Lead Principal Data Center Commissioning Engineer

Oracle; Abilene (TX); On-site; USD 126,000 - 264,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Oracle is seeking a Lead Principal Commissioning Engineer for Abilene, TX, to lead site-level commissioning, startup, testing, and turnover ensuring operational readiness for Oracle's AI data center infrastructure. This hands-on leadership role requires strong field presence and coaching of teams across vendors, control teams, and operations.

Based in Abilene with 50% travel, this IC5 role drives KPI review, issue tracking, and risk management, delivering complete turnover documentation and

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data center commissioning, mission critical startup, construction turnover, or complex infrastructure delivery.
• Experience leading commissioning, testing, startup, or operational readiness activities.
• Strong understanding of data center electrical, mechanical, controls, life safety, and integrated systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead commissioning, startup, testing, and turnover activities for assigned scopes.
• Coordinate startup sequencing with construction, vendors, controls, safety, commissioning, and operations teams.
• Support energization readiness, functional testing, and integrated systems testing.
• Validate system readiness before testing, turnover, and operational acceptance.
• Lead readiness reviews, commissioning coordination meetings, and startup planning sessions.
• Track commissioning issues, risks, deficiencies, and recovery actions through closure.

Skills

Data center commissioning

Start-up & testing

Operational readiness

Field leadership

Stakeholder communication

Job description

Job Description

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) - Hyperscale Data Center Delivery organization is searching for a Lead Principal Commissioning Engineer (IC5) to lead site-level commissioning, startup, testing, turnover, and operational readiness for Oracle's Abilene AI Data Center Infrastructure and Oracle's Data Center Infrastructure in Shackelford, Texas. This role acts as the field bridge between the Commissioning Director, Commissioning Managers, construction teams, vendors, controls teams, and operations. The Commissioning Lead ensures systems are ready, tested, documented, and successfully turned over to operations. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong field presence, disciplined execution, and the ability to coach commissioning teams while directly supporting critical startup activities. The Lead Principal Data Center Commissioning Engineer will partner closely with internal stakeholders, suppliers, general contractors, engineering teams, and cross‑functional groups to drive project execution, communicate expectations, and provide clear reporting on project status and performance. This role will also review key performance indicators (KPIs) throughout systems testing, identify trends or anomalies and recommend effective solutions to improve outcomes. This position is located in Abilene, Texas, Shackelford, County, Texas or Nashville, TN with 50% travel to Shackleford County, Texas.

Responsibilities

• Lead commissioning, startup, testing, and turnover activities for assigned scopes.
• Coordinate startup sequencing with construction, vendors, controls, safety, commissioning, and operations teams.
• Support energization readiness, functional testing, and integrated systems testing.
• Validate system readiness before testing, turnover, and operational acceptance.
• Lead readiness reviews, commissioning coordination meetings, and startup planning sessions.
• Track commissioning issues, risks, deficiencies, and recovery actions through closure.
• Escalate startup, readiness, and turnover risks quickly and clearly.
• Ensure turnover documentation, test records, and readiness evidence are complete and accurate.
• Maintain strong daily field presence during startup, testing, and turnover periods.
• Walk systems and turnover areas to verify readiness, progress, and risk conditions.
• Support safe execution of commissioning, energization, and integrated testing activities.
• Coach and mentor Commissioning Managers, field engineers, vendors, and startup personnel.
• Reinforce commissioning standards, accountability, and consistent execution across teams.
• Support operational handoff and ensure systems are ready for reliable operation.
• Capture lessons learned and recommended improvements for future delivery.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data center commissioning, mission critical startup, construction turnover, or complex infrastructure delivery.
• Experience leading commissioning, testing, startup, or operational readiness activities.
• Strong understanding of data center electrical, mechanical, controls, life safety, and integrated systems.
• Ability to identify commissioning risks, system readiness gaps, and turnover issues in the field.
• Experience with functional testing, integrated systems testing, energization readiness, and operational handoff.
• Strong coordination skills across construction, vendors, commissioning, controls, safety, and operations.
• Ability to manage issue logs, readiness trackers, test documentation, and turnover deliverables.
• Strong field leadership presence and ability to influence without direct authority.
• Ability to coach and develop commissioning personnel.
• Strong communication, escalation, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced, schedule‑driven environment.
• Willingness to maintain significant onsite presence, especially during turnover and startup phases.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hyperscale, cloud, colocation, or mission critical data center experience.
• Experience on large campus or multi‑building data center delivery programs.
• Background in commissioning leadership, startup management, systems integration, or operational readiness.
• Experience with major electrical systems, mechanical systems, BMS/EPMS, controls, and life safety systems.
• Familiarity with energization planning, LOTO, commissioning safety practices, and MOP review.
• Experience improving commissioning plans, readiness gates, turnover processes, and testing sequences.
• Strong understanding of first‑pass testing success, retest reduction, and issue closure discipline.
• Experience leading recovery efforts for delayed startups, failed tests, or incomplete turnovers.
• Experience working with general contractors, trade partners, OEM vendors, commissioning agents, and operations teams.
• Certifications or training in commissioning, electrical/mechanical systems, construction management, project management, or safety are a plus.

Disclaimer

Certain U.S. based or U.S. customer or client-facing roles may be required to comply with applicable requirements, such as immunization/occupational health mandates, and/or drug testing requirements.

Range and benefit information provided in this posting are specific to the stated locations only

US: Hiring Range in USD from: $126,200 - $264,100 per year. May be eligible for bonus, equity, and compensation deferral. Oracle maintains broad salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience, market conditions and locations, as well as reflect Oracle's differing products, industries and lines of business. Candidates are typically placed into the range based on the preceding factors as well as internal peer equity.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including expert medical opinion
• Short term disability and long term disability
• Life insurance and AD&D
• Supplemental life insurance (Employee/Spouse/Child)
• Health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Pre-tax commuter and parking benefits
• 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan with company match
• Paid time off: Flexible Vacation is provided to all eligible employees assigned to a salaried (non-overtime eligible) position. Accrued Vacation is provided to all other employees eligible for vacation benefits. For employees working at least 35 hours per week, the vacation accrual rate is 13 days annually for the first three years of employment and 18 days annually for subsequent years of employment. Vacation accrual is prorated for employees working between 20 and 34 hours per week. Employees working fewer than 20 hours per week are not eligible for vacation.
• 11 paid holidays
• Paid sick leave: 72 hours of paid sick leave upon date of hire. Refreshes each calendar year. Unused balance will carry over each year up to a maximum cap of 112 hours.
• Paid parental leave
• Adoption assistance
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Financial planning and group legal
• Voluntary benefits including auto, homeowner and pet insurance

The role will generally accept applications for at least three calendar days from the posting date or as long as the job remains posted.

Career Level - IC5

About Us

Only Oracle brings together the data, infrastructure, applications, and expertise to power everything from industry innovations to life‑saving care. And with AI embedded across our products and services, we help customers turn that promise into a better future for all. Discover your potential at a company leading the way in AI and cloud solutions that impact billions of lives. True innovation starts when everyone is empowered to contribute. That’s why we’re committed to growing a workforce that promotes opportunities for all with competitive benefits that support our people with flexible medical, life insurance, and retirement options. We also encourage employees to give back to their communities through our volunteer programs. We’re committed to including people with disabilities at all stages of the employment process. If you require accessibility assistance or accommodation for a disability at any point, let us know by emailing [e-mail] or by calling 1-888-404-2494 in the United States.

Oracle is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and protected veterans’ status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Oracle will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to applicable law.