Mechanical Project Manager - Data Center

bekbg; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

BE&K Building Group seeks a Mechanical Project Manager – Mission Critical to lead mechanical construction for data centers and other high-availability facilities. You will manage HVAC, chilled water, pumps, fuel systems, and BAS integrations, ensuring uptime and seamless coordination with owners, designers, and trade partners.

The role requires strong leadership, deep experience in mission critical projects, and a track record of managing budgets, schedules, and commissioning activities across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in mechanical engineering or related field.
• At least 5 years construction experience; 3 years managing mechanical scopes.
• Experience with mission critical data centers, pharma/semiconductor projects preferred.
• Experience with design-build, IPD, or fast-track construction preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage mechanical budget and costs.
• Procure long-lead mechanical equipment and manage vendors.
• Coordinate data center mechanical systems integration and commissioning.
• Lead MEP coordination and clash resolution.
• Oversee startup, turnover, and owner training.
• Lead QA for mechanical installations.
• Develop detailed mechanical schedules and track milestones.
• Manage risk and ensure uptime in live facilities.
• Review design documents for constructability and VE.
• Lead teams of engineers, subcontractors, vendors, and owner reps.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Budget management

Scheduling

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related

Tools

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

Procore

Bluebeam Revu

Autodesk Construction Cloud

Navisworks

JDE ERP

Job description

PROJECT MANAGER – MECHANICAL (MISSION CRITICAL)

General Description

The Mechanical Project Manager (Mission Critical) is responsible for overall leadership, coordination, and management of mechanical construction activities for mission critical facilities, including data centers, hyperscale campuses, colocation facilities, semiconductor facilities, and other high‑availability environments. The Mechanical Project Manager is accountable for all aspects of project execution related to mechanical systems including HVAC, chilled water, condenser water, plumbing, process piping, fuel oil, controls integration, and commissioning support.

This position serves as the primary point of contact for mechanical scope execution between the owner, design team, commissioning agents, trade partners, equipment manufacturers, and project leadership. The Mechanical Project Manager must possess a strong understanding of mission critical infrastructure, redundancy requirements, phased turnover strategies, startup and commissioning processes, and the operational requirements of facilities requiring 24/7 uptime.

Project Manager I should be capable of successfully managing mechanical construction scopes ranging from approximately $5M to $50M+, depending on project complexity and operational constraints.

Principle Areas of Responsibility

• Mechanical systems budget development and cost management.
• Procurement and management of long‑lead mechanical equipment.
• Data center and mission critical infrastructure coordination.
• Mechanical commissioning and integrated systems testing support.
• MEP coordination and clash resolution.
• Startup, turnover, and owner training management.
• Mechanical subcontractor performance management.
• Constructability reviews and value engineering.
• Risk management related to uptime‑sensitive facilities.
• Quality assurance of mechanical installations.
• Scheduling and sequencing of mission critical mechanical systems.
• Equipment delivery logistics and installation planning.
• Mechanical change management and scope control.

Mission Critical Mechanical Management

• Manage all aspects of mechanical scope installation for mission critical projects, including HVAC, chilled water, condenser water, plumbing, fuel systems, process piping, controls interfaces, and associated infrastructure.
• Coordinate construction activities in live or partially operational facilities while maintaining uptime requirements.
• Review design documents to identify constructability concerns, operational risks, commissioning challenges, and opportunities for value engineering.
• Collaborate with engineering and design teams to resolve mechanical design issues and support design‑assist or design‑build delivery methods.
• Ensure compliance with owner project requirements (OPR), basis of design (BOD), and mission critical performance criteria.

Procurement and Equipment Management

• Develop and maintain procurement logs for major mechanical equipment including chillers, cooling towers, CRAHs, CRACs, pumps, generators, heat exchangers, and fuel systems.
• Manage vendor relationships and monitor fabrication, factory testing, delivery schedules, and equipment warranties.
• Review factory acceptance testing (FAT) procedures and participate in FAT activities when required.

Commissioning and Startup

• Coordinate mechanical system startup activities with commissioning agents, equipment vendors, engineers, and trade contractors.
• Support equipment pre‑functional testing, functional performance testing, integrated systems testing (IST), and owner witnessing activities.
• Manage development and execution of commissioning schedules and turnover plans.
• Ensure all startup documentation, O&Ms manuals, training materials, and closeout deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.

Mechanical Quality Control

• Lead quality assurance efforts for installation of mechanical systems and equipment.
• Ensure installation complies with contract documents, manufacturer requirements, applicable codes, and industry standards.
• Conduct regular field walks to verify workmanship, system readiness, and commissioning status.

Project Controls and Scheduling

• Develop and track detailed mechanical schedules including procurement, installation, startup, commissioning, and turnover milestones.
• Identify critical path activities affecting equipment energization and commissioning.
• Coordinate mechanical turnover sequencing to support phased client occupancy and operational readiness requirements.

Safety and Operational Risk Management

• Ensure mechanical work is executed in accordance with project safety requirements and site‑specific mission critical protocols.
• Participate in method of procedure (MOP), standard operating procedure (SOP), and emergency operating procedure (EOP) reviews as applicable.
• Assist in development of shutdown, tie‑in, and cutover plans for active facilities.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, or related discipline preferred.
• Minimum five (5) years of construction industry experience with at least three (3) years managing mechanical scopes of work.
• Experience managing mechanical construction on mission critical, data center, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, or industrial projects preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing mechanical subcontractors, equipment procurement, and commissioning activities.
• Experience with design‑build, integrated project delivery (IPD), or fast‑track construction projects preferred.
• Previous experience supporting commissioning, startup, and turnover processes for complex MEP systems preferred.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of mission critical mechanical systems including:
• Chilled Water Systems
• Cooling Towers
• Computer Room Air Handlers (CRAH)
• Computer Room Air Conditioning Units (CRAC)
• Direct and Indirect Evaporative Cooling Systems
• Plumbing and Process Piping Systems
• Fuel Oil Systems
• Building Automation Systems (BAS)
• HVAC Controls Integration

Mission Critical Expertise

• Understanding of Tier III and Tier IV data center infrastructure concepts.
• Familiarity with redundancy configurations including N, N+1, 2N, and concurrently maintainable systems.
• Working knowledge of commissioning processes and integrated systems testing.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical engineering drawings, specifications, sequences of operation, and piping schematics.
• Understanding of mission critical operational risk management practices.

Software Skills

• Proficient in:
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project
• Procore
• Bluebeam Revu
• Autodesk Construction Cloud/BIM 360
• Navisworks
• JDE or equivalent ERP software

Leadership Skills

• Ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams in high‑pressure, schedule‑driven environments.
• Strong negotiation and client‑facing communication skills.
• Ability to coordinate large teams of engineers, subcontractors, vendors, commissioning agents, and owner representatives.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining project quality, budget, and schedule objectives.

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
• OSHA 30‑Hour Certification
• Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP) or related commissioning certification
• Mission Critical Institute (MCI) certification or equivalent mission critical training preferred

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform physical activities such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, and handling materials.
• Must be able to work in various weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold.
• Capable of standing and walking for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

BE&K Building Group is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship.