Commissioning Senior Manager - Mechanical

Fleet Data Centers

3d•$160,000 - $190,000•Remote

About The Position

The Mechanical Commissioning Senior Manager leads the end-to-end commissioning lifecycle for mechanical systems in mission-critical and supporting facilities. The role ensures systems are installed, tested, verified, and handed over to operations in accordance with performance, reliability, and safety requirements. It connects design intent with field execution, coordinates multidisciplinary teams, manages risk, and delivers auditable commissioning evidence to support on-time, on-budget facility readiness. The position requires strong knowledge of HVAC systems, chilled water plants, industrial water systems, adiabatic cooling, CRAC/CRAH units, hydronic distribution, fuel oil systems, building management systems (BMS), fire protection systems, water treatment plants, and administration and logistics buildings. The manager leads teams under tight deadlines and high-pressure conditions, maintains commissioning records and turnover packages, attends commissioning meetings, and tracks schedule adherence, issue closure, and system performance. This is a remote position with 25–50% travel to project sites as needed. Extended hours may be required during startup, functional testing, and IST windows, including weekend or night shifts and an occasional holiday if required. The expected base salary range is $160,000–$190,000, plus a discretionary bonus.

Requirements

At least 8 years of mechanical commissioning experience in mission-critical facilities such as data centers, hospitals, laboratories, pharmaceutical facilities, or industrial facilities.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a related field; alternatively, graduation from an applicable commissioning technical school or relevant military electrical or technical experience, together with at least 8 years of commissioning work experience.
Proven track record leading functional testing and coordinating IST.
Strong SCADA, controls, and BMS integration experience, with familiarity with TAB.
Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams during high-stakes startup and cutover windows.
Exceptional organizational, project management, and problem-solving 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.
Ability to work extended hours during startup, functional testing, and IST windows, including weekends or night shifts and an occasional holiday if required.

Nice To Haves

ASHRAE BCxP, ACG CxA, NEBB BSC, or equivalent certification.

Responsibilities

Review the Basis of Design, drawings, specifications, and submittals for commissioning requirements and testability.
Collaborate with design and controls teams on sequences of operation and verify that sensor placement, access, and valving support commissioning and future operations.
Develop or assist with developing and maintaining the Commissioning Plan, including scope, phasing, staffing, RASIC, tools, documentation control, and quality gates.
Define the mechanical commissioning schedule in alignment with construction and IST milestones, and identify long-lead equipment and factory witness tests.
Develop or assist with Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 commissioning checklists and Level 4 and Level 5 commissioning test scripts.
Lead or co-lead commissioning communications, updates, and meetings.
Oversee or lead site acceptance, installation, and pre-energization inspections, checklists, required contractor and vendor documentation, and issue resolution.
Oversee or lead first-time energization, pre-functional checklists, start-up acceptance testing, and functional test scripts for mechanical equipment and systems across normal, degraded, failover, emergency, maintenance bypass, and recovery modes.
Oversee vendor/OEM Level 3 start-ups and verify conformance to submittals and sequences of operation.
Oversee and coordinate TAB strategy, prerequisites, witnessing, and final report acceptance.
Validate BMS point-to-point checks, alarm priorities, trending, graphics, and historian; ensure controls narratives are executable and traceable.
Oversee or lead load bank testing, thermal validation protocols where applicable, and performance testing to demonstrate capacity and stability.
Drive readiness and execution of Integrated Systems Testing with electrical and life safety teams, ensuring mechanical responses and interlocks perform according to design intent.
Ensure project commissioning schedules are met.
Maintain a controlled repository of commissioning artifacts in the Commissioning Platform, including SAI, installation records, PFCs, SATs, FPTs, IST results, issue logs, RFIs, redlines, and sign-offs.
Review or produce consolidated Commissioning Reports with executive summaries, data visuals, narratives, and appendices.
Assist with assembling turnover packages, including final SOO, as-builts, TAB reports, O&M manuals, warranties, spare parts lists, PM matrices, and training materials.
Oversee and coordinate operator training and verify knowledge transfer through sign-in records and demonstration or assessment.
Serve as the primary point of contact for mechanical commissioning scope and build trusted relationships with clients, general contractors/construction managers, subcontractors, vendors, and operations.
Communicate progress, challenges, and solutions to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders; lead regular meetings and readiness reviews.
Collaborate with pre-construction, design, construction, and operations teams to support transition from construction to steady-state operations.
Work safely in a fast-paced, multi-phase construction environment and enforce LOTO, hot work, confined space, working-at-heights, and chemical-handling protocols.
Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards, including ASHRAE guidelines, NFPA where applicable, and local and state mechanical codes.
Conduct Job Hazard Analyses and pre-task plans, use proper PPE, and lead daily toolbox talks during commissioning peaks.
Promote safety culture and environmental compliance across commissioning activities.
Manage commissioning budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation for cost-efficient delivery.
Establish and track KPIs covering schedule adherence, defect density and closure rate, test coverage, performance compliance, handover quality, operator training satisfaction, and safety outcomes.
Drive operational excellence to meet corporate targets and deliver projects on time and within budget.