Commissioning Senior Manager - Substation

Fleet Data Centers

5d

About The Position

Substation Commissioning Senior Manager leads the end-to-end commissioning lifecycle for all mechanical and electrical systems associated with site substation(s) and supporting buildings, ensuring these are installed, tested, verified, and handed over to operations to meet performance, reliability, and safety requirements. This role integrates design intent with field execution, orchestrates multi-disciplinary teams, manages risk, and delivers auditable commissioning evidence that enables on-time, on-budget, and right-first-time facility readiness.

The successful candidate will need to possess a strong understanding of NETA/ANSI standards, high-voltage medium-voltage, and low-voltage equipment, power transformers, switchgear, instrument transformers, relays, DC power systems, protection and control systems, SCADA integration, substation electrical testing, grounding systems, and electrical safety protocols. In addition, they will need to lead multi-disciplinary teams under tight deadlines and high-pressure conditions, while maintaining accurate commissioning records and turnover packages shared with Fleet leadership. This person will attend all commissioning meetings, track schedule adherence, issue closure rates, and system performance metrics.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field; OR Graduate of applicable Commissioning Technical school or military with relevant military electrical or technical experience. See below for relevant experience requirements.
• With BSEE 8+ years of substation commissioning/electrical testing experience in mission-critical facilities (substation, transmission, data centers, hospitals, labs, pharma, or industrial); OR With graduate of applicable Commissioning Technical school or military with relevant military electrical or technical experience and eight (8) years minimum commissioning/electrical testing or similar work experience.
• Technical Depth: Expertise in relay testing (SEL, ABB, Siemens, GE), SCADA integration, and HV apparatus commissioning. In addition, proficient with electrical testing equipment (i.e., Megger, Doble, Omicron, etc.).
• Proven track record leading 3rd Party electrical testing, electrical First Time Energization (FTE) and Functional Performance Testing coordination, with strong SCADA and protective relay familiarity.
• Demonstrates the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams in high-stakes startup and cutover windows.
• Exceptional organizational, project management, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills, with strong documentation discipline.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and stakeholder management skills; proficiency with project management and commissioning platforms.
• Willingness and ability to travel (25–50%) to project sites as needed; extended hours during startup/functional/IST windows, including weekend/night shifts, and an occasional holiday if required.

Nice To Haves

• Highly Preferred Certification: ANSI/NETA Level III or IV in Electrical Testing.
• Manufacturer Relay Training/Knowledge (SEL, ABB, Siemens, GE, or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Review Basis of Design (BoD), drawings, specifications, and submittals for commissioning requirements and testability. Documents shall include but not be limited to single line diagram, three-line diagram, control diagrams, protection and control schemes, SCADA, Short Circuit and Coordination Study (SCCS), Arc Flash Study, etc.
• Review and collaborate on protection and control schemes, SCADA logic, and relay inputs, outputs, settings, and logic with design and controls teams.
• Review and collaborate on the 3rd Party electrical testing requirements with the design and construction teams; ensure all project requirements and expectations are met.
• Development and/or assist with the development and upkeep of the Commissioning Plan (scope, phasing, staffing, RASIC, tools, documentation control, quality gates).
• Define substation commissioning schedule aligned with construction and turnover milestones; identify long-lead equipment and factory witness tests.
• Develop and/or assist with the development of Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 commissioning checklists.
• Develop and/or assist in the development of Level 4 and Level 5 (if applicable) commissioning test scripts.
• Be responsible for commissioning team communications and updates, including leading or co-leading meetings.
• Oversee Site Acceptance, Installation, and Pre-energization inspections for substation equipment.
• Oversee and/or lead first time energization, pre-functional checklists (PFCs), start-up acceptance testing (SAT), and functional test scripts (FTs) for substation equipment and systems and support buildings across all modes (normal, degraded, failover, emergency, maintenance bypass, recovery), including required documentation provided by contractors and vendors and issue resolution.
• Oversee vendor/OEM Level – 3 start-ups; verify conformance to submittals and sequences of operation (SOO).
• Oversee and witness 3rd Party electrical testing (i.e., TTR, Power Factor, SFRA, VLF, DRLO, relay testing, protection scheme validation, three-line diagram validation, relay input and output validation, high-voltage medium-voltage, and low-voltage equipment functional operation, and SCADA point-to-point checks.
• Validate BMS point-to-point, alarm priorities, trending, graphics, and historian; ensure controls narratives are executable and traceable.
• Drive 3rd Party electrical testing, electrical First Time Energization (FTE) and Functional Performance Testing readiness and execution with electrical and life safety teams, ensuring electrical responses and interlocks perform per design intent.
• Ensure project commissioning schedules are being met.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk, hear, and smell. Frequently required to sit, climb, and balance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, basic color differentiation and the ability to adjust focus. Regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Maintain a controlled repository within the Commissioning Platform for commissioning artifacts: SAI, Installation, PFCs, SATs, FPTs, IST results, issues logs, RFIs, redlines, and sign-offs.
• Review and/or produce consolidated Commissioning Reports with executive summaries, data visuals, narratives, and appendices.
• Assist with assembling Turnover Packages: final protection schemes, as-builts, relay settings, O&M manuals, warranties, spare parts lists, PM matrices, and training materials.
• Oversee and coordinate operator training and verify knowledge transfer (sign-in records and demonstration or assessment).
• Serve as the primary point of contact for substation commissioning scope; build trusted relationships with clients, GC/CMs, sub-contractors, vendors, utility company, Engineer of Record (i.e., Electrical and Protection Engineer), and operations.
• Communicate progress, challenges, and solutions to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders; lead regular meetings and readiness reviews.
• Collaborate closely with pre-construction, design, construction, and operations teams to ensure seamless transition from construction to steady-state operations.
• Operate safely in a fast pace, multi-phase construction atmosphere.
• Manage switching orders in the substation yard and support buildings.
• Strong understanding of electrical power systems (AC/DC and HV, MV, LV) schematics and industry safety standards for each system and as an integrated system.
• Enforce lockout/tagout (LOTO), Arch Flash Safety, hazardous energy control, hot work permits, confined space, working at heights, and chemical handling protocols.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards (e.g., IEEE, NFPA 70E, local/state electrical codes).
• Conduct Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) and pre-task plans; use proper PPE; lead daily toolbox talks during commissioning peaks.
• Champion safety culture and environmental compliance across all commissioning activities.
• Manage commissioning budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation to ensure cost-efficient delivery.
• Establish and track KPIs: schedule adherence (% milestones achieved), defect density & closure rate (issues per MW; time-to-close), test coverage (% completed vs planned), performance compliance (% systems meeting OPR/BoD tolerances), handover quality (turnover completeness; operator training satisfaction), and safety outcomes (TRIR, near-miss reporting).
• Drive operational excellence to meet corporate targets and deliver projects on time and within budget.

Benefits

• Fleet Data Centers employees enjoy competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401K program, standard paid holidays, and unlimited PTO.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager