Mechanical Commissioning Advisor - Mission Critical

Strategic Mission Critical; Seattle (WA); Remote; USD 90,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with employer contribution

Life insurance

Job summary

Strategic Mission Critical seeks a Mechanical Commissioning Advisor for field-based commissioning leadership of data center projects. Expect 60–70% travel to active sites as the on-site technical representative supporting the Owner through commissioning, IST, and turnover.

You will coordinate testing readiness, monitor critical mechanical systems, and drive issues to resolution while ensuring safety and alignment with project requirements.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of data center commissioning experience.
• Experience coordinating commissioning execution across Owners, GCs, and contractors.
• Strong knowledge of critical mechanical infrastructure and testing processes.
• Experience with L1–L5 commissioning and IST.
• Ability to work independently in an active data center environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as on-site technical advisor to Owner for commissioning from construction to turnover.
• Coordinate testing readiness with Owner, GC, CxA, and contractors.
• Monitor commissioning across chillers, cooling towers, pumps, CRAH/CRAC, AHUs, BAS/BMS.
• Support L1–L5 commissioning activities: startup, testing, and verification.
• Identify risks and deficiencies and drive resolution and closeout.

Skills

Data center commissioning

Field leadership

Testing IST

Cross-team coordination

Issue identification

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree

PE / EIT certifications a plus

Tools

CxAlloy

Autodesk Construction Cloud

Procore

Bluebeam

Job description

Mechanical Commissioning Advisor - Mission Critical

Remote, US

Engineering data centers with precision and expertise.

At Strategic Mission Critical, we are more than just engineers; we are experts focusing solely on mission critical facilities. Our seasoned leadership team brings together decades of experience, equipping data center providers worldwide with robust, reliable solutions that keep pace with the evolving digital landscape.

As demand for high-performance infrastructure accelerates - fueled by AI and the expanding digital landscape - SMC continues to lead through technical rigor and operational excellence. We’re seeking leaders who think beyond projects to improve the way we deliver them: individuals who elevate people, process, and performance across the firm.

OVERVIEW

SMC’s Commissioning and Operations Advisory (CxOA) Team is seeking a Mechanical Commissioning Advisor to support mission critical data center projects. This is a field-based role requiring approximately 60–70% travel to active project sites, with the Advisor serving as SMC’s on-site technical representative and supporting the Owner throughout the commissioning process.

In this role, you’ll support mechanical commissioning activities from construction and equipment startup through functional testing, integrated systems testing (IST), and turnover.

You’ll work directly with Owners, GCs, Commissioning Agents (CxAs), mechanical contractors, controls contractors, vendors, design teams, and operations personnel to coordinate testing readiness, monitor commissioning schedules, identify risks and deficiencies, and help keep commissioning activities on track.

The role requires a strong background in data center mechanical commissioning and critical cooling systems, along with the ability to understand technical issues, ask the right questions, coordinate across project teams, and help ensure commissioning is executed safely, thoroughly, and in alignment with the Owner’s expectations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as an on-site technical advisor to the Owner, supporting mechanical commissioning from construction and equipment startup through functional testing, integrated systems testing (IST), and turnover.
• Support commissioning schedules, testing readiness, and day-to-day execution, coordinating with the Owner, GC, Commissioning Agent (CxA), mechanical and controls contractors, vendors, design teams, and operations personnel to identify risks and help keep commissioning activities on track.
• Monitor commissioning activities across critical mechanical systems, including chillers, cooling towers, pumps, CRAH/CRAC units, AHUs, hydronic systems, heat exchangers, and BAS/BMS controls.
• Support commissioning activities through L1–L5, including equipment readiness, startup, pre-functional and functional testing, controls verification, failure scenarios, and integrated systems testing.
• Identify and track commissioning deficiencies, technical issues, schedule risks, and testing roadblocks, working with project teams to support resolution and closeout.
• Review commissioning plans, test scripts, MOPs/SOPs, TAB reports, equipment startup reports, sequences of operation, controls documentation, submittals, and turnover documentation for completeness and alignment with project requirements.
• Perform field observations of mechanical installations and equipment to verify installation quality, commissioning readiness, and conformance with design documents, specifications, and approved submittals.
• Participate in commissioning meetings and provide clear status updates, issue tracking, technical observations, and project reporting to senior CxOA personnel and the Owner.
• Coordinate testing dependencies and readiness across contractors, vendors, controls teams, and the CxA, helping to ensure equipment, controls, documentation, personnel, and prerequisites are in place before scheduled testing.
• Work independently in the field while knowing when to escape technical, schedule, safety, or project risks to senior team members and project leadership.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Approximately 5+ years of data center commissioning experience, with direct involvement in mechanical systems through startup, testing, integrated systems testing (IST), and turnover.
• Demonstrated experience supporting commissioning execution and operational coordination, including testing readiness, schedule coordination, deficiency resolution, and collaboration across Owners, GCs, Commissioning Agents (CxAs), contractors, vendors, controls teams, and operations personnel.
• Strong working knowledge of critical mechanical infrastructure, including systems such as chillers, cooling towers, pumps, CRAH/CRAC units, AHUs, hydronic systems, heat exchangers, and BAS/BMS controls.
• Experience supporting the L1–L5 commissioning process, with direct involvement in equipment startup, functional performance testing, controls verification, failure scenarios, and integrated systems testing.
• Ability to identify technical and project risks, communicate issues clearly, and support their resolution while working independently in an active data center construction environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Commissioning experience across multiple data center projects, campuses, or client programs, providing exposure to different project teams, standards, cooling strategies, and commissioning approaches.
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent field experience will be considered.
• Familiarity with commissioning and construction tools such as CxAlloy, Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), Procore, and Bluebeam; PE, EIT, or relevant commissioning/industry certifications are a plus.

COMPENSATION

Base Compensation: $90,000 - $160,000 Annually (Actual compensation is subject to variation due to factors such as education, experience, skills and/or location)

SMC offers a competitive benefits package, with a 36-hour standard work week, hybrid working arrangement, 13 paid holidays, 100% coverage of medical, health, and dental insurance premiums for our full-time employees, and reimbursement of professional licensing costs. Spouse and family insurance premiums are subsidized by SMC. All full-time employees are additionally eligible for employer-sponsored life and long-term disability insurance as well as participation in our 401(k) plan, with annual safe harbor contribution.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law