E- Work from
- United States
- Contract
- Full-time
- Experience
- Lead
- Salary
- $136K – $245K / year
- Posted
- 8 November 2026
- Apply by
- 8 December 2026
The Design Principal is responsible for design decisions related to a portfolio of datacenter projects which can include: new construction, phased expansion, retrofits and upgrades, acquisition conversions, M&E equipment selections, and standards upgrades in either a specific region or globally. They are an exceptional industry professional progressing towards becoming a recognised expert on datacenter design.
Who are we?
A place where bold ideas are welcomed, human connection is valued, and everyone has the opportunity to shape their future.A career at Equinix means being at the center of shaping what comes next and amplifying customer value through innovation and impact. You’ll work across teams, influence key decisions, and help shape the path forward. You’ll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work.
About the role
The Design Principal critically assesses design decisions with consultation with more senior staff across disciplines and applies required Equinix standards and country specific regulations to make the best design choices. They manage the relationship and output of key design partners and equipment suppliers for their assigned projects and critically assess and escalate issues where the relationship with such partners is not meeting expectations.
Responsibilities
The Design Principal, Engineering Development (Mechanical), reporting to the Director, Global Engineering Development, has responsibility for:
- Global mechanical engineering direction of Equinix design through continued development of Equinix’s Reference Designs
- Evaluation of new products and engineering approaches, supporting the Innovation incubation process, for incorporation into the Reference Design on reaching maturity
- Supports Regional Design teams with project implementation of Reference Design
- Provides subject matter expert direction to the Major Capital Equipment (MCE) team dealing with portfolio-wide procurement of mechanical equipment
- Engages with key customers to ascertain their continuously evolving design requirements and directs Reference Design configurations to meet those customer design requirements
Design Process
- Owns and leads a design process, interacting with Architectural, MEP, and other design partners to deliver a portfolio of world class datacenters with a strong focus on technical excellence, mission critical resilience and cost management
- Reviews and contributes to the development of globally standardized tools, techniques and processes for the management and reporting of the design process
- Works with peers in other regions to drive consistency and technical excellence on design and delivery practices and methodologies
- Thinks and acts in a global manner, considering the applicability of any design decision, innovations or standards changes for all regions
- Conducts the master planning of expansion portfolio using global design standards and templates; incorporating regional information to apply these to the inception of projects
- Generates project visualization, initial model using reference design templates and cost estimate for business case inception
- Liaises with regional team to incorporate local infrastructure into the design
- Liaises with commercial management team regionally and globally to assist business case generation
- Liaises with regional team to procure local variations on equipment where Reference Design equipment selections are not available
- Prepares regional-specific and customer-specific configurations of the Reference Design, reacting to local market conditions and customer requirements
Cross-Functional Co-ordination
- Maintains interpersonal relationships with internal technical staff, external design consulting partners, construction management, commercial management, and regional P&L holders to ensure appropriate stakeholder exposure and buy in to Data Center projects
- Appropriately leverages the center of excellence teams and more senior Design staff to augment their individual technical expertise to ensure all facets of the datacenter design are adequately considered and approved
- Manages internal and external resources via their influence and outstanding competencies
- Partners with Global Operations, Global Design Standards, and other internal Equinix teams to achieve alignment on design details to support the creation of multi-discipline Reference packages
- Partners with Procurement teams in the evaluation and selection of mechanical equipment and provides lifecycle support of selected equipment to Global Operations, applying lifecycle feedback to selection process
- Supports xScale and Global Account Management in conversations with key customers on design requirements and keeping customers updated on Equinix’s design roadmap
Project Management
- Indirectly manages experienced electrical and mechanical engineering staff in the Independent Technical Review to deliver a portfolio of world-class datacenter designs on time and to budget
- Directly responsible for managing the design schedule for assigned projects to ensure on time creation and review of BODs, REIC Submissions, and design documentation for IFP and IFC sets
- Manages, with the aid of the commercial management team, design budgets and controls change management requests during the construction phase, in consultation with the Construction Manager
- Works hand-in-hand with the regional design teams and Construction Managers to deliver Concept Designs and Standards that support the delivery of world class datacenters
- Manages, with the aid of the commercial management team, the costs of the designs to ensure appropriate balancing of cost flexibility and global standardization
- Tests the cost impact of design concepts with the Commercial Management team and keeps a logical record of pricing-tested design concepts that have been discounted
- Manages Reference Design external consultant team, providing direction on mechanical engineering
- Manages and documents customer technical requirements, solutioning customer-specific accommodations within Reference Designs
Design Oversight
- Stays up-to-date on advancements in design being investigated by the centers of excellence teams to ensure technologies support future Data Center design and construction needs and feeds back information to construction for incorporation of changes
- Ensures designs meet Equinix’s Global Design Standards and the business needs for capacity, density, and function
- Utilizes design review findings and best practices to inform Reference Design development
- Feeds back to GDSTR team requested changes to Global Design Standards arising out of projects
- Brings a systemic and scale-focused approach to tools and process for early stage design, identifying shortfalls or opportunities to scale and conceptually ideates tools and process development solutions
- Owns the Mechanical discipline of the Reference Design and assists regional teams in the selection and implementation of configurations or variations
- Owns the repository of Reference Design mechanical equipment technical submittals and the feedback loop from projects and vendors for necessary updates
Requirements
- 7+ years’ experience in a Design MEP Firm or in the design team of a Mission Critical Building operator or Subcontractor OR 7+ years’ experience as an Architectural lead in a Mission Critical Architectural Design Practice
- Pan-global experience of local mechanical design/construction practice is highly desirable. The ideal candidate has experience and electrical code/regulation/law familiarity in AMER, EMEA and APAC regions.
- Advanced Degree (Masters) in Mechanical Engineering is preferred, Bachelor's Degree acceptable or extensive and demonstrable experience in role
- PE, CEng or local equivalent, for Engineering route candidates desirable but not essential
- Spoken and written English proficiency is essential, additional languages are strongly desirable
- Experience of design requirements of major customers is highly desirable
The targeted pay range for this position in the following location is / locations are:
United States - Other posted locations not specifically listed : 136,000 - 204,000 USD / Annual
United States - CA Non-Bay Area, AK, CT, DC, IL, MD, MA, NJ, NY, VA, WA : 150,000 - 224,000 USD / Annual
United States - CA Bay Area : 163,000 - 245,000 USD / Annual
Our pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire pay for the full-time position determined by role, level, and location.The pay range shown is based on our compensation structure in place at the time of posting and may be updated periodically based on business needs. Individual pay is based on additional factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and/or training.
The targeted pay range listed reflects the base pay only and does not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Employees are eligible for bonus, and equity may be offered depending on the position.
Equinix Benefits
- As an employee, you become important to Equinix’s success.
- We ensure all your benefits are in line with our core values: competitive, inclusive, sustainable, connected and efficient.
- We keep them competitive within the current marketplace to ensure we’re providing you with the best package possible.
- So, wherever you are in your career and life, you’ll be able to enhance your experience and bring your whole self to work.
Employee Assistance Program: An Employee Assistance program is available to all employees.
US
Benefits
- - Insurance: You may enroll in health, life, disability and voluntary plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members. - Retirement: You and Equinix may contribute to a retirement plan to help you plan for your financial future. - Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays: You will receive an accrued amount of PTO each pay period along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge.
- Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits.
- Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific plan or program terms.
Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability. If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.
Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy / childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political / organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law.
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This posting is a new position within our organization.
About Equinix
Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company®, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet.
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