Commissioning Manager

Ellaway Blues Consulting; Michigan; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Travel allowances

Collaboration with seasoned pros

Job summary

Ellaway Blues Consulting, based in Michigan, seeks an experienced Electrical Commissioning Manager to lead commissioning activities for large-scale data center and mission-critical infrastructure projects.

The role requires hands-on electrical commissioning knowledge and strong project leadership to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and vendors, ensuring systems comply with design and performance expectations.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in electrical commissioning, electrical testing, power systems, or critical infrastructure projects.
• Experience managing commissioning activities or leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Strong knowledge of electrical power distribution systems, including medium- and low-voltage equipment.
• Experience with mission-critical facilities, data centers, substations, or other complex electrical infrastructure.
• Familiarity with commissioning methodologies, functional performance testing, IST, and equipment startup.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage electrical commissioning activities throughout the data center project lifecycle, from design reviews to final turnover.
• Develop and manage commissioning plans, schedules, testing procedures, method statements, and documentation.
• Oversee pre-functional checks, functional testing, and IST for critical electrical infrastructure.
• Coordinate commissioning with MV/LV switchgear, transformers, UPS, generators, ATS, PDUs, and related equipment.
• Manage commissioning teams, contractors, testing technicians, and third-party providers.
• Review drawings, SLDs, control schematics, submittals, sequences of operation, and specifications.
• Verify installation, connections, control logic, protection settings, alarms, interlocks, and operating sequences.
• Coordinate testing, pre-energization inspections, startup, energization planning, and execution.
• Lead troubleshooting and resolution of deficiencies, equipment failures, and commissioning discrepancies.
• Manage deficiency logs, issue tracking, retesting, documentation, and closeout activities.
• Coordinate with PM, design engineering, construction teams, and client reps to maintain schedules and quality.
• Ensure activities meet safety, quality, and industry standards; prepare reports and turnover packages.

Skills

Electrical commissioning

Power distribution

Project leadership

Team coordination

Testing procedures

Safety compliance

Documentation

Troubleshooting

Vendor coordination

IST testing

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Electrical Commissioning Manager to lead commissioning activities for large-scale data center and mission-critical infrastructure projects.

This is an excellent opportunity for a commissioning professional with a strong electrical background and proven experience managing complex power systems from installation verification and pre-functional testing through functional testing, integrated systems testing, and final project turnover.

The successful candidate will coordinate commissioning teams, contractors, electrical engineers, equipment vendors, and client representatives to ensure critical electrical systems are installed, tested, and operating in accordance with design requirements, project specifications, and performance expectations.

This role is ideal for someone who combines hands-on electrical commissioning knowledge with strong project leadership, technical problem-solving, and the ability to manage multiple commissioning activities in a fast-paced data center environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage electrical commissioning activities throughout the data center project lifecycle, from design reviews and installation verification through testing, energization, and final turnover.
• Develop and manage commissioning plans, schedules, testing procedures, method statements, and project-specific commissioning documentation.
• Oversee pre-functional checks, functional performance testing, and integrated systems testing (IST) for critical electrical infrastructure.
• Coordinate commissioning activities involving medium- and low-voltage switchgear, transformers, protective relays, UPS systems, generators, automatic transfer switches (ATS), paralleling switchgear, PDUs, and related power distribution equipment.
• Manage commissioning teams, electrical contractors, testing technicians, equipment manufacturers, and third-party commissioning providers.
• Review electrical drawings, single-line diagrams, control schematics, equipment submittals, sequences of operation, and commissioning specifications.
• Verify equipment installation, electrical connections, control logic, protection settings, alarms, interlocks, and system operating sequences.
• Coordinate electrical testing, pre-energization inspections, equipment startup, energization planning, and commissioning execution.
• Lead troubleshooting and resolution of electrical deficiencies, equipment failures, control issues, and commissioning discrepancies.
• Manage deficiency logs, issue tracking, retesting, documentation, and closeout activities.
• Coordinate with project management, design engineering, construction teams, and client representatives to maintain commissioning schedules and resolve technical issues.
• Ensure commissioning activities are performed in accordance with applicable safety requirements, project quality standards, and relevant industry codes and standards.
• Oversee the preparation and completion of commissioning reports, test records, turnover packages, and final documentation.
• Support integrated testing of electrical systems alongside mechanical, controls, and building management teams to verify overall data center performance and resilience.

Required Qualifications

• Significant experience in electrical commissioning, electrical testing, power systems, or critical infrastructure projects.
• Previous experience managing commissioning activities or leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Strong knowledge of electrical power distribution systems, including medium- and low-voltage equipment.
• Experience with mission-critical facilities, data centers, substations, or other complex electrical infrastructure.
• Familiarity with commissioning methodologies, functional performance testing, integrated systems testing, and equipment startup.
• Demonstrated experience with critical electrical equipment, including switchgear, transformers, UPS systems, generators, ATS, and associated control systems.
• Ability to interpret electrical drawings, one-line diagrams, control schematics, technical specifications, and sequences of operation.
• Strong understanding of electrical safety, energization procedures, and risk management within live or mission-critical environments.
• Excellent leadership, communication, scheduling, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to coordinate multiple contractors and technical stakeholders while maintaining project schedules and quality standards.
• Willingness to travel to project sites as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience commissioning hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise data center facilities.
• Background in electrical testing, NETA testing, substation commissioning, or power system protection and controls.
• Experience with Level 1–5 commissioning activities, including integrated systems testing.
• Familiarity with NFPA 70E, NFPA 70, applicable IEEE standards, and industry commissioning guidelines.
• Experience with critical power resilience, redundancy configurations, load testing, failure-mode scenarios, and system recovery procedures.
• Experience managing commissioning schedules, technical documentation, deficiency resolution, and client handover.
• Relevant technical qualifications, electrical licenses, engineering education, or commissioning certifications.

What’s on Offer?

• Opportunity to lead electrical commissioning on major data center and mission-critical infrastructure projects.
• Exposure to advanced power distribution systems and complex electrical installations.
• Competitive compensation based on experience and technical expertise.
• Potential travel allowances and project-related benefits, depending on the assignment.
• Opportunities to work with experienced commissioning, engineering, and construction professionals.
• Career development within the rapidly growing data center and critical infrastructure sectors.