Principal Structural Engineer – Data Center Infrastructure

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Texas.

📋 Description

• Assess structural alternatives concerning technical risk, cost-effectiveness, scheduling, durability, constructability, and alignment with delivery goals.

• Direct gravity, wind, seismic, and vibration assessments for modules, frames, racks, and supporting structures.

• Evaluate and propose structural solutions for Modular Data Centers (MDCs), equipment skids, enclosures, and factory-constructed assemblies.

• Verify structural solutions for High Availability Computing (HAC) systems across overhead, rack-integrated, and floor-supported setups.

• Formulate seismic bracing and restraint strategies for MEP systems, cable trays, pipe racks, and modular assemblies.

• Design foundations, steel frameworks, and anchorage for chillers, generators, UPS systems, pumps, heat exchangers, and fluid distribution apparatus.

• Establish structural approaches for thermal loads, equipment sensitive to vibrations, and assemblies managed for deflection.

• Create and sustain DFMEA documentation while addressing structural risks across various product ranges.

• Enhance recurring product lines concerning weight, manufacturability, cost, and scalability of platforms.

• Assist in structural design and coordination for manufacturing and production sites, focusing on floor loading, equipment pads, crane rails, mezzanines, dock infrastructure, and material handling systems.

• Analyze structural consequences of factory layout modifications, equipment installations, and capacity expansions.

• Collaborate with facility planning and operations teams to determine structural needs for production areas.

• Aid in factory layout and integration, addressing load paths, transportation loads, and installation limitations.

• Develop DFMA design templates and modularization strategies to ensure repeatability.

• Specify and confirm requirements for transportation, lifting, placing, shipping, and logistics.

• Work alongside BIM/Revit teams to create integrated, clash-free, up-to-date structural models.

• Engage in multidisciplinary coordination reviews, addressing clearances, anchorage zones, and maintenance envelopes.

• Examine coordination drawings and uphold model quality and Level of Development (LOD) standards according to the BIM Execution Plan.

• Partner with fabrication shops and factory teams to verify that designs are feasible, manufacturable, and ready for installation.

• Review shop drawings, fabrication specifics, welds, connections, and material specifications.

• Confirm lifting, rigging, transportation, and shipping load cases, including temporary bracing.

• Support factory constructions, Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), and field installations; address Requests for Information (RFIs), Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), and production discrepancies.

• Generate and assess calculations, drawings, specifications, and stamped engineering documentation.

• Coordinate with external engineering partners and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) approvals.

• Ensure adherence to codes, seismic standards, customer specifications, and certification pathways.

• Contribute to design standards, platform templates, best practices, and documentation of lessons learned.

• Mentor junior engineers, facilitate design reviews, and act as a technical escalation resource.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Structural Engineering or Civil Engineering (with a focus on structural emphasis) is required.

• Over 8 years of advancing structural engineering experience, particularly in leading complex structural systems within high-availability industrial or mission-critical facilities.

• A valid Professional Engineer (PE) license is mandatory.

• Demonstrated experience in producing stamped engineering packages, reviewing vendor calculations, and managing coordination with AHJ.

• Prior experience with modular construction, prefabricated data center infrastructure, or factory-built assemblies is highly preferred.

• Knowledge of hyperscale or colocation data center initiatives and platform-based delivery models is a significant advantage.

• Proficient in structural analysis software such as SAP2000, ETABS, STAAD, RISA, RAM, or equivalent.

• Familiarity with IBC, ASCE 7, AISC, ACI, and relevant seismic and non-structural anchorage standards.

• Capability to produce and interpret stamped engineering calculations, shop drawings, and fabrication details across steel, concrete, and connection design.

• Knowledge of fatigue, vibration, and dynamic loading analysis in settings with rotating or sensitive equipment.

• Experience with CAD, PDM, and PLM software such as SolidWorks, Revit, Windchill, Teamcenter, or equivalent.

• Familiarity with BIM coordination processes, clash detection software like Navisworks, and LOD standards is beneficial.

• Practical insight into data center infrastructure, including MDCs, HAC systems, chillers, generators, UPS, PDUs, SFN/cooling piping, and associated structural requirements.

• Understanding of ASHRAE, SMACNA, and seismic bracing standards for MEP systems in mission-critical environments.

• Knowledge of modular and prefabricated construction methods, factory build sequences, and OTR shipping limitations.

• Awareness of international codes and standards for global deployment programs is a plus.

• Ability to clearly present and defend technical positions to engineering, manufacturing, and customer stakeholders.

• Competent in leading design reviews, navigating cross-discipline conflict resolution, and making sound engineering decisions under tight schedules.

• Experience mentoring junior engineers and contributing to team-wide standards and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 30%.

• A Master's degree is preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• Performance-based short-term incentives.

• Comprehensive medical insurance.

• Dental insurance coverage.

• Vision insurance benefits.

• Paid time off accrued at a rate of 3.07 hours per pay period during the initial year of employment.

• Four weeks of paid parental leave.

• Eleven company-paid holidays in 2027 (comprising nine fixed holidays and two optional floating holidays), subject to annual changes.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan.

• Employee stock purchase opportunity.

• Up to 30% domestic and/or international travel (rare).