Director, Commissioning & Handover

Big Watt Digital, LLC; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Big Watt Digital is seeking a Director of Commissioning & Handover to bridge construction and live facility operations in Austin, TX. You will own the entire transition pipeline, drive gate reviews, and ensure 100% operational readiness with fully ingested digital assets before go-live.

You will lead commissioning across HV distribution, cooling, and automation, coordinating with contractors, OEMs, and 24/7 operations to deliver defect-free handovers. This role is on-site in Austin.

Qualifications

• 15+ years leading commissioning for large-scale facilities such as data centers.
• Deep fluency across HV electrical distribution, cooling, BMS/EPMS, and fire life safety systems.
• Proven ability to align engineering, construction, vendors and 24/7 operations teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead Level 1–5 commissioning oversight for critical facilities assets.
• Establish and manage rigorous gate reviews before handover to live operations.
• Ensure asset data, baselines and spare parts map into EAM/CMMS prior to handover.
• Manage punch-lists and defect resolution with OEMs and contractors.
• Oversee tenant fit-out handover protocols and customer delivery specs.

Skills

CxA leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Data center ops know-how

Education

B.S. in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or Building Services

CxA/PMP/PE credentials preferred

Job description

LOCATION: Austin, TX (On-site / Regional)

REPORTS TO: Vice President, Critical Facilities Engineering

TRAVEL: None; Role is On-Site in Austin

EMPLOYMENT: Full-Time / Exempt (Contingent with Right-to-Hire)

DOMAIN SCOPE: Construction-to-Ops Transition, Commissioning (Level 1–5) Governance, Operational Readiness, Digital Thread/EAM Ingestion, & Defect Remediation

ABOUT BIG WATT DIGITAL

Big Watt Digital is a mission-critical infrastructure platform developing and operating next-generation, high-density data center campuses built for the demands of AI and advanced digital workloads. Our model brings together large-scale power, digital infrastructure, development execution, and operational discipline to deliver speed, certainty, and scalability.

WHY BIG WATT DIGITAL

We are building at the intersection of energy, data centers, AI infrastructure, and large-scale development—where execution matters.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a results-driven Director of Commissioning & Handover to serve as the primary operational bridge between capital construction projects and live facility operations. Reporting directly to the VP of Critical Facilities Engineering, you will own the full transition pipeline, holding general contractors and commissioning agents accountable to ensure facilities are 100% operationally ready, fully integrated into our digital systems, and defect-free before commercial go-live.

WHAT YOU WILL OWN

• Commissioning Oversight & Quality Assurance: Lead operations-side oversight for Level 1 through Level 5 commissioning (Integrated System Testing) across high-voltage substations, backup power, cooling plants, and automation systems.
• Operational Readiness & Gate Reviews: Establish rigorous 'Gate Check' milestones that capital development teams must clear prior to handing over white space and grey space infrastructure to live operations teams.
• Digital Thread & Asset Ingestion: Ensure all newly commissioned assets, nameplate data, operating baselines, and spare parts linkages are correctly mapped and ingested into the Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) / CMMS platform prior to handoff.
• Punch-List & Defect Resolution: Manage post-commissioning punch lists and warranty enforcement, ensuring OEM vendors and contractors resolve all critical design and installation defects prior to final operational acceptance.
• Tenant Fit-Out & Handover Support: Oversee technical handover protocols for tenant white space, ensuring all physical/logical demarcation handoffs and customer delivery specifications are met flawlessly.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• First 90 days: Standardize Level 1–5 Cx gate check governance protocols and integrate commissioning checklists with the enterprise EAM platform.
• First 6 months: Successfully execute handover of current expansion phases at Appaloosa and Mustang campuses with zero zero-day operational defects.
• First 12 months: Reduce average commissioning-to-operations handover timeline by 20% while achieving 100% digital asset ingestion accuracy prior to go-live.

WHAT YOU BRING

• 15+ years leading commissioning (CxA), mission-critical construction handovers, or technical facilities turn-overs for large-scale data centers or heavy industrial facilities.
• Deep engineering fluency across high-voltage electrical distribution, chilled water/hydronic systems, BMS/EPMS controls, and fire life safety systems.
• Exceptional leadership in managing cross-functional alignment between engineering, construction, vendor OEMs, and 24/7 operations teams.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services, or equivalent experience. CxA (Commissioning Authority), PMP, or PE credentials highly preferred.

HOW WE WORK

• BUILD: Create durable systems, not temporary fixes.
• EXECUTE: Move with urgency and accountability.
• PARTNER: Work across disciplines and stakeholders.
• SCALE: Design for the next campus, not just today.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Competitive compensation package including base rate/salary, performance bonus, healthcare benefits, and conversion rights to permanent FTE upon completion of campus commissioning gates.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Big Watt Digital is committed to building a high-performing team and providing equal employment opportunities consistent with applicable law. Employment decisions are based on business needs, role requirements, qualifications, and merit.