Commissioning II St. Louis, MO

CannonDesign; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

CannonDesign is seeking an experienced Commissioning Engineer to support hands-on field testing and documentation across education, healthcare, commercial, and science projects. You will plan and execute commissioning activities, review drawings, and coordinate with owners and design teams to ensure operational readiness.

Under senior supervision, you will perform functional tests for HVAC systems, witness start-ups, and maintain rigorous documentation while prioritizing safety and quality on

Qualifications

• 4+ years of commissioning, HVAC design, or related field work.
• Ability to read construction docs and translate to test procedures.
• Strong verbal and written communication; able to work in teams.
• Commitment to safety in active construction environments.
• Ability to travel up to 50% to project sites.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute commissioning activities for assigned projects.
• Develop and implement the commissioning plan and documentation.
• Create and run functional performance tests for HVAC systems.
• Coordinate with project managers, design teams, and contractors.
• Witness start-up, verify controls, and document results.
• Maintain an issues log and track corrective actions.
• Manage commissioning documentation and deliverables.
• Participate in project meetings and provide status updates.
• Perform site visits and verify field conditions.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills

HVAC systems

Building automation

Interpret drawings

Field observations

Communication

Project coordination

Safety compliance

Travel readiness

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Commissioning software

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

You will be an integral part of our multi-disciplinary team, collaborating closely with owners, project managers, engineers, and contractors to Successfully deliver high-quality building systems commissioning, from planning through turnover, with an emphasis on mechanical and HVAC systems, controls, and operational readiness. This role includes hands-on field work (site walks, start-up support, functional performance testing) as well as strong documentation and client-facing communication.

Under the guidance of senior commissioning professionals, you will contribute to projects that span new construction and renovation across sectors such as education, healthcare, commercial, and science and technology. This role involves hands-on involvement in system testing, troubleshooting, and documentation to deliver operational readiness and compliance with quality and safety standards, and reports to the Lead Commissioning Engineer.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL DO

With appropriate supervision, you will plan and execute commissioning activities for assigned projects, including:

• Review and interpret drawings, specifications, sequences of operation, equipment submittals, and technical reports; provide clear commissioning comments and field observations.
• Support development and implementation of the commissioning plan, schedule, and project-specific documentation (checklists, test forms, meeting notes, and reports).
• Develop and/or execute functional performance tests for HVAC and mechanical systems (e.g., AHUs, RTUs, VAV/VRF, hydronic distribution, chilled/hot water plants, exhaust systems, and smoke control interfaces—as applicable).
• Coordinate commissioning activities with project managers, design teams, contractors, TAB agencies, and controls vendors to enable efficient testing and issue resolution.
• Witness and/or support system start-up, controls point-to-point verification, TAB verification, and integrated testing; document results and follow up on corrective actions.
• Maintain an accurate issues log; track deficiencies to closure; verify corrective actions and support re-testing as needed.
• Manage and maintain commissioning documentation and deliverables, including meeting notes, test records, training verification, and final commissioning reports.
• Participate in project meetings and provide status updates on commissioning progress, schedule risks, and key open issues.
• Perform job site visits to verify existing conditions, observe construction progress, and confirm installed work supports successful start-up and testing; site visits frequently require physical walk-throughs of active construction areas, mechanical rooms, rooftops, and similar environments.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• A minimum of 4 years of experience in commissioning, HVAC system design, or building automation design, or closely related field work.
• Bachelors or master's in engineering required, Bachelor or master's in engineering from an ABET program preferred.
• Working knowledge of HVAC systems and terminology, including a basic understanding of controls/BAS sequences and how systems operate in the field.
• Ability to read and interpret construction documents (plans, specs, control sequences) and translate them into test procedures and clear field documentation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong teamwork and organizational skills; ability to effectively handle multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines with attention to detail.
• Commitment to safety and quality; ability to follow site safety requirements and work effectively in active construction environments.
• Ability to travel to project sites and perform field work that includes walking sites, climbing ladders/stairs, and accessing rooftops/mechanical spaces, as required.
• 50% travel is expected.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• EIT/FE (or active pursuit) is a plus. Otherwise, must possess the ability and desire to obtain an approved commissioning-related certification.
• Experience supporting functional testing, troubleshooting, and issue resolution on complex facilities (e.g., healthcare, laboratories, central utility plants).
• Exposure to commissioning best practices and workflows (issues log management, building systems verification, TAB coordination, integrated systems testing).
• Experience with controls testing and data trending (DDC/BAS), including reading sequences of operation and verifying points, alarms, and trends.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and common documentation platforms; familiarity with commissioning software platforms is a plus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This position includes a mix of office-based work and on-site field work. Site visits may include exposure to active construction conditions (noise, dust, temperature variations) and mechanical spaces.

For a general overview of our benefits, please visit our careers page at https://www.cannondesign.com/careers/benefits

ABOUT OUR FIRM

CannonDesign is a design practice where strategy, experience, architecture, engineering, and social impact converge. We don't just dream up solutions - we create and bring them to life in ways to solve some of the biggest challenges facing our clients and the society. At the heart of everything we do is Living-Centered Design, a bold commitment to using our talents to not just improve the world but to truly reshape it for the better. It's more than a philosophy - it's who we are, and it drives us to make a meaningful, lasting difference every day.

ABOUT WORKING HERE

• We are relentless in our pursuit of client adoration (not simply satisfaction). Consistent delivery of the best service is what we are about.
• We are committed to ensuring our practice provides equal opportunities for all employees, as we strive to connect with communities around us and focus on the future of design. We support equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts that benefit all employees through the leadership of our DEI Council, our Employee Resource Groups which are open to everyone, and other community initiatives.
• We're about communication and transparency here. If you want to talk to someone about an idea you have, or a challenge that needs addressing, we're ready for you.

As a condition of employment, all employees are expected to complete mandatory training, including compliance training, within required timeframes and adhere to our internal policies and our Code of Conduct.

CannonDesign is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CannonDesign is committed to maintaining a work environment that is free from any and all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. It is therefore the firm's policy to prohibit discrimination and harassment against any applicant, CannonDesign employee, vendor, contractor, or client on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. It is also CannonDesign's policy to prohibit any and all forms of retaliation against any individual who has complained of harassing or discriminatory conduct, or participated in a firm or agency investigation into such complaints.