and enhance scalability  

• Oversee technical review and approval of equipment submittals, ensuring alignment with company standards and coordination across disciplines  

• Partner with regional design and execution teams to capture lessons learned, evaluate deviations from Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR), and incorporate improvements into future designs  

• Develop and standardize mechanical and plumbing system sequences of operations (SOOs) in coordination with controls and automation teams  

• Lead value engineering efforts, providing recommendations that balance cost, constructability, reliability, and long-term operational performance  

• Create and implement tools, templates, and processes that improve engineering consistency, efficiency, and quality across projects  

• Establish and standardize commissioning requirements and documentation to support successful system startup and turnover  

• Collaborate closely with Operations teams to ensure designs support maintainability, reliability, and lifecycle performance  

• Support company sustainability goals by optimizing mechanical and plumbing system designs for efficiency and resource use  

• Provide technical oversight and guidance on system layouts, infrastructure planning, and integration within complex data center environments  

• Mentor and guide engineers, promoting best practices, technical consistency, and professional development across the team  

• Support cross-functional coordination with architecture, electrical, procurement, construction, and operations stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle  

• Perform additional duties as required to support project and organizational objectives 

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (or related field) from an accredited institution. PE license preferred

• 8-12+ years of experience in mechanical engineering design and delivery for data centers, mission-critical, or large-scale industrial/commercial projects  

• Demonstrated expertise in mechanical and plumbing systems, including piping, water distribution, drainage, and supporting infrastructure within complex facilities  

• Proven ability to lead technical efforts, develop engineering standards, and mentor or guide engineering teams  

• Experience working across North American and/or European construction environments  

• Strong understanding of building codes, standards, and regulatory requirements  

• Proficiency with engineering and design tools (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit/BIM); ability to review and interpret construction documents and models  

• Experience coordinating with cross-functional stakeholders, including design consultants, contractors, procurement, and operations teams  

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to influence decisions in a fast-paced environment 

Location: Redwood City, CA or Denver, CO or San Diego, CA or Remote

Base Pay - $190,000-$230,000

The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailor each offer based on your unique skills, experience, location, and market benchmarks-while ensuring internal parity across our teams. In addition to competitive base pay, total compensation may include a discretionary annual bonus and a market leading comprehensive health and wellness benefits package. Final details will be discussed during the later stages of the hiring process.

Our Health & Wellness Benefits

At SB Energy, we invest in our people and their families with benefits designed for flexibility, support, and peace of mind. Full-time employees enjoy:

• 100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision (for employees and dependents)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking (with company contributions)
• Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support (with company contributions)
• Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup Benefits
• Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data
• Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans
• Device Purchase Support

At SB Energy, the success of our projects is driven by a desire to see our projects benefit as many people as possible. We work to serve local communities through volunteering, fundraising, and much more. For example, we’re proud to support access and opportunity in engineering and clean energy through impactful mentorship programs and workforce training. When you join SB Energy, you can become a part of these efforts, collaborating with team members who share a vision of building a better future now! 

SB Energy is built on a foundation of collaboration and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.

To learn more about us, visit www.sbenergy.com.