Development Project Engineer (Data Center Construction)

QTS Data Centers•Bessemer, AL

About The Position

The Development Project Engineer (Data Center Construction) assists with design, preconstruction, and construction activities for assigned projects. The role works regularly with Facilities, contractors, designers, engineers, commissioning agents, vendors, Data Center Operations, and corporate real estate staff, requiring strong written and oral communication skills. The position supports development leadership and project managers across campus projects, helping maintain budgets, schedules, and status reports; prepare program updates for executive review; and coordinate site master development plans and capital budgets. It also contributes to permitting, procurement, cost estimating, construction security, project controls, stakeholder relationships, and due diligence for potential data center properties. The engineer represents QTS in owner-architect-contractor meetings and helps improve internal project management processes and protocols.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Construction Management, or equivalent professional experience.
Experience with Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint for executive program updates and Excel for creating and maintaining site program and individual project budgets.
At least one year of professional experience in commercial construction practices and procedures, including Lump Sum, Construction Management at Risk, and Design Build delivery methods from conceptual development through procurement and closeout.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interface with all levels of the organization.
Ability to work effectively as a team player in internal and external team environments.
Ability to solve problems at a tactical and functional level.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

Experience with or exposure to mission-critical data center facilities.
Experience managing MEP trades.

Responsibilities

Assist development leadership and project managers with day-to-day activities and responsibilities.
Support multiple projects across campus sites and maintain current budgets, schedules, and status reports.
Prepare monthly development program and project status updates suitable for executive-level reviews.
Work with QTS stakeholders and design and construction teams on site master development programs, campus design solutions, and capital budgets.
Assist with entitlement and permitting requirements for assigned projects and monitor related processes.
Help develop scopes of work for design, construction, and commissioning services; participate in procurement and project cost estimates.
Evaluate and compare pricing proposals for design, construction, and commissioning services.
Coordinate with strategic procurement on equipment procurement and delivery.
Coordinate appropriate submittals with site stakeholders.
Monitor project budgets and costs to date against overall budgets.
Review project schedules and manage teams toward on-time completion.
Review contractor change order requests and negotiate pricing.
Help establish site construction security procedures with the site security team.
Build and maintain relationships with key QTS stakeholders and serve as a liaison.
Represent QTS interests in owner-architect-contractor meetings.
Build relationships that support QTS's leadership in data center real estate.
Participate in due diligence on potential or new land banks and properties, working with Corporate Real Estate, Connectivity, Power, and Construction teams to evaluate data center development opportunities.
Work with the internal development team to improve project management processes and protocols.