Operations Senior Engineer - Mechanical, EMEA

About Yondr

Yondr is a disruptor. We challenge convention and simplify complexity. A global developer, owner operator and service provider of data centers, we deliver complex data center capacity needs for the world’s largest tech companies. Our exponential growth sees us looking for extraordinary people to help accelerate us towards our vision: a tomorrow without constraints. 

But we can’t do this without you.

About the Role 

As the Operations Senior Engineer – Mechanical, EMEA (Subject Matter Expert), you provide mechanical technical authority across our regional data centers. You will define and drive the mechanical operations philosophy and standards, support Regional Technical Managers and site teams as an escalation point during incidents, and provide input to design and commissioning to ensure systems are operable, maintainable, and resilient throughout the asset lifecycle. The role balances safety, availability, cost, and customer/SLA requirements and partners closely with design & construction, facility management, OEMs, and contractors.

Main Responsibilities 

This position will have overall responsibility for all mechanical aspects of our regional data centers including, but not limited to, planned and corrective maintenance, technical documentation, review of proposed operational procedures, initial analysis of in-service failures, associated project work, and overall system health. The Operation Senior Engineer is responsible for the evaluation and rollout of engineering initiatives along with leading small to medium-scale projects. Interacts with internal and external teams, including design and construction management of new facilities and Yondr facility management and operations. This position coordinates with other regional operational engineering roles and is a member of the global operational engineering within Yondr.

• Provide mechanical technical subject matter expertise (SME) across the region, including cooling plant, airside systems, hydronic systems, and associated sequence of operation.
• Develop and drive the overall philosophy and standards for site mechanical SMEs, including guidance for SOPs, MOPs, and EOPs and mechanical portions of technical documentation.
• Serve as the regional mechanical technical authority during incidents, providing remote/on-site escalation support, recommending response and recovery actions, and supporting the site incident commander to restore systems safely and rapidly while managing risk and customer/SLA impacts.
• Provide specific technical input to root cause analyses (RCAs), including failure mode assessment, contributing factors, corrective/preventative actions, and assist with managing third-party experts in RCAs as needed.
• Review non-routine/high-impact maintenance and change activity (including contractor RAMS) to ensure appropriate risk controls, method, temporary configuration, and return-to-service criteria.
• Provide operational input to design, construction, and commissioning for existing and new facilities, ensuring operability, maintainability, and alignment with the mechanical operations strategy.
• Represent Yondr Operations during the commissioning activities ensuring readiness to operate and handover acceptance criteria are met for mechanical areas.
• Oversee post-delivery mechanical and controls-related technical items/changes to ensure no adverse impact to system availability or customer SLAs as tenants implement changes throughout the site lifecycle.
• Lead/enable lifecycle management for mechanical assets, including evaluation of solutions, repair/replacement strategies, and inputs to capital planning.
• Develop, review, and maintain up to date the maintenance philosophy beyond e.g. preventative maintenance strategy (pre and post warranty scope, maintenance intervals), OEM alignment, and spares philosophy/critical spares.
• Assist sites as the technical interface with OEMs and vendors for chronic issues, design defects, firmware issues/updates, sequence changes, etc.
• Review, develop (as needed), and deliver mechanical technical training to reduce reliance on external training providers and build capability within site teams.
• Coordinate with overall operational engineering team and Critical Environment Management (CEM) team to maintain a knowledge base of standard fixes, known failure modes, lessons learned, technical bulletins, and overall data center mechanical knowledge.
• Attending required meetings with key stakeholders to represent Operations in technical discussions.
• Maintain effective administration of projects and core responsibilities, including timely documentation and stakeholder updates, to ensure transparency on the mechanical scope described above.
• Maintain strong Health & Safety awareness in all operational engineering activities.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications and experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable engineering field preferred, experience would be considered in lieu of a Bachelor’s.
• 8 -10 years of relevant experience (with 5+ years of experience working in data centers and/or critical environments preferred).
• Demonstrated skills and experience in the design, maintenance, and operation of critical mechanical systems in critical environments, preferably data centers (e.g., chillers, CRAH/CRAC, cooling towers/dry coolers, pumps/valves, heat exchangers, ventilation systems, and hydronic distribution), including understanding of equipment sequences and commissioning/retro-commissioning.
• Experienced in the delivery of highly complex technical projects.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal skills is essential.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Results oriented, highly accountable, and strong organizational skills.
• Proven self-starter.
• Attention to detail and the ability to understand the big picture.
• Ability to perform through change and transformation while adapting to shifting priorities.

Skills and Experience

• Show good team leadership skills and can lead by example.
• Excellent people management skills, with the confidence to lead and motivate the team and those around you.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Broad experience in managing critical environments, data centres or smart buildings.
• Good problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced regional and global business
• Good, clear and precise delegation skills
• Sensitive to political situations - good relationship builder

Person specification

• Passionate about what you do and committed to excellence – leads and holds people to account
• Detail oriented and diligent.
• Entrepreneurial by nature with a strong sense of ownership.
• Decision maker.
• Results orientated and prepared to take ownership of outcomes
• Support the success of other people and their businesses above your own success
• Role model our values
• Excellent external radar so that they pick up on trends
• Proactive, diligent, able and willing to think ahead
• Ability to understand the wider picture whilst devoting attention to detail

At Yondr, we want to enhance the diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging of our workforce to reflect the world we live in. Our roles are potential opportunities for everyone; all interested parties, regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, or gender, are welcome to apply. We ensure all candidates have equitable access and consideration throughout the hiring process.

Yondr is committed to fostering a welcoming, safe and inclusive work environment. We provide support through our benefits, which are inclusive of all backgrounds.