Project Manager - Datacenters

ETAP Software; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ETAP seeks an execution-focused, technically fluent Project Manager to lead real-time microgrid control and power management solutions for hyperscale and colocation data center clients.

This role owns projects end-to-end—from contract execution through commissioning, energization, and final acceptance—and serves as the accountable leader for clients, commissioning teams, and internal engineering stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of project management experience delivering engineering, power systems, automation, or industrial software projects.
• Strong fluency in power systems or industrial automation, with the ability to engage in discussions on commissioning, controls, protection, and SCADA/EPMS systems.
• Proven experience managing contract-driven projects with milestone-based payments and defined acceptance criteria.

Responsibilities

• Own full project execution across scope, schedule, budget, and contract.
• Lead as the accountable project leader for schedule, scope, commercial outcomes, and acceptance readiness.
• Interface with hyperscale/colocation owners, commissioning agents, general contractors, and utility stakeholders.
• Lead project reviews, coordinate witness testing, and manage escalations to resolution.
• Drive credible conversations, tracking commissioning progress through testing and identifying true risks vs. noise.
• Manage financial performance, including payment milestones and cash flow against deliverables.
• Lead risk and change management, particularly during commissioning and acceptance phases.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to align with contractual and technical requirements.
• Oversee project acceptance and handover to support.

Skills

Project management

Power systems

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Travel readiness

Education

PMP certification

Tools

JIRA

Power BI

SCADA/EPMS

Job description

ETAP empowers customers to make informed decisions throughout the life cycle of their projects with innovative software solutions for electrical systems. By applying ETAP solutions, customers experience continuous intelligence during design and engineering and into operations and maintenance using a unified electrical digital twin platform. ETAP supports customers in their digital transformation and sustainable energy transitions for a green and smart future, helping them to prioritize safety, maximize reliability, and stay resilient.

Our employees' passion for excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction is our most-prized resource. If you share that passion — and want to be part of a company that leads the energy transition towards a cleaner and more resilient world for future generations — we invite you to join us!

ETAP is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Title: Project Manager – Data Center Solutions

Location: Houston, TX (Approx. 30% travel to project sites)

Job type: Full-time / Hybrid

We are seeking an execution-focused, technically fluent Project Manager to lead the delivery of real-time microgrid control and power management solutions for hyperscale and colocation data center clients. This role owns projects end-to-end — from contract execution through commissioning, energization, and final acceptance — and serves as the accountable leader for clients, commissioning teams, and internal engineering stakeholders.

This is not a coordination role. You will lead complex, mission-critical projects in live electrical environments, drive decisions, and ensure outcomes. While senior engineers own technical correctness, you must be technically credible enough to assess risk, challenge assumptions, and translate technical realities into commercial and client-facing decisions. As the business scales, this role will grow into ownership of multiple data center sites or a broader project portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Own full project execution across scope, schedule, budget, and contract, ensuring successful delivery through all lifecycle phases (design → FAT → SAT → commissioning → final acceptance)
• Serve as the accountable project leader, making decisions on schedule, scope, commercial outcomes, and acceptance readiness, while engineering teams own technical integrity
• Act as the primary client interface for hyperscale/colocation owners, commissioning agents (CxA), general contractors, and utility stakeholders
• Lead project reviews, coordinate witness testing, and manage escalations to resolution
• Drive technically credible conversations, tracking commissioning progress through integrated systems testing and identifying true risks vs. noise
• Manage financial performance, including payment milestones, invoicing alignment, and cash flow tracking against contractual deliverables
• Lead risk and change management, proactively identifying technical, schedule, and contractual exposures — particularly during commissioning, energization, and acceptance phases
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (engineering, controls, software, and client stakeholders) to ensure alignment with contractual and technical requirements
• Oversee project acceptance and handover, ensuring all deliverables are complete, documented, and approved prior to transition into support
• Own project reporting, including schedules, milestone tracking, financial performance, and executive-level updates
• Contribute to building scalable delivery practices, including standards, templates, and playbooks for consistent execution across multiple data center sites

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of project management experience delivering engineering, power systems, automation, or industrial software projects
• Strong technical fluency in power systems or industrial automation, with the ability to engage in discussions on commissioning, controls, protection, and SCADA/EPMS systems
• Proven experience managing contract-driven projects with milestone-based payments and defined acceptance criteria
• Deep understanding of project lifecycle phases in field-delivered environments (design → FAT → SAT → commissioning → acceptance)
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to lead client reviews, witness testing, and escalations
• Demonstrated ability to manage both client relationships and cross-functional technical teams
• Strong risk management, change control, and contract interpretation capabilitiesOwnership mindset with accountability for outcomes, not just reporting
• Willingness to travel to project sites across the U.S. during active project phases

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in data centers, mission-critical facilities, or microgrid/power management projects
• Familiarity with commissioning processes (L1–L5, integrated systems testing) in critical environments
• Exposure to utility interconnection processes and witness testing
• Experience working with hyperscale clients (e.g., AWS, Microsoft, Google, Meta) or similar standards
• Background in power systems, SCADA, EPMS, ADMS, or automation delivery
• Experience with project tracking and reporting tools such as JIRA or Power BI
• PMP or equivalent certification
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects or readiness to grow into a program/portfolio leadership role

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in high-accountability environments, can operate confidently in technically complex settings, and is motivated to build and scale delivery excellence in the rapidly growing data center sector.

ETAP requires all successful applicants to undergo and pass a comprehensive background check before they start employment. Background checks will be conducted in accordance with local laws and may, subject to those laws, include proof of educational attainment, employment history verification, proof of work authorization, criminal records, identity verification, credit check. Certain positions dealing with sensitive and/or third party personal data may involve additional background check criteria.

ETAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to being an exemplary employer with an inclusive culture, developing a workplace environment where all our employees are treated with dignity and respect. We value diversity and the expertise that people from different backgrounds bring to our business.

Come and join ETAP to create the transformative technology that enables our customers to engineer a better world.