Commissioning Senior Manager (data centers)

Equinix; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, life, disability and voluntary

Retirement plan

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Equinix, the world’s digital infrastructure company, seeks a Senior Manager, Commissioning in the United States (Chicago area). You will lead commissioning across large-scale greenfield and retrofit data center projects, partnering with Construction, Operations, engineering, and external vendors to ensure systems are tested and ready at operation start.

You will drive standards, testing approaches, and project schedules while shaping readiness and performance across facilities, with strong

Qualifications

• Significant experience commissioning complex, mission-critical infrastructure.
• Typically 7+ years of data center commissioning experience or equivalent.
• Typically 3+ years of leadership experience within a mission-critical environment.
• Strong knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems and commissioning methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead commissioning strategy and execution across large-scale data center projects.
• Develop commissioning plans and schedules for multiple facilities, including new-builds and live environments.
• Partner with Construction and Operations to integrate commissioning requirements into project plans.
• Manage regional commissioning pipeline for resource and capacity planning.
• Develop testing procedures (FPT) and FAT; maintain logs and documentation.
• Support budgeting, vendor management, and performance reviews.
• Present progress, risks, and readiness to customers and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Commissioning leadership

Electrical systems knowledge

Mechanical systems knowledge

Vendor management

Stakeholder communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Job description

Who are we?

Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company®, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet. A place where bold ideas are welcomed, human connection is valued, and everyone has the opportunity to shape their future. A career at Equinix means being at the center of shaping what comes next and amplifying customer value through innovation and impact.You’ll work across teams, influence key decisions, and help shape the path forward. You’ll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work. At Equinix, commissioning is about more than validating systems. It is about ensuring that some of the world’s most critical digital infrastructure is ready to perform safely, reliably, and efficiently from day one. As Senior Manager, Commissioning, you will lead the planning and execution of commissioning across large-scale greenfield data center developments and complex retrofit projects within live, mission-critical environments. You will partner across Construction, Operations, Engineering, customers, contractors, consultants, and equipment vendors to ensure new capacity is tested, validated, and ready for operation. This is a highly visible role for a commissioning leader who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, influencing cross-functional teams, developing strong vendor partnerships, and driving consistency across multiple projects.

Why This Role Matters

Shape Critical Infrastructure

You will play a key role in ensuring new and existing data centers operate safely, efficiently, and reliably. Your leadership throughout the commissioning process helps protect critical infrastructure, support operational readiness, and deliver the performance our customers depend on.

Lead Complex, High-Impact Projects

From large-scale greenfield developments to upgrades within live data center environments, you will help lead commissioning across technically complex projects where planning, coordination, judgment, and disciplined execution matter.

Influence How We Commission

You will have the opportunity to strengthen commissioning standards, testing approaches, vendor performance, project schedules, and lessons learned. Your experience will help continuously improve how commissioning is planned and delivered across the region.

Partner Across the Business

You will work at the intersection of construction, operations, engineering, external commissioning providers, equipment manufacturers, and customers. Success requires both deep technical credibility and the ability to bring different stakeholders together around a common outcome.

Support More Sustainable Infrastructure

Through effective system testing and optimization, you will contribute to the delivery of efficient infrastructure and support Equinix's broader sustainability objectives.

What You’ll Do

• Lead Commissioning Strategy & Execution
• Develop and execute commissioning plans and schedules across multiple data center projects and facilities.
• Lead commissioning activities for both new-build and live mission-critical environments.
• Partner with Construction and Operations teams to integrate commissioning requirements into overall project plans and milestones.
• Manage the regional short- and medium-term commissioning pipeline to support resource and capacity planning.
• Develop electrical and mechanical Functional Performance Test procedures and Factory Acceptance Test procedures.
• Maintain commissioning logs, equipment checklists, test documentation, and project tracking tools.
• Support project budgeting and forecasting for commissioning activities.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen Critical Environment and commissioning programs.

• Drive Operational Readiness
• Help ensure infrastructure and critical systems are thoroughly tested and ready to support safe, reliable operations.
• Identify commissioning risks, deficiencies, and testing challenges early and drive them toward resolution.
• Capture equipment startup and testing trends and partner with equipment vendors to improve future performance.
• Translate lessons learned into practical improvements for future projects.

• Partner With Customers
• Serve as a senior commissioning contact for customers throughout the commissioning lifecycle.
• Present commissioning progress, key milestones, risks, and readiness status to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Partner with project teams to support achievement of Ready for Sales (RFS) commitments.
• Lead the resolution and communication of commissioning-related customer escalations.

• Strengthen Processes & Standards
• Develop standardized commissioning scopes, schedules, and testing approaches based on project and customer requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve commissioning processes, tools, standards, and execution.
• Use project data and lessons learned to drive greater consistency and predictability across the commissioning portfolio.

• Lead Reporting & Performance Insights
• Provide clear internal and external reporting on commissioning progress, risks, milestones, and project readiness.
• Prepare comprehensive test procedures, commissioning reports, functional checklists, deficiency tracking, and operational recommendations.
• Contribute commissioning data and insights to broader analytics, metrics, and performance reporting.

• Communicate complex technical information in a way that enables effective business and project decisions.

• Lead Vendors & External Partners
• Lead and manage commissioning consultants and other external resources.
• Develop project-specific commissioning RFPs, manage bid clarifications, evaluate proposals, and make recommendations for consultant selection.
• Establish vendor performance expectations and KPIs.
• Conduct vendor performance and quarterly business reviews focused on quality, delivery, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Lead commissioning meetings and drive accountability for actions, risks, decisions, and project milestones.
• Facilitate lessons-learned reviews and turn findings into improvements for future projects.

What We’re Looking For

• Significant experience commissioning complex, mission-critical infrastructure.
• Typically 7+ years of data center commissioning experience or equivalent experience within comparable mission-critical environments.
• Typically 3+ years of leadership experience within a mission-critical, construction, engineering, or commissioning environment.
• Strong knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems and commissioning methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing commissioning plans, Functional Performance Testing, and Factory Acceptance Testing.
• Experience leading external commissioning providers, consultants, contractors, and equipment vendors.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical information, project status, risks, and recommendations to customers and senior stakeholders.
• Strong judgment, problem-solving skills, and the ability to drive issues to resolution in complex project environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline preferred, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Ability to travel regionally up to 50%.

The Opportunity

This role offers the opportunity to combine technical commissioning expertise, leadership, customer engagement, and program-level influence. You will help shape how complex infrastructure moves from construction to operational readiness while improving the processes, partnerships, and standards that support future growth.

Equinix Benefits

• Employee Assistance Program: An Employee Assistance program is available to all employees.
• US Benefits:
  • Insurance: You may enroll in health, life, disability and voluntary plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members.
  • Retirement: You and Equinix may contribute to a retirement plan to help you plan for your financial future.
  • Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays: You will receive an accrued amount of PTO each pay period along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific plan or program terms.

Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability. If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form. Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy/ childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political/ organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law.

We use artificial intelligence in our hiring process. Learn more here.

E-Verify Participation: Equinix participates in E-Verify. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about the E-Verify program, please visit E-Verify. www.equinix.com/company/legal/careers-verify-participation/ www.equinix.com/company/legal/osc-right-to-work/

Accessibility and Accommodations: Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability. If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form. Equinix maintains a list of preferred recruiting agencies. If your company is not on our list, please do not contact us regarding our postings. Please also refrain from making contact with anyone outside of the company HR department.

Privacy and Terms: We keep the information that you have provided us for the purpose of sending you career information you are likely to be interested in. By submitting your application you confirm that you agree to this purpose and our privacy & terms. You can unsubscribe at any time should you wish to stop receiving information from us.

The targeted pay range for this position in the following location is / locations are: United States - Dallas Infomart Office DAI : 136,000 - 204,000 USD / Annual United States - Redwood City Office GHQ : 163,000 - 245,000 USD / Annual United States - Chicago Office CHO : 150,000 - 224,000 USD / Annual Our pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire pay for the full-time position determined by role, level, and location.The pay range shown is based on our compensation structure in place at the time of posting and may be updated periodically based on business needs. Individual pay is based on additional factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and/or training. The targeted pay range listed reflects the base pay only and does not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Employees are eligible for bonus, and equity may be offered depending on the position.