Commissioning and Startup Engineer (Electrical or Mechanical)

Kiewit; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Wellness program

Life insurance

Retirement plans with matching

Paid time off

Job summary

Kiewit is seeking a Commissioning & Startup Engineer to drive the safe startup of complex industrial facilities across North America. You will support pre-commissioning, commissioning, system testing, startup, turnover, and operational readiness activities.

Ideal candidates have an electrical or mechanical background, strong problem-solving skills, and are prepared for travel and relocation to project sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of commissioning/startup/operations experience.
• Ability to travel and relocate to project sites across North America.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Support pre-commissioning, commissioning, startup, and turnover activities for major facilities.
• Collaborate with construction, engineering, operations, vendors, and commissioning teams to reach readiness milestones.
• Develop, review, and execute commissioning procedures, startup plans, and turnover documentation.
• Track deficiencies and verify corrective actions prior to turnover.
• Maintain accurate commissioning records and test documentation.

Skills

Strong communication

Coordination

Troubleshooting

Field execution

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Completions software

Turnover management systems

Job description

Requisition ID: 182578

Job Level: Mid Level

Home District/Group: Kiewit Industrial District

Department: Commissioning

Market: Industrial

Employment Type: Full Time

Position Overview

As a Commissioning & Startup Engineer, you will play a critical role in the safe, efficient, and successful startup of complex industrial and mission-critical facilities. This position supports pre-commissioning, commissioning, system testing, startup, turnover, and operational readiness activities across major construction projects throughout North America.

Working closely with construction, engineering, vendors, operations, and commissioning leadership, you will help develop and execute commissioning strategies, support system walkdowns, troubleshoot technical issues, and ensure systems are tested, documented, and turned over safely and effectively.

This role is ideal for engineers with either an electrical or mechanical background who enjoy a combination of field execution, technical problem-solving, and project leadership in a fast‑paced construction environment.

District Overview

The Kiewit Industrial District delivers direct-hire construction services for complex industrial projects across the United States, with a growing focus on large-scale data center and mission-critical construction. Our teams support high-performance projects where speed, precision, reliability, and safe execution are essential, helping deliver the mechanical, electrical, utility, and infrastructure systems that keep advanced technology moving forward.

From core and shell construction to supporting power, cooling, water, and utility infrastructure, Kiewit brings the resources, craft workforce, and execution certainty required for fast‑paced data center environments.

We are committed to safety, quality, and excellence in execution, providing clients with world‑class solutions while offering employees stability, growth, and career development opportunities within a multi‑billion‑dollar organization. Our culture is built on collaboration, innovation, integrity, and a shared passion for building complex projects that matter.

Location

One of the many things that makes Kiewit's culture unique is that we go where the work is, which exposes your career to abundant opportunities. We relocate our teams based on the work that is available, combined with the development plans, skill sets, and career goals of each team member. This means your Kiewit adventure is custom-designed to meet our shared needs.

Travel Support

• TDY/per diem program to support travel-based project assignments
• Mobilization package to help support relocation and project startup needs

Responsibilities

• Support the planning and execution of pre-commissioning, commissioning, startup, and turnover activities for major industrial and mission‑critical facilities.
• Collaborate with construction, engineering, operations, vendors, OEMs, and commissioning teams to achieve system readiness milestones.
• Participate in system walkdowns, punch list development, and readiness assessments.
• Develop, review, and execute commissioning procedures, startup plans, test scripts, and turnover documentation.
• Support functional testing, integrated systems testing (IST), and operational readiness activities.
• Support completions management activities, including system boundary development, turnover workflows, punch management, commissioning readiness tracking, and systemization efforts.
• Track deficiencies, support issue resolution, and verify corrective actions prior to turnover.
• Support system turnover activities, including turnover package development, deficiency resolution, documentation review, and final handoff to operations teams.
• Maintain accurate commissioning records, test documentation, redlines, and system turnover packages.
• Support planning and coordination of field testing activities while ensuring compliance with project safety requirements.
• Provide status updates regarding commissioning progress, system readiness, and testing activities.
• Assist in troubleshooting complex system performance issues during startup and commissioning.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all applicable project safety requirements.

Electrical Focus Areas

Candidates with an electrical background may support:

• Medium- and low-voltage power distribution systems
• Switchgear
• Transformers
• Generators
• UPS systems
• Grounding systems
• Protective relaying systems
• Electrical controls and monitoring systems
• System energization activities
• Electrical acceptance testing and functional testing
• Integrated Systems Testing (IST)
• Critical facility and mission‑critical infrastructure commissioning

Mechanical Focus Areas

Candidates with a mechanical background may support:

• HVAC systems
• Hydronic systems
• Chilled water systems
• Cooling water systems
• Heat rejection systems
• Process cooling systems
• Piping systems
• PumpsRotating equipment
• Utility infrastructure
• Mechanical startup activities
• Flushing, hydrotesting, leak testing, and performance testing

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline. Equivalent commissioning, startup, operations, maintenance, or field engineering experience may be considered
• 5+ years of experience supporting commissioning, startup, operations, maintenance, project engineering, construction engineering, or industrial facility operations.
• Demonstrated understanding of industrial, power, mission‑critical, manufacturing, energy, or data center systems.
• Strong technical problem‑solving and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively with field teams, engineers, vendors, operations personnel, and project leadership.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel and relocate to project sites throughout North America based on business needs.

Preferred

• Experience supporting commissioning or startup activities on large industrial, power, mission‑critical, or data center projects.
• Experience with completions software and turnover management systems.
• Understanding of commissioning procedures, system testing, integrated systems testing (IST), and operational readiness processes.
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, construction documents, P&IDs, one-lines, and equipment documentation.
• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification or progress toward professional licensure.

Other Requirements

• Regular, reliable attendance
• Work productively and meet deadlines timely
• Communicate and interact effectively and professionally with supervisors, employees, and others individually or in a team environment.
• Perform work safely and effectively. Understand and follow oral and written instructions, including warning signs, equipment use, and other policies.
• Work during normal operating hours to organize and complete work within given deadlines. Work overtime and weekends as required.
• May work at various different locations and conditions may vary.

We offer our fulltime staff employees a comprehensive benefits package that’s among the best in our industry, including top‑tier medical, dental and vision plans covering eligible employees and dependents, voluntary wellness and employee assistance programs, life insurance, disability, retirement plans with matching, and generous paid time off.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.