Data Center Commissioning Manager

TRS Staffing Solutions; Hawesville (KY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

TRS Staffing Solutions is seeking an experienced Commissioning Lead to oversee end-to-end commissioning activities for complex projects in the United States. You will drive IST, system turnover, and client handover while coordinating cross-functional teams of engineers, technicians, and vendors.

This role requires a strong background in electrical, mechanical, and life-safety systems, plus a track record on large-scale data center projects. Leadership and safety are critical to success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of commissioning experience.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership or management experience.
• Direct experience commissioning mission-critical or hyperscale data centers.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary commissioning teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead all commissioning activities from Level 1 through Level 5 commissioning.
• Develop and manage project-specific CEPs.
• Coordinate mechanical completion, turnover, startup, and testing activities.
• Drive project readiness for client acceptance and handover.
• Oversee IST activities and develop test scripts.
• Manage commissioning engineers, vendors, and startup personnel.
• Lead project turnover and acceptance meetings.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder mgmt

Safety leadership

Testing coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.

Job description

Our client is proud to design and build projects and careers. They are committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative work environment that encourages big-picture thinking, brings out the best in their personnel, and helps them develop innovative solutions that contribute to building a better world together. If this sounds like a culture you would like to work in, you are invited to apply for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all commissioning activities from Level 1 through Level 5 commissioning.
• Develop and manage project-specific Commissioning Execution Plans (CEP).
• Coordinate mechanical completion, turnover, startup, functional testing, and integrated systems testing activities.
• Drive project readiness for client acceptance and operational handover.
• Ensure commissioning activities align with project schedules and milestone dates.
• Manage commissioning engineers, agents, vendors, subcontractors, and startup personnel.

Oversee commissioning and testing of:

Electrical Systems

• Medium Voltage (MV) Distribution Systems
• Switchgear
• Generators
• UPS Systems
• PDUs
• Busway Systems
• Automatic Transfer Switches (ATS)
• Power Monitoring Systems
• EPMS Platforms

Mechanical Systems

• Cooling Towers
• CRAH Units
• CRAC Units
• Pumps
• Water Treatment Systems
• Building Cooling Infrastructure

Controls Systems

• Building Management Systems (BMS)
• PLC Controls
• SCADA Systems
• Monitoring and Alarm Systems

Life Safety Systems

• Emergency Power Systems
• EPO Systems

Integrated Systems Testing (IST)

• Lead all Integrated Systems Testing (IST) activities.
• Develop test scripts and failure scenario testing plans.
• Execute black-building testing and utility failure simulations.
• Coordinate generator acceptance testing.
• Lead UPS interaction testing and emergency power transfer testing.
• Verify system redundancy and concurrent maintainability.
• Manage Functional Performance Testing (FPT).

Systems Completion & Turnover

• Manage mechanical completion and systems completion programs.
• Oversee punch list development, tracking, and closure.
• Ensure all commissioning documentation is complete and accurate.
• Coordinate turnover packages for client acceptance.
• Conduct operational readiness reviews.
• Facilitate owner training and handover activities.
• Track and close deficiencies through project completion.

Safety Leadership

• Lead energization planning and startup safety procedures.
• Oversee Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) programs.
• Participate in hazard analysis and risk assessments.
• Manage high-risk commissioning activities.
• Ensure compliance with all project and client safety requirements.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary commissioning point of contact for owners and stakeholders.
• Lead commissioning meetings with clients, contractors, engineers, and operations teams.
• Present commissioning status updates to executive leadership.
• Manage client expectations throughout project execution.
• Support dispute resolution between construction, engineering, and operations teams.
• Lead project turnover and acceptance meetings.

Commercial Responsibilities

• Support contract review and commissioning scope development.
• Evaluate change orders and commissioning impacts.
• Participate in schedule recovery planning.
• Forecast commissioning staffing and resource requirements.
• Assist with cost control and risk management initiatives.
• Support project budgeting and commissioning cost tracking.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of commissioning experience.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership or management experience.
• Direct experience commissioning mission-critical or hyperscale data centers.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary commissioning teams.
• Strong understanding of electrical, mechanical, controls, and life safety systems.
• Experience leading commissioning activities on projects exceeding $250M construction value.