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Critical Cooling.

Critical cooling recruitment

Deep in the market.
Not dipping into it.

Perigon Search is a specialist critical cooling recruitment agency working across the UK and EMEA. Chillers, close control, CRAC and CRAH units, the controls that tie them together and, more and more, CDUs and direct-to-chip liquid cooling. We recruit the engineers, managers and commercial staff who sell, commission and service it, for manufacturers, service companies, contractors and data centre operators.

Chiller engineers who can work in a live data hall are a short list. Fault-finding a Turbocor compressor on a free-cooling chiller while the servers stay up, and the client never knows, isn't something you learn on comfort kit. The people who can do it are usually happy where they are. Same goes for the applications engineer who can size a CDU loop. Moving them takes a reason, a proper package and someone they'll take the call from. That's the part we do. Permanent roles, technician to director.

Working with Perigon

We know the market.
Tell us what you need.

I'm looking to hireI'm looking for a role
For clients

Ready to discuss a Critical Cooling hire?

From field engineers to directors, it starts with a short call. Whether you've got a brief or you're still shaping the role, you'll get an honest view of the market and a realistic timeline.

Operators
Data Centre and Critical Facilities
Engineering, operations and site leadership hires.
Contractors
FM and M&E Contractors
Field service, project, commercial and management hires.
OEMs
Manufacturers and Vendors
Service, sales and leadership hires for chiller, close control and liquid cooling makers.
75%
Repeat business
85+
Clients
45k+
Candidates in our network
"We gave them the brief. Never heard back."
You'll hear from us quickly, with a straight read on who's out there, what they'll cost and how long it'll take.
"The CVs didn't come close to fitting."
Every candidate we send has been spoken to about your role. You'll know why they're on the shortlist before you open the CV.
"The people we actually want aren't responding."
Most of the people we place weren't looking. They take our call because they know us.
"The candidate accepted, then got counter-offered."
We prepare candidates for the counter-offer before it comes, and stay close right through to their start date.
For candidates

Working in Critical Cooling and open to a conversation?

You don't need to be looking. Most of the people we place weren't. One call to find out what's out there. No pressure either way.

Off-market roles
A lot of what we work on never gets advertised. You hear about it before it reaches a job board.
Confidential by default
Your details don't go to a client until you've agreed to that role.
Straight salary advice
What clients are paying, what your experience is worth and where the market's heading. Useful whether you move or not.
Who's hiring through us
Hyperscale and Colocation
Data centre operators building the teams that keep cooling running on live sites, in the UK and EMEA.
Critical Facilities
Hospitals, labs, telecoms and process sites hiring the people who keep them at temperature.
FM and M&E Contractors
Contractors hiring for maintenance, projects, commissioning and contract management.
Cooling Manufacturers
Service, applications, sales and management roles with the companies that build chillers, close control and CRAC and CRAH units.
Specialist Service Companies
Chiller and critical cooling service businesses building engineering, project and management teams.
UKIrelandNetherlandsGermanySpainScandinavia+ more
UK and EMEA coverage
Browse critical cooling jobs
FAQ

Critical cooling recruitment questions.

Do you work with candidates who aren't actively looking?
Yes. Most of the people we place weren't looking when we first spoke. Register with us and we'll call when something fits. No pressure, no spam.
What is critical cooling?
Critical cooling is the equipment that keeps a site at a set temperature and humidity around the clock, where a failure would take systems down. That's chillers, close control air conditioning, CRAC (computer room air conditioning) and CRAH (computer room air handler) units, DX and free cooling systems, heat rejection plant and, more and more, liquid cooling for high-density racks. Unlike comfort air conditioning, it runs 24/7 with backup built in. You'll find it in data centres, hospitals, labs, telecoms sites and process plants, which is why it's also called data centre cooling or mission-critical cooling.
What does a chiller engineer do?
A chiller engineer services, maintains, repairs and commissions chillers, the refrigeration plant that makes chilled water to cool a building or process. Pay, qualifications and where the role leads are on our chiller engineer jobs page.
Do I need F-Gas to work in critical cooling?
For most hands-on roles, yes. In the UK anyone who installs, services or repairs equipment containing F-gas refrigerants needs an F-Gas certificate, and for chillers and larger systems that's Category 1. Clients usually look for an NVQ or equivalent in refrigeration and air conditioning too, and manufacturer training on specific kit helps. Controls, management and sales roles often don't need it.
What's the difference between a CRAC and a CRAH unit?
A CRAC (computer room air conditioning) unit has its own refrigeration circuit and compressor, like a large DX air conditioner. A CRAH (computer room air handler) has no compressor. It uses chilled water from a chiller plant and a fan to move air over a coil. CRAC work needs refrigeration skills and F-Gas; CRAH work leans more on water systems, fans and controls.
What levels do you recruit at?
From field service and technician level through to service management, operations leadership and director appointments.
What's the difference between working for a manufacturer and an operator?
At a manufacturer, engineers are usually field based, servicing and commissioning the company's own chillers or close control units across lots of sites, and that's where most sales, applications and key account roles sit too. At an operator you're site based, running whatever cooling plant is installed, often on shifts, with a route into facilities and operations management. Specialist service companies and contractors sit in between, working across lots of makes. Pay, hours and progression all differ, and we'll talk you through it.
How quickly can you get us candidates?
It depends on the role, and we'll tell you on the first call how long we think yours will take. If it's niche or senior, we'll say so up front rather than pad a shortlist to hit a date.
Do you work contingency, exclusive or retained?
All three. For senior or business-critical hires we'd recommend exclusive or retained. We'll tell you straight what gives you the best chance of filling the role.
Do you cover roles outside the UK?
Yes. We recruit across the UK and EMEA, including Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Scandinavia. Data centre growth in mainland Europe, and the move to liquid cooling, means there's more international work for people open to it.