Associate Director Mechanical

Job Description

Associate Director – Mechanical Engineering (Data Centres & Mission Critical)

Location: Paris, France

Position Type: Permanent

Salary: Highly Competitive Executive Package + Benefits

Work Arrangement: Flexible Working & Excellent Work-Life Balance

Our client is a leading international engineering consultancy specialising in the design and delivery of data centres and mission-critical facilities across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and beyond. As part of their continued growth strategy, they are seeking an exceptional Associate Director – Mechanical Engineering to help lead and expand their Paris operations.

This is not a traditional management role, the successful candidate will be a highly technical mechanical engineering leader who has progressed through an engineering career pathway and established themselves as a technical authority within the data centre sector.

You will play a pivotal role in developing the Parisian office, strengthening client relationships, and supporting the growth of the wider international business.

The Opportunity

• This position offers the chance to become a key figure within an ambitious and rapidly expanding business, working on some of the most complex and high-profile data centre developments in Europe.
• You will be expected to provide both technical leadership and strategic direction, ensuring engineering excellence across major hyperscale and mission-critical projects while helping to build and develop the Paris team.
• The successful individual will be equally comfortable discussing critical mechanical infrastructure, mechanical resilience strategies, and mission-critical systems with senior engineers as they are presenting solutions directly to key stakeholders and global clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical and operational leadership for major data centre and mission-critical projects.
• Act as the senior mechanical engineering authority within the Paris office.
• Lead the development and growth of the local team while supporting wider international business objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with hyperscale, colocation, and technology sector clients.
• Oversee the delivery of complex mechanical building services designs, ensuring technical excellence throughout the project lifecycle.
• Guide engineering teams on MEP systems, critical cooling infrastructure, HVAC systems, chilled water systems, heat rejection technologies, resilience strategies, and sustainability initiatives. 
• Mentor and support Principal Engineers, Senior Engineers, and developing technical professionals.
• Review and challenge engineering solutions, ensuring the highest standards of quality and innovation.
• Support business development activities, project pursuits, and client engagement initiatives.
• Work closely with regional and global leadership teams to strengthen the company's market presence in Ireland and Europe.

Candidate Requirements

Essential Experience

• Extensive Data Centre and Mission Critical project experience is essential.
• Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering or Building Services Engineering.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status preferred.
• Significant experience delivering complex electrical building services solutions within hyperscale, colocation, or mission-critical environments.