MEP Lead - Data Centres

MEP Lead – Data Centre (Client Side)

Location: Portugal Data Centre Project

Rate/Salary: Competitive – DOE

Right to Work: Right to work in EU preferred; all visa/sponsorship statuses considered for the right candidate

The Role

Our Client is a provider of project delivery and construction management services to the data centre sector. Working alongside hyperscale, AI, neocloud & colo developers to deliver mission-critical facilities on time, safely, and to the highest technical standard.

Our clients' people typically epitomise strong technical expertise combined with composure under pressure, sound judgement, and an unwavering commitment to programme and quality.

We're looking for candidates who understand the pace and precision the data centre environment demands, and who want to work on projects of genuine scale and complexity.

This is a client-side role, sitting within the Owner's project team and overseeing the main contractor and M&E subcontractors on the client's behalf — from mobilisation through to energisation and handover.

You'll be the client's eyes and ears on the ground for the M&E scope: holding the delivery chain to account on design intent, programme, and quality, and ensuring the facility is handed over exactly as specified.

Key Responsibilities

● Own the M&E scope on behalf of the client, overseeing HVAC, chilled water, HV/LV distribution, generators, switchgear, and UPS systems delivered by the main contractor and M&E subcontractors

● Act as the client's primary technical authority, reviewing and approving submittals, RFIs, and method statements against the employer's requirements and design intent

● Monitor and audit main contractor/subcontractor performance against programme, specification, and Portuguese/EU standards

● Coordinate with controls, BMS, and CSA packages to ensure interface risk is identified and closed out early

● Chair/attend technical and progress meetings, reporting directly to the client's senior project stakeholders

● Ensure works are independently assured against site HSE plans and client governance standards

● Lead the client-side M&E input into commissioning and energisation planning, working alongside the commissioning management team

● Own client-side quality assurance, snagging, and closeout sign-off through to practical completion and handover

Requirements

● Proven experience as an M&E Lead, M&E Manager, or Senior M&E Engineer — client-side experience on data centre or mission-critical projects strongly preferred

● Strong technical background across mechanical and electrical installation disciplines

● Experience holding main contractors and M&E subcontractors to account on large-scale construction sites

● Familiarity with industry-standard M&E codes and construction standards (or strong equivalent international experience)

● Excellent technical, programme, and stakeholder communication skills

● Relevant engineering qualification (Mechanical/Electrical degree, HNC/HND, or equivalent)

● Mon–Fri or relocation

What's on Offer

● Direct, client-side role on a major hyperscale data centre programme

● Long-term project with potential for extension

● All visa statuses considered for the right candidate — support and guidance provided where possibl