Director, Facilities Operations Commissioning

qtsdatacenters; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

QTS Data Centers is seeking a Director, Facilities Engineering Commissioning to oversee the technical strategy for commissioning, continuous improvement, and developmental support across the QTS portfolio. This leader will supervise commissioning-related engineering, coordinating installation and integration of data center infrastructure.

The role requires strong planning, leadership through influence, and a robust engineering background in electrical and mechanical systems, with experience in

Qualifications

• Must have a strong engineering background in data centers or similar environments.
• Experience leading commissioning, testing, and turnover processes.
• Familiarity with building subsystems, electrical distribution, and cooling systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage the commissioning team and establish policies for testing and turnover; lead planning for Level 1–5 systems.
• Oversee budgeting and staffing aligned with financial goals.
• Coordinate with project teams, vendors, and internal groups to ensure adherence to standards and SOPs.
• Develop comprehensive commissioning plans and drive continuous improvement across sites.
• Interface with engineering, development, and operations teams to ensure proper training and growth of staff.

Skills

Data center expertise

Strategic planning

Leadership by influence

Mechanical-electrical systems

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering

HVAC or critical power certifications

Job description

The Director, Facilities Engineering Commissioning will be responsible for overseeing the technical strategy for commissioning, continuous improvement, and developmental support for sites throughout the QTS portfolio. This role will provide oversight and assistance with commissioning-related engineering, including the coordination, installation, and integration of connectivity, network infrastructure, security, life safety, other building subsystems and finishes, transformers, electrical switchgear, UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply), STS (Static Transfer Switch), PDU (Power Distribution Unit), electrical distribution equipment, Chillers, water loops/components, Cooling distribution equipment, Electrical Power Monitoring Systems, and Building Management and automation systems, within the QTS portfolio. The position demands strong planning abilities coupled with leadership through influence and a proactive partnership approach, underpinned by a robust engineering background. The ideal candidate will bring experience in electrical and mechanical systems, along with an understanding of large-scale data centers (or comparable environments), which may encompass cutting-edge electrical distribution systems, static UPS, emergency standby generation, fire alarm/suppression, monitoring systems, and extensive cooling systems.

This role will be a platform role that will require an estimated 10-30% travel to other sites around the U.S.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties may be assigned.

• Manage the commissioning team, develop capabilities, engage employees, and set policies necessary to satisfy proper testing and turnover from development business partners.
• Implement operating and commissioning standards required for quality, safety, and ongoing operation.
• Manage expenditures and staffing to ensure compliance with financial goals. Oversee operational budgets to ensure compliance with organizational expenditure requirements.
• Assist in all site construction activity and installations, in coordination with QTS project departments, external construction resources, to ensure system design, installation and testing adhere to operational standards. Witness testing of all equipment during commissioning and validate sequence of operations and receipt of all operational documentation.
• Develop comprehensive commissioning plans for Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5 systems, including connectivity, network infrastructure, security, life safety, other building subsystems and finishes, Electrical, Mechanical, and Building Automation components.
• Identify, track, and resolve any issues during the commissioning process, working closely with the project team to resolve technical challenges. Utilize findings and provide feedback to program management team to drive continuous improvement.
• Coordinate and work with all QTS site teams on standard operating procedures (SOP), method of procedures (MOP), and emergency response procedures (ERP) established for the critical environments, as well as the formal change management process.
• Drive innovation into facilities programs/systems with an environmentally conscious attitude.
• Interfaces with vendors, QTS Engineering, QTS Development and peer operations organizations.
• Maintain positive relationships and communication with staff and executive level management.
• Assist site engineering/management with compliance with local health & safety (i.e. OSHA) standards and national electrical and building codes.
• Ensure proper training and growth of staff.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or similar HVAC or critical power certifications OR equivalent professional experience in lieu of degree
• Eight (8) or more years of professional experience that includes managing teams, developing and implementing strategic initiatives, and overseeing departmental operations.
• Eight (8) or more years of direct experience with engineering related activities in a technical or critical environment (data center, nuclear power, hospital, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, industrial/commercial field engineering)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Must be fluent with and possess an excellent working knowledge of Data Center critical and construction environments.
• Ability to develop solutions and create technical strategic and tactical plans on complex projects.
• Ability and willingness to think outside of the box to find creative and innovative solutions to improve quality / reliability and continuously drive down operating costs.
• Advanced understanding of both mechanical and electrical equipment, systems and design related to data centers. (Including but not limited to uninterruptable power sources, diesel generators, electrical switchgear, power distribution units, variable frequency drives, automatic/static transfer switches, chillers (air-cooled and water-cooled), pumps, cooling towers, heat exchangers, CRAHs, air economizers.)
• Experience with emergency backup systems (gene