Design Manager – Mechanical
Shape the cooling architecture for a new generation of high-density and AI-ready data centres.
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, with regular travel to Dalby
Reports to: Technical Director
About Zerra DC
Zerra DC develops and operates hyperscale data centre campuses across Australia, Japan and India, delivering capacity at scale into markets being reshaped by the growth of cloud and AI.
Zerra DC is part of AGP Sustainable Real Assets, a global infrastructure and real assets business with more than 800 professionals across 15 offices.
Western Downs Digital Park
Western Downs Digital Park is a major new hyperscale data centre campus at Kogan in Queensland. Planned across multiple delivery phases, it brings together AI-ready data centres, energy infrastructure and a purpose-built campus environment. This is an opportunity to help shape the technical foundations of a critical new digital infrastructure asset from the ground up.
The role
The Design Manager – Mechanical will lead mechanical design management and quality assurance for Western Downs Digital Park. You will act as the mechanical subject matter expert, translating performance and operational requirements into coordinated, compliant and buildable solutions.
The role has a particular focus on cooling architecture for AI-ready and high-density environments. You will assess established and emerging technologies, guide consultants and suppliers, and carry mechanical design decisions through constructability, commissioning, integrated systems testing and handover.
What you will lead
- Mechanical design management and QA/QC assurance across the WDDP programme.
- Cooling architecture, heat-rejection strategy and mechanical plant configuration for high-density environments.
- Assessment of direct liquid cooling, hybrid systems, high-density air solutions and other emerging technologies.
- Coordination with electrical, controls, high-voltage, energy storage, architectural, structural, fire and life-safety disciplines.
- Mechanical input into design reviews, project gates, constructability, commissioning and operational handover.
- Design and equipment improvements that enhance resilience, PUE/WUE performance and whole-of-life value.
What you will bring
You will be an experienced mechanical engineer or design manager with strong data-centre or mission-critical design capability. You will be comfortable evaluating complex cooling options and turning technical analysis into practical decisions for a major development programme.
- At least 10 years of mechanical design or design-management experience, including significant exposure to data centres or comparable critical infrastructure.
- Expertise across chilled-water systems, CRAC/CRAH, heat rejection, evaporative cooling and high-density cooling solutions.
- Knowledge of direct liquid cooling and rear-door heat exchangers; hands-on liquid-cooling deployment is highly regarded.
- Familiarity with Revit MEP, AutoCAD MEP, CFD or hydraulic modelling and standards including ASHRAE TC 9.9.
- Commercial understanding of capacity planning, equipment and vendor capability, PUE/WUE and total cost of ownership.
- A Mechanical Engineering qualification; chartership and professional registration are preferred.
The opportunity
This role offers the chance to influence the mechanical strategy for an AI-ready campus where cooling performance is central to capacity, efficiency and customer outcomes. You will help establish solutions that can be carried consistently through future WDDP phases.
Apply
North Search is Zerra DC's recruitment partner for the Western Downs Digital Park. Apply via LinkedIn or contact christine@north-search.com for a confidential discussion.
