Commissioning Manager (Owner's Representative) - Data Center Construction

KALCON•Shippingport, PA

About The Position

The Commissioning Manager serves as the Owner’s Representative responsible for leading and overseeing the commissioning lifecycle of mission-critical data center projects from construction through turnover. This role coordinates commissioning activities across contractors, commissioning agents, design teams, vendors, and owner stakeholders to ensure all MEP and controls systems are installed, tested, and commissioned in accordance with project requirements and operational objectives. The Commissioning Manager drives startup planning, testing execution, issue resolution, and turnover readiness while maintaining alignment with project schedules, commissioning standards, and quality expectations to support successful facility handover and long-term reliability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in construction management or engineering, or applicable trade/superintendent experience.
7–10+ years of construction or commissioning experience, with at least 5 years in a data center
Proven experience in commissioning mission-critical facilities (data centers, semiconductor, labs, etc.)
In-depth understanding of MEP systems, controls integration, and commissioning standards (ASHRAE, NEBB, etc.)
Strong written and oral communication skills to coordinate with stakeholders at all levels
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint
Familiarity with commissioning software tools such as CxAlloy, Bluebeam, and Procore

Responsibilities

Serve as the owner’s representative overseeing the full commissioning lifecycle of large-scale, mission-critical data center projects
Lead coordination with all commissioning stakeholders, including General Contractor, commissioning agents, MEP subcontractors, design teams, and Owner personnel
Develop and maintain the project’s Commissioning Plan and Commissioning Schedule, ensuring alignment with construction and turnover milestones
Collaborate with technical and subject matter experts to draft and review commissioning process documentation in compliance with company and project standards
Interpret and review multi-disciplinary construction drawings and specifications to anticipate and mitigate commissioning-related issues
Work with GC and subcontractors to verify that systems are installed and tested in accordance with Owner Specifications, state and local codes (UMC, UBC, UPC, NFPA), SMACNA, ASME, and relevant international standards
Support the development of detailed start-up sequences and ensure alignment with project schedule; create workarounds and recovery plans where required
Maintain and administer the commissioning software platform (e.g., CxAlloy), tracking issues, checklists, test results, and closeout documentation
Schedule and manage the sequencing of equipment and system start-up activities
Monitor and track commissioning-related RFIs, submittals, deficiency items, and action items across all active systems
Perform and document routine site walks (minimum twice daily) to confirm field readiness for commissioning activities, and to verify completion of corrective actions
Interface with General Contractor Cx Managers, engineers, system owners, and vendor technicians to ensure readiness and alignment on testing protocols and responsibilities
Lead and participate in Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs), Site Acceptance Tests (SATs), and Integrated Systems Testing (IST)
Manage and report on commissioning Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to internal and external stakeholders, including senior project management
Act as the primary liaison for commissioning activities in Owner-Architect-Contractor (OAC) meetings
Verify that all commissioning documentation meets turnover requirements and contributes to a clean and timely handover
Participate in SOP creation and compliance reviews, including audits of SIPPs and Pre-Task Plans
Resolve technical questions from the field, provide RFI responses, and coordinate with design teams for clarification as needed