Commissioning Manager - Data Centres - London (with international travel)
About the Company
Our client is a leading international developer and operator of mission-critical infrastructure. With a growing portfolio of large-scale projects across multiple regions, the organisation is committed to delivering highly resilient, sustainable, and operationally excellent facilities that support some of the world's most demanding technology environments.
The business offers a collaborative and technically driven environment where engineering excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement are central to its culture.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Commissioning Manager to join a central engineering and operations team supporting a portfolio of complex mission-critical facilities.
This role is responsible for commissioning strategy, governance, technical assurance, and project delivery support across the full project lifecycle, from design and construction through to operational handover.
You will work closely with project teams, contractors, consultants, and operations stakeholders to ensure systems are commissioned safely, efficiently, and in accordance with industry standards and client requirements.
This is a highly visible position offering significant influence over commissioning excellence, operational readiness, and infrastructure performance.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy, Governance & Standards
- Own commissioning strategy, standards, and governance across multiple projects.
- Ensure commissioning activities align with recognised industry standards, project specifications, and client requirements.
- Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned, best-practice implementation, and process optimisation.
- Promote high standards of quality, safety, compliance, and change management.
- Manage integrated commissioning programmes from design review through to final handover.
- Oversee commissioning milestones, resource planning, project dependencies, and stakeholder coordination.
- Lead Integrated Systems Testing (IST) planning and execution.
- Provide regular reporting on progress, risks, issues, and mitigation plans.
Design & Pre-Construction Support
- Lead commissioning input into bids, proposals, and pre-construction activities.
- Review designs to ensure systems are commissionable, maintainable, and operationally effective.
- Identify commissioning risks and contribute to project delivery strategies.
- Coordinate contractors, vendors, specialist commissioning teams, and external consultants.
- Review and challenge commissioning methodologies, test procedures, and documentation.
- Monitor performance against programme milestones, safety requirements, and quality standards.
Testing, Validation & Acceptance
- Develop and manage commissioning documentation including test scripts, checklists, records, and commissioning dossiers.
- Lead Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
- Manage defects, punch lists, and close-out activities to support successful project acceptance.
Handover & Operational Readiness
- Coordinate operational readiness activities with site operations teams.
- Ensure training, O&M documentation, and handover requirements are completed.
- Support the transition from construction into live operational environments.
Technical Leadership
- Provide technical expertise to operational improvement initiatives.
- Support programmes focused on resilience, reliability, availability, and fault tolerance.
- Mentor and provide functional leadership to commissioning professionals where required.
Essential Qualifications & Experience
- Strong mechanical or electrical engineering background within building services.
- Significant experience delivering commissioning activities within mission-critical or data centre environments.
- Proven experience managing commissioning programmes across complex infrastructure projects.
- Experience leading FAT, SAT, and Integrated Systems Testing activities.
- Strong understanding of commissioning standards including ASHRAE and related industry practices.
- Experience reviewing designs from a commissionability and operational readiness perspective.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Experience working within matrix organisations and multidisciplinary project teams.
- Full driving licence and willingness to travel when required.
Nice to Have
- Master's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience.
- Professional membership of a recognised engineering institution.
- Experience across hyperscale and colocation environments.
- Working knowledge of BMS and controls systems.
- Familiarity with CAD and BIM platforms including AutoCAD and Revit.
- Experience within pharmaceutical, healthcare, or large-scale industrial facilities.
What's Exciting About This Opportunity?
- Influence commissioning strategy across a growing international portfolio.
- Work on some of the most technically challenging mission-critical infrastructure projects.
- High visibility and engagement with senior engineering and operational stakeholders.
- Opportunity to shape standards, processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strong potential for career progression within a rapidly expanding sector.
Commissioning Manager - Data Centres - London (with international travel)