Opportunity as Data Center Project Manager

Russell Tobin; New Jersey; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Russell Tobin is seeking a senior Data Center Project Manager (M&E) in Somerset, NJ to lead end-to-end delivery of mechanical, electrical, and critical-infrastructure projects across enterprise data centers.

You will partner with operations, engineering, MEP consultants, and vendors to plan scope, budgets, procurement, risk, and commissioning, ensuring a smooth handover to steady-state operations.

Qualifications

• 5-10+ years of experience managing MEP or mission-critical construction projects within data centers.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC, UPS, generators, PDUs, controls, and commissioning processes.
• Experience with financial firms is preferred given live data center environments.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage vendors, and oversee large project budgets.
• Strong communication skills with stakeholder management and precise documentation.
• Ability to work in dynamic environments while maintaining safety, quality and governance standards.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary project lead for all assigned mechanical, electrical, and critical-infrastructure CAPEX initiatives.
• Develop and maintain project scope documents, schedules, budgets, risk registers, status reporting, and financial updates for stakeholders.
• Execute procurement activities including RFP development, bid evaluation, vendor selection, and contract negotiation.
• Coordinate with internal engineering, data center operations, MEP consultants, and third-party service providers to ensure alignment with standards and governance.
• Oversee installation, testing, and commissioning activities for HVAC, UPS, generators, PDUs, controls, and life-safety systems.
• Manage project CAPEX budget and assist with vendor payment generation as required.
• Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, safety protocols, and industry standards, including SLA/KPI support.
• Maintain project documentation, status tracking, change-management processes, and required meetings.

Skills

MEP project management

Data center infrastructure

Stakeholder management

Vendor management

Budgeting and CAPEX

HVAC / UPS / Generators

Regulatory compliance

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Job description

• The Data Center Project Manager (M&E) role is a senior-level infrastructure project management position based in Somerset, NJ, responsible for leading the end-to-end delivery of mechanical, electrical, and critical technology infrastructure projects across enterprise data centers. This role requires a strong combination of project management expertise, mission-critical facility knowledge, vendor management, financial oversight, and stakeholder coordination skills.
• The candidate will work closely with data center operations, engineering teams, MEP consultants, commissioning providers, construction vendors, and business stakeholders to manage infrastructure refresh and modernization initiatives across the NY/NJ region. Responsibilities include project planning, scope and budget management, procurement and contract administration, risk mitigation, commissioning oversight, regulatory compliance, and ensuring successful transition into steady-state operations.
• The ideal candidate should possess extensive experience managing MEP and mission-critical construction projects within data center or similar critical facility environments. Strong knowledge of HVAC, UPS, generators, PDUs, controls, commissioning processes, and CAPEX project delivery is essential. Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills are required to successfully deliver complex infrastructure programs while maintaining safety, quality, operational resiliency, and governance standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as primary project lead for all assigned mechanical, electrical, and critical‑infrastructure CAPEX initiatives.
• Develop and maintain project scope documents, schedules, budgets, risk registers, status reporting, and financial updates for stakeholders.
• Execute procurement activities including RFP development, bid evaluation, vendor selection, and contract negotiation.
• Coordinate with internal engineering, data center operations, MEP consultants, and third‑party service providers to ensure alignment with EDC standards and governance.
• Oversee installation, testing, and commissioning activities for HVAC, UPS, generators, PDUs, controls, fire/life safety systems, and other mechanical/electrical components.
• Manage project CAPEX budget and assist with vendor payment generation as required.
• Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, safety protocols, and industry standards, including support for SLA/KPI commitments.
• Maintain project documentation, status tracking, change‑management processes, and required meeting cadence.
• Support sustainability and certification goals (LEED, WELL, WiredScore, SmartScore) through project design and execution on a per project basis.
• Partner with data center operations teams to ensure seamless handover into steady‑state operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field preferred.
• 5-10+ years of experience managing MEP or mission‑critical construction projects within data centers or a similar environment required.
• Experience with financial firms is preferred as it relates to the critical nature of refreshing equipment in a live financial data center environment is preferred.
• This is a MEP role and not telecom or application/software development.
• Strong knowledge of critical facility systems including HVAC, UPS, generators, PDUs, controls, and commissioning processes.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams, manage vendors, and oversee large‑scale project budgets.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to manage stakeholder expectations and produce accurate documentation.
• Ability to work in dynamic, fast‑paced environments while maintaining safety, quality, and governance standards.

Why This Role

• This position provides the opportunity to contribute directly to the reliability, resiliency, and modernization of the firm’s global data center environment.
• The role offers exposure to senior engineering leadership, high‑impact infrastructure programs, and cross‑functional teams delivering complex, mission‑critical projects

Russell Tobin is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of the race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, reproductive health decision making, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Russell Tobin is a Fair Chance employer. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable state and local Fair Chance laws and ordinances, including, the California Fair Chance Act and all applicable local Fair Chance ordinances.

Accommodations

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of this role, please contact us.

Only applicable for San Francisco Candidates

Under the San Francisco Lactation in the Workplace Ordinance, we will provide written notice of lactation accommodation rights, and this notice will automatically be given upon hiring, any inquiry of parental leave or lactation accommodation.