Principal Mechanical Engineer

At Black & White Engineering, we specialise in delivering mission-critical infrastructure that supports the digital economy. We are seeking a highly capable Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical engineering delivery of complex, high-value projects and contribute to the continued growth of Black & White Engineering in Singapore and across the APAC region.

As the senior technical authority for mechanical engineering, you will lead the design and delivery of technically demanding projects, particularly within mission-critical environments such as hyperscale and colocation data centres. You will set technical direction, sign off design outputs, lead client relationships at senior level, and play a key role in growing and developing the mechanical team and the wider regional business.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Engineering Leadership & Project Delivery

• Lead mechanical (MEP) design across all project stages, from concept and feasibility through to construction, testing & commissioning and handover
• Act as Mechanical Discipline Lead on major projects, setting the design strategy and taking ownership of mechanical outputs
• Lead the design of critical cooling, ventilation, fire protection and plumbing systems, including chilled water, air-cooled, evaporative and liquid / direct-to-chip cooling solutions
• Drive integrated multi-disciplinary coordination with electrical, structural, architectural and controls teams
• Lead and coordinate authority submissions and approvals with SCDF, BCA, PUB and NEA as required

Technical Authority & Excellence

• Act as the senior technical authority for mechanical engineering, providing expert guidance across project teams
• Ensure designs comply with industry best practice and Singapore codes, standards and regulatory requirements
• Apply relevant international and local mission-critical design standards
• Lead technical design reviews, and verify and sign off design work produced by the team
• Champion innovation, energy efficiency and sustainable design (e.g. PUE / WUE optimisation, heat recovery, low-GWP refrigerants)
• Contribute to the development of B&W technical standards, design guides and quality processes

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Lead client engagement at senior level, building trusted long-term relationships with key clients
• Lead client workshops, design presentations and technical discussions
• Manage relationships with contractors, consultants, authorities and other stakeholders to ensure successful project outcomes
• Represent Black & White Engineering at industry events and in the wider market

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor and develop senior, intermediate and junior engineers, supporting their technical and professional growth (including professional registration)
• Plan and allocate mechanical resources across projects, balancing workload, quality and deadlines
• Support recruitment and onboarding of mechanical engineering talent
• Promote knowledge sharing, technical training and continuous improvement within the team

Commercial & Business Development

• Take responsibility for mechanical scope, programme and fee management on assigned projects
• Lead technical input to fee proposals, bids and tender submissions, including scope definition and resource estimates
• Identify opportunities for repeat business and new work with existing and prospective clients
• Manage commercial risk, change control and efficient delivery against agreed budgets

ADDITIONAL ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drive business growth initiatives for Black & White Engineering in Singapore and across the APAC region
• Work across projects in other APAC locations as required, contributing to a growing regional team with international exposure
• Support the Associate Director / Director with strategic planning for the mechanical discipline
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required, commensurate with the grade of the role

ADDITIONAL ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES (QHSE)

All roles include responsibility for health and safety in line with the requirements set out in the Employee Handbook.

• Awareness of H&S policies and procedures and impact on yourself and team
• Ensure all staff members complete mandatory compliance training when required
• Report any accidents, incidents, near misses appropriately

ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES (Resources)

• Accountable for the technical quality, accuracy, compliance and sign-off of mechanical design outputs across assigned projects
• Accountable for the performance, development and resource allocation of the mechanical engineers on assigned projects
• Responsible for mechanical scope, programme and fee delivery on assigned projects, in support of project directors and managers
• Senior technical point of contact for clients, authorities and stakeholders on mechanical matters
• Responsible for managing technical and commercial risk within the mechanical scope

REQUIREMENTS

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BEng/BSc or equivalent) recognised by the Professional Engineers Board Singapore (PEB)
• Registered Professional Engineer (Mechanical) with PEB holding a valid Practising Certificate, able to act as Qualified Person (QP) for M&E submissions, preferred; Chartered Engineer (CEng) via IES, IMechE or CIBSE (or equivalent) will also be considered
• Proficiency in design and analysis tools such as Revit, IES VE, CFD modelling or similar platforms
• Typically 10+ years of experience in mechanical (MEP) design consultancy, including significant experience in a lead or principal role
• Proven track record leading the mechanical design of large, complex projects, ideally hyperscale / colocation data centres or other mission-critical facilities
• Strong experience in critical cooling system design, resilience and redundancy strategies (N+1, 2N)
• Experience leading client relationships and multi-disciplinary coordination at senior level
• Experience leading, mentoring and developing engineering teams, and managing project fees and resources