Commissioning Manager

Thermo Systems; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off and sick leave

Job summary

Thermo Systems is seeking a Commissioning Manager with a strong background in controls and automation. The ideal candidate will have 5–8 years of relevant experience and will manage technical activities across multiple projects, ensuring systems are implemented correctly and to specification.

This hybrid position involves significant travel and direct client interaction, requiring excellent communication and problem-solving skills. Thermo Systems offers competitive compensation and a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of commissioning experience in controls or automation.
• Experience as a primary client contact or technical liaison.
• Hands-on experience leading field teams.

Responsibilities

• Own technical scope delivery and advise on commissioning strategy.
• Lead field commissioning activities and oversee testing plans.
• Serve as primary technical liaison with customer teams.

Skills

Commissioning processes

Customer-facing communication

Technical documentation

Problem-solving

Teamwork skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology

Tools

BIM 360

CX Alloy

Job description

Location: Hybrid | Increased Site Presence During Commissioning

Employment Status: Full-Time | Direct Hire

Compensation: $105,000 – $160,000 Annually + Bonus

Travel: Significant travel required based on project commissioning schedules

Who We Are

Thermo Systems is a global, full-service control systems integration partner delivering premier class automation solutions across the Energy, Life Sciences, and Mission Critical markets.

Guided By The Thermo Way, We Are Unified, Dynamic, And Committed To Delivering Excellence. Our Culture Is Grounded In Three Core Principles

• Employee Success – investing in our people and their growth
• Customer Success – delivering reliable, high-quality solutions
• Financial Strength – operating with discipline and long-term focus

We believe strong teams, trusted partnerships, and technical excellence drive sustainable success.

The Opportunity

The Commissioning Manager is accountable for delivering the technical scope of work for Thermo Systems projects in alignment with the customer contract. Partnering closely with the Project Manager and Site Manager, this role ensures that engineered solutions are correctly implemented, tested, commissioned, and accepted by the customer.

The Commissioning Manager leads on-site commissioning activities, develops and executes testing strategy, and coordinates engineering and technical resources. This role is highly customer-facing and relationship-driven, requiring strong communication and coordination with project teams, clients, contractors, and commissioning agents. The CXM is focused on technical quality, functional performance, and system readiness.

What You’ll Do

Technical Scope Ownership & Engineering Coordination:

• Own contracted technical scope delivery, ensuring systems are implemented and commissioned to specification.
• Advise the Project Manager on staffing, commissioning strategy, and schedule constraints.
• Coordinate with engineering teams to resolve technical issues and ensure deliverables support testing.

Commissioning & Start-Up Leadership:

• Lead field commissioning activities, directing technical resources from pre-functional checks through final acceptance.
• Oversee and execute FAT/SAT and commissioning test plans; serve as the primary on-site coordination point.
• Drive punch list resolution and re-testing through to close-out.

Quality & Technical Assurance:

• Ensure delivered systems meet contractual quality and performance standards.
• Review and approve commissioning documentation, test reports, and turnover packages.
• Maintain accurate as-built records throughout the commissioning lifecycle.
• Monitor, maintain, and lead commissioning documentation efforts across customer-specific platforms such as CX Alloy, BIM 360, and similar tools.

Customer Technical Interface:

• Serve as Thermo Systems' primary technical liaison with customer engineering and operations teams.
• Lead technical reviews, demonstrations, and acceptance activities through final sign-off.
• Support operational readiness, including customer training and knowledge transfer.
• Effectively de-escalate priority conflicts with customers and trade partners, facilitating mutually beneficial solutions that keep projects on track.

Cross-Functional Project Integration:

• Partner with the Project Manager on schedule alignment, milestone tracking, and risk mitigation.
• Coordinate with the Site Manager on installation readiness and commissioning sequencing.
• Provide technical status updates for project reporting and governance.

What We’re Looking For

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Engineering Technology, Associate's degree in a related technical discipline, or equivalent hands‑on field experience.
• 5–8 years of commissioning experience, including 3–4 years of technical field experience in commissioning, controls, automation, or a related discipline.
• Hands‑on experience leading field teams and managing technical resources across concurrent project activities.
• Experience serving as a primary client contact or site-level technical liaison.
• Industrial automation or systems integration background.
• FAT/SAT and commissioning methodology experience in data center or critical infrastructure environments.
• Multidisciplinary engineering coordination experience across MEP and controls disciplines.
• Experience with customer commissioning platforms such as CX Alloy or BIM 360.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of commissioning processes, MEP systems, controls, and building automation.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, and commissioning plans.
• Strong customer-facing communication skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic field environment.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to manage priorities and meet deadlines.
• Sound problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Commitment to quality, safety, and accountability.
• Willingness to learn and adapt in a dynamic environment.

What You’ll Get

• Competitive compensation with annual bonus opportunity
• 401(k) with company match
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with low-cost options
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Tuition reimbursement and professional credential support
• In-house and external technical training opportunities
• Exposure to complex, high-impact automation projects
• A collaborative culture built on integrity, accountability, and teamwork
• Learn more at www.thermosystems.com

Work Environment & Physical Requirements: The physical and environmental demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Thermo Systems provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected status.

Disclaimer: This job description outlines the general nature and level of work expected. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.