Data Center Commissioning Manager

Kiewit; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Relocation support

Job summary

Kiewit is seeking a Commissioning Manager to oversee the pre-commissioning, commissioning, start-up, and handover phases of industrial projects. You will lead site teams, ensure safety and quality, and align activities with project plans, schedules, and cost estimates.

The role requires extensive technical knowledge, strong decision-making, and the ability to work across disciplines in a dynamic, multi-project environment. Domestic mobility and relocation support are available as needed.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of construction management or commissioning experience.
• Comprehensive understanding of building systems and QA/QC processes.
• Willingness to travel up to 100%.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and teamwork abilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage site-specific end-to-end Commissioning activities through Level 1–5 for new or retrofit facilities.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, trade partners, and operations teams to ensure compliant delivery.
• Implement policies to support project schedule, contractual obligations, and commissioning plans.
• Coordinate with QC and MEP teams to complete checklists, documents, and testing scripts.
• Define and manage on-site resource requirements for trade partners and vendors.
• Facilitate Start-up and Commissioning meetings to communicate QC plans and schedules.

Skills

Project management

Commissioning

Leadership

Travel readiness

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Job description

Requisition ID: 182383

Job Level: Mid Level

Home District/Group: Kiewit Industrial District

Department: Commissioning

Market: Industrial

Employment Type: Full Time

Position Overview

The Commissioning Manager oversees assigned projects with the overall objective of defining and establishing the pre-commissioning, commissioning, start-up, and handover execution framework. This role is responsible for ensuring assigned projects meet safety, quality, value, and schedule expectations. This includes developing, managing, and executing all commissioning-related activities in alignment with company policies and procedures, contractual requirements, project plans, specifications, schedules, and cost estimates. The Commissioning Manager leads and directs project staff across key functions to meet or exceed commissioning objectives. This position requires authoritative technical knowledge, extensive operational experience, and the ability to assess complex situations, balance intuitive and analytical decision-making, and maintain a clear view of the overall project strategy and available alternatives.

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 start-up needs

Responsibilities

• Manage site-specific end-to-end Commissioning activities during Level 1 through Level 5 for delivery of new or retrofit of existing facility.
• Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with architects, engineers, trade partners, and operations teams to streamline and improve project delivery and to ensure fully compliant project.
• Implement policies and procedures necessary to support project schedule, contractual obligations, and deliver fully compliant project.
• Coordinate with project site Quality Control (QC) and Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) teams for MEP scope to assure checklists, engineering documents, and commissioning activities are successfully completed and follow approved test scripts and commissioning plan.
• Comprehensive understanding of major milestones, client/General Contractor (GC) contractual and trade partner/GC obligations, and commissioning plans created by client’s third-party Commissioning Agent.
• Manage Commissioning and QC plan per contractual turnovers to client.
• Define and manage on-site resource requirements for trade partners, equipment vendors, commissioning agent, and project staff to achieve project schedule.
• Create, manage iterations, and integrate Start-up and Commissioning schedules into project schedule, incorporating time for required testing, cleaning, and site inspections by Commissioning Agent. Commissioning schedule should include thorough and sequenced plan of Level 3 through Level 4 activities and minimize overlap of Level 4 activities.
• Collaborate with Owner Furnished Contractor Installed (OFCI) equipment vendors for efficient installations and provide feedback to client and QC Managers.
• Manage equipment vendors adherence to QC plan and provide appropriate resources, field documentation, and checklists prior to start-up (Energization). Establish checkpoints to ensure documentation and installation quality prior to moving to next phase of Commissioning.
• Facilitate Start-up and Commissioning meetings to communicate QC Plan and schedule updates.

Qualifications

• Preferred degree in Electrical Engineering, a related discipline, or 10 to 15 years of equivalent field experience.
• Minimum eight years of construction management or commissioning experience, preferably with an MEP Contractor or Commissioning firm
• Expert understanding of how design, construction, start-up, commissioning, and turnover align within the project delivery process
• Mastery of the commissioning process, L0-L5, and solid understanding of key construction documents and their relationship to QA/QC
• Comprehensive understanding of building systems across disciplines and fundamental knowledge in at least one discipline such as HVAC, plumbing/piping, electrical, lighting, instrumentation, and controls, or building envelope systems
• Ability to work on multiple projects concurrently and anticipate project work, delegate workload, and balance workload within a team
• Proven positive and professional attitude with excellent customer service skills and ability to coach and lead teams
• Ability to travel up to 100%

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.