Director of Commisioning

Fervo Energy•Houston, TX

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

Cape Station is the first plant in what will become a fleet of GeoBlocks — standardized, repeatable geothermal power plants deployed at scale. Commissioning is the discipline that turns a constructed asset into an operating one, and today that discipline runs largely through contracted, third-party support. As the fleet grows, that model does not scale: commissioning has to become a centralized, Fervo-owned function with a strategy, a standard playbook, and a team that gets faster and safer with every unit brought online. The Director, Commissioning owns that build-out. This is a first-of-its-kind role at Fervo: you are accountable for all commissioning activity across the GeoBlocks portfolio and for the formal transfer of custody of every system and unit from construction to operations. You will run commissioning and turnover for all assets while simultaneously designing the strategy, org structure, and systems that bring commissioning in-house for every GeoBlock that follows. You report to the VP of Operations and sit at the head of the commissioning organization — execution, technical authority, and process/systems — partnering closely with Production Engineering, Operations Engineering, O&M, and HSSE leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or related Engineering discipline, or equivalent demonstrated experience in lieu of a degree.
15+ years of progressive experience in commissioning and startup of complex industrial or power generation facilities, including leadership of commissioning teams at scale.
Demonstrated ownership of construction-to-operations transfer of custody, including turnover documentation, punchlist closure, and readiness sign-off processes.
Deep working knowledge of process safety management, management of change, and permit-to-work frameworks in a commissioning or startup environment.
Experience building or restructuring a commissioning function, including standing up process, systems, and technical authority structures — not solely field execution.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience commissioning Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), combined-cycle, and flash-steam power generation equipment.
Geothermal, LNG, refining, or other first-of-a-kind (FOAK) complex facility startup experience.
Experience transitioning a commissioning function from third-party/contracted delivery to an in-house, company-owned team.
Experience commissioning across multiple sites or a fleet of standardized/repeatable facilities.
Familiarity with commissioning management systems (CMS), ITP frameworks, and digital punchlist/turnover tracking tools.
Experience planning and managing turnarounds at complex industrial facilities.
Direct experience working in a manufacturing environment.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification and/or demonstrated proficiency in Lean Six Sigma methodologies.

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end commissioning execution for Cape Station and all subsequent GeoBlock units — cold and hot commissioning, system-by-system turnover, punchlist closure, and RFSU/RFC readiness.
Own the formal transfer of custody process from construction/EPC to operations, including readiness criteria, sign-off gates, and documentation of record for every system handed over.
Drive resolution of live commissioning-critical issues — piping and instrumentation scope gaps, purge programs, fluid-fill prerequisites, and similar constraints.
Ensure every unit turned over to Operations arrives with a complete, auditable handover package: as-commissioned data, outstanding punchlist items with owners and dates, and technical authority sign-off.
Own the strategy and business case for bringing commissioning in-house across the GeoBlocks fleet, including a clear build-versus-contract cost and capability comparison.
Design the commissioning organization structure — execution, technical authority, and process/systems lanes — and the staffing model required to support it as the fleet scales beyond a single site.
Build the standardized commissioning playbooks, ITPs, and turnover templates that make every future GeoBlock's commissioning faster and more predictable than the last.
Stand up or select the commissioning management system (CMS) and reporting cadence needed to track commissioning status, punchlist aging, and readiness across concurrent GeoBlock projects.
Provide or oversee technical authority sign-off across electrical, I&C, mechanical, and asset integrity disciplines during commissioning, ensuring engineering rigor is not sacrificed for schedule.
Partner with Production Engineering and Operations Engineering to validate that commissioning test results and acceptance criteria reflect real operating conditions, not just design intent.
Own resolution of commissioning-stage engineering gaps (e.g., relay and protection testing, VFD and control system commissioning) in partnership with OEMs and EPC technical teams.
Own the RACI, ITP libraries, and commissioning management system that make commissioning status visible and auditable across every workstream.
Build the training, knowledge transfer, and lessons-learned processes that convert Cape Station's commissioning experience into fleet-wide standard practice.
Ensure commissioning documentation meets the standard required for regulatory, insurance, and lender technical advisor review.
Serve as the primary commissioning-side counterpart to Geoblock Factory and OEM partners, driving accountability for schedule, technical scope, and change order resolution on fixed-price and turnkey contracts.
Represent commissioning status and risk to executive leadership, lenders' technical advisors, and joint venture partners as needed.
Ensure commissioning activities operate within Fervo's process safety management framework, including bypass authorization, permit-to-work, and management of change controls.
Partner with HSSE leadership on commissioning-stage risk assessments (PSSR, MOC, HAZOP action closure) prior to any system's transfer to operations.
Recruit, hire, and develop the in-house commissioning leadership team — commissioning managers, technical authority engineers, and process/systems specialists.
Mentor and develop commissioning managers and engineers, building bench strength ahead of fleet-scale hiring needs.