MEP Commissioning Manager

James Lewis Recruitment; Camberley; On-site; GBP 923,000 - 1,199,000; Full time

Job summary

James Lewis Recruitment is seeking an experienced MEP Commissioning Manager to lead the commissioning of the Gravity Edge data centre project in Camberley on a freelance basis. The role focuses on taking data halls and related refurbishment works from installation to fully tested, witnessed and handed over, with on-site programme leadership.

You will coordinate multi-discipline teams across mechanical, electrical, controls, fire and life-safety systems, ensuring documentation, testing and client

Qualifications

• Data centre or mission-critical MEP commissioning experience.
• Familiar with data halls, LV distribution, UPS, generators, BMS/EMS, cooling and fire systems.
• Ability to manage subcontractors, push programme and keep clean documentation.
• On-site freelance role in Camberley.

Responsibilities

• Managing the full MEP commissioning process from pre-commissioning through to final handover.
• Building and maintaining commissioning programmes, lookaheads, trackers and close-out schedules.
• Coordinating mechanical, electrical, controls, fire, security and specialist package testing.
• Managing FATs, SATs, pressure testing, flushing, balancing, energisation, IST and client witness testing.
• Working with project teams, subcontractors and vendors to remove blockers before they affect the programme.
• Reviewing commissioning scripts, method statements, test packs, certificates and handover documentation.
• Ensuring QA, commissioning records, O&M information and client documentation are accurate.
• Driving meetings, reporting progress clearly and holding the supply chain accountable.
• Identifying technical issues early and pushing them through to resolution.
• Maintaining safety, sequencing, access, permits and live environment controls.

Job description

MEP Commissioning Manager

Camberley | Data Centre | Freelance

£5000 - £650 a day outside IR35

If you're a Commissioning Manager who knows how to take a data centre from installed to properly tested, proven and ready for handover, this is the sort of project that needs your control.

You'll be working on the Gravity Edge data centre project in Camberley, supporting the delivery of new data halls and associated refurbishment works within a technically demanding critical environment.

This is not a role for someone who just tracks paperwork and attends meetings. The project needs someone who can drive the commissioning process on site, challenge progress, coordinate technical teams and make sure mechanical, electrical, controls and life safety systems are tested properly before the client is asked to accept them.

The role

You'll take responsibility for planning, managing and closing out the commissioning process across a fast-moving data centre environment.

The commissioning focus is expected to sit across critical MEP infrastructure, data hall fit-out, BMS / PMS / EMS interfaces, structured cabling infrastructure, containment, fire suppression, cooling systems, power distribution and final integrated systems testing.

That means working with the project team, subcontractors, client representatives, vendors and specialist commissioning engineers to make sure systems are ready, tested, witnessed, documented and handed over without drift.

You'll be expected to understand the pressure of mission-critical delivery. Programme dates matter. Witness testing matters. Documentation matters. Client confidence matters.

This role needs someone who can keep the process moving without letting standards slip.

What you'll be doing

• Managing the full MEP commissioning process from pre-commissioning through to final handover.
• Building and maintaining commissioning programmes, lookaheads, trackers and close-out schedules.
• Coordinating mechanical, electrical, controls, fire, security and specialist package testing.
• Managing FATs, SATs, pressure testing, flushing, balancing, energisation, cause and effect, black building testing, IST and client witness testing.
• Working closely with project managers, package managers, subcontractors and vendors to remove blockers before they affect the programme.
• Reviewing commissioning scripts, method statements, test packs, certificates and handover documentation.
• Making sure QA, commissioning records, O&M information and client documentation are accurate and complete.
• Driving meetings, reporting progress clearly and holding the supply chain accountable.
• Identifying technical issues early and pushing them through to resolution.
• Keeping a clear grip on safety, sequencing, access, permits and live environment controls.

What you'll need

You'll need to have managed commissioning on data centre, mission-critical, pharmaceutical, life sciences, healthcare or other technically demanding MEP projects.

Data centre experience is strongly preferred, especially if you have worked across data halls, LV distribution, UPS, generators, switchgear, BMS, EMS, chilled water, CRAC / CRAH units, fire suppression, security systems or integrated systems testing.

You do not need to be the best engineer in every discipline, but you do need to understand how they interact and where commissioning can go wrong.

You'll be confident managing subcontractors, pushing programme, dealing with client-side teams and keeping documentation clean.

You'll also need to be comfortable working on site in Camberley on a freelance basis.

The right person

You're organised, direct and technically credible.

You can walk the job, spot what is not ready and tell people clearly what needs to happen next.

You understand that commissioning is not the last task on the programme. It is the point where every earlier mistake becomes visible, so you plan properly, chase hard and keep control.

You'll suit this role if you have already delivered complex MEP commissioning packages and want a freelance position on a serious data centre scheme with a business that is built around technical data centre delivery.