Data Center Construction Project Manager - MEP Tenant Fit Outs

Pkaza•San Jose, CA

About The Position

This role manages data center MEP tenant fit-out and customer deployment projects, including large-scale projects spanning entire data halls and buildings, with an emphasis on liquid cooling at the rack. The Project Manager oversees all aspects of assigned projects and works with internal and external stakeholders to deliver projects on time and within budget while meeting project scope, quality expectations, and company design standards. The role also ensures equipment is onsite when needed and requires strong organization and administrative follow-through, including change orders, budgets, and project paperwork. The Project Manager coordinates contractors, vendors, customers, construction managers, design consultants, and tenant representatives to integrate project requirements without impeding data center operations and services. Projects include white-space build-outs and supporting MEP infrastructure, and may involve active construction sites. The position calls for regular site presence Monday through Friday, flexibility for critical milestones, and willingness to travel extensively or relocate to project sites. The role provides day-to-day oversight and mentorship to an Associate Project Manager or Senior Associate Project Manager.

Requirements

Experience managing data center construction projects as an owner or as a general contractor for data center owners, colocation providers, hyperscale companies, or enterprise clients is required.
Experience managing project budgets ranging from $10 million to $100 million.
At least 7 years of relevant experience in the data center construction industry.
At least 5 years of MEP construction (interiors) project-management experience.
Ability to manage complex white-space data hall tenant fit-outs, including budgeting, scheduling, resource allocation, and cost control.
Strong understanding of data hall white-space tenant fit-outs, including structured cabling, data center connectivity, cable management, racks, cabinet installation, physical security caging, and air-containment systems.
Ability to lead an MEP field team implementing liquid cooling at the rack, establish accountability, and drive project execution.
Ability to read and interpret blueprints, site drawings, diagrams, and other project materials, including one-lines and Revit or AutoCAD drawings.
Regular presence at active data center construction project sites, Monday through Friday, is required.
Flexibility to support critical project milestones when required.
Willingness to undertake heavy travel or relocate to a project site for assignments.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to work effectively with clients, contractors, vendors, and internal teams.
Strong analytical and decision-making skills, including anticipating risks and resolving issues in a fast-paced environment.
Client-facing, client relationship, and client-management skills.
Ability to work independently.
Previous administrative experience managing change orders, billing, and report creation.
A bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field is a plus.

Nice To Haves

PMP, RCDD, OSHA, or other relevant certifications.
Experience with MS Office, Oracle Primavera P6, Procure, Bluebeam, or AutoCAD.
Membership in or attendance at professional organizations such as AFCOM, ASHRAE, 7x24 Exchange, PTC, Data Center Dynamics (DCD), Uptime, iMasons, or Bisnow.
Previous military experience or veteran status.
Electrical or mechanical experience in roles such as Navy nuclear ratings (EMN, ETN, MMN), Seabees, Army power generation, Air Force power production, generator technician, maritime, Coast Guard, or Army National Guard.

Responsibilities

Support multi-megawatt tenant fit-out projects based on hyperscale customer requirements.
Deliver built-to-suit fit-out projects, emphasizing value engineering.
Coordinate and execute day-to-day data center tenant fit-out and customer deployment work, ensuring contractors and vendors meet project responsibilities.
Manage construction tasks as needed, including cabinet installation, security caging, liquid cooling, and air-containment system setup.
Coordinate white-space build-outs, including racks, containment, structured cabling, and supporting MEP infrastructure.
Develop project scopes of work, bills of materials, project plans, budgets, schedules, risk registers, and action-item logs with relevant stakeholders.
Conduct site surveys and validate plans, materials, expectations, and site conditions; identify potential challenges.
Serve as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders and lead alignment of project delivery with organizational goals.
Plan and execute complex projects for hyperscale and AI customers with customized requirements.
Validate project scope throughout planning and implementation and anticipate client needs.
Identify project risks, opportunities, long-lead items, and critical-path items; develop mitigation and contingency strategies and resolve issues to minimize delays and cost overruns.
Track milestones, deliverables, and dependencies; proactively identify and resolve risks and issues.
Prepare and maintain project documentation, reports, dashboards, drawings, specifications, and project records.
Lead and participate in coordination meetings with internal teams, design consultants, contractors, and tenant representatives.
Help ensure compliance with data center operational standards, environmental health and safety and OSHA requirements, and quality standards at active construction sites.
Improve project-management processes, tools, and reporting standards, and apply lessons learned and best practices from previous projects.
Support procurement, including contract administration, change-order review, and invoice tracking.
Collaborate with Procurement and Operations to identify preferred vendors, contractors, and material distribution partners; maintain diverse supplier relationships in designated markets.
Monitor project budgets and financial performance and inform Management and Accounting of unexpected variances.
Maintain knowledge of company services, customer requirements, delivery methods, implementation and support processes, and service-level agreements.
Drive consistent application of company project-delivery standards by project participants.
Perform regular onsite inspections to oversee quality assurance during and after project completion.
Mentor and provide day-to-day oversight for an Associate Project Manager or Senior Associate Project Manager.
Review system design layouts using Revit or AutoCAD for installation.