Data Center Mechanical & Cooling Engineer (Contract, Remote)

We are looking to expand our team of expert consultants with 10 data center mechanical and cooling engineers for part-time, fully-remote work supporting frontier AI research. Projects pay $90–130 USD per hour, with higher rates for experts with tenure at well recognized hyperscalers, colocation providers, or AEC firms.This role includes designing original data center cooling and water systems problems from scratch, stress-testing leading AI models on those problems, and evaluating whether the models' assumptions, calculations, system design choices, and cited codes and standards are correct, complete, and consistent with how the work is actually done.Visit our website to learn more: https://alignedhq.ai/for-expertsSign up to get started: https://app.alignedhq.ai/signupAbout AlignedAt Aligned, we partner with the world's leading AI labs to push the frontier of AI knowledge in advanced fields like science, engineering, and manufacturing. Our platform matches subject-matter experts (like you) with paid consulting work on frontier projects at these labs.Who We're Looking ForMechanical engineers designing data center HVAC and cooling systems (chilled water, air-cooled, economization)Engineers experienced with liquid cooling (direct-to-chip, rear-door heat exchangers, immersion) and CDU designWater and plant engineers (cooling towers, water treatment, WUE, makeup and reuse)Engineers experienced with airflow modeling, containment, and rack- and room-level thermal managementCommissioning engineers or facility mechanical engineers at operating data centersMechanical engineers at AEC firms delivering data center projects from concept through constructionMinimum QualificationsFluent English reading and writing skillsBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent engineering degree or experience); PE license a plus5+ years of hands-on data center or mission-critical mechanical design or operations experience, with current active involvement in the workTrack record of delivered projects, drawings, calculations, or commissioning reports you can speak to in detailNot a fit for this role: ML engineers, applied scientists, or data engineers whose primary work is building models or pipelines rather than product analysis.