Senior Data Center Commissioning Manager

Kent Data Centres; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent Data Centres seeks a Senior Data Center Commissioning Manager to lead client-facing commissioning across large-scale data center projects. You will provide technical leadership, oversight and delivery assurance from design through IST and handover.

Based in Dallas, Texas, you will coordinate with owners, A&E teams, general and trade contractors, vendors and operations teams to ensure systems meet design intent and client requirements, with a focus on safety and schedule.

Qualifications

• Over 10 years of data center infrastructure and commissioning experience.
• Experience leading commissioning on large-scale data center projects.
• Strong knowledge of electrical, mechanical and controls systems in data centers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commissioning strategy and delivery of large-scale data center projects from design review through testing, turnover and operations readiness.
• Provide client-side commissioning advisory and delivery assurance as a trusted technical representative to the client.
• Coordinate L1–L5 commissioning activities across electrical, mechanical and controls systems.
• Review design documentation and perform commissioning readiness assessments to mitigate risk before impact to delivery.
• Lead FAT/FWT, SAT and IST activities and ensure proper documentation and closeout.

Skills

Client-facing

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

BMS/EPMS

Testing (FAT/FWT, SAT)

Job description

Consultancy / Owner rep

Kent Data Centres is built on more than a century of engineering expertise within Kent, a global leader in integrated energy services.

We operate exclusively in data centre and critical environments, acting as lead consultants, technical advisors, and commissioning partners while supporting clients from feasibility through design, delivery, and operational handover.

To support our continued growth in the Americas, we're looking for client-facing Technical Project Managers / Data Centre SMEs to lead engagements across the region.

ABOUT YOU:

Join us. Unleash your energy within.

If you have world-class ambitions to reach the stars while keeping your feet on the ground, Kent Data Centres are the team for you. We've created a new breed of company - future-focused with reimagined ambition across all disciplines within the energy sector.

We love people who know their own potential and are not afraid to use it. We know that together, we’re far more than the sum of our parts. So, we celebrate people who want to grow and develop as we work together on some of the largest projects on the energy world stage.

OUR PURPOSE AND BELIEFS:

As Kent, we’re tackling the greatest challenge of our time - to bring our world the energy it needs in the most responsible way ever imagined.

It’s the energy of every member of our team driven by our beliefs that is making this happen. Whatever our skill, our language, or our culture. These beliefs define and direct us every day to be the very best - for ourselves, our clients, our key stakeholders, the communities we operate in and the planet:

We PLAY BIG

We thrive on EMOTIONAL AGILITY

We are FANATICAL ABOUT PERFORMANCE

We are built on INFINITE THINKING

Read more about the Purpose, Beliefs and Guiding Principles that drive us: https://kentplc.com/who-we-are/purpose-beliefs

OUR VISION FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND BELONGING:

We recognize that diversity & inclusion are catalysts for success. We’re heightening awareness on the benefits of people diversity, diversity of experiences and diversity of our perspectives. Creating a culture of inclusivity where all employees feel a sense of belonging.

Our combined energy is fueled by different nationalities, across 6 continents and 24 countries. Our commitment is to celebrate character – no matter what ethnic background, gender, age, religion, identity, or disability.

About the job:

SENIOR DATA CENTER COMMISSIONING MANAGER

This is a senior, client-facing commissioning leadership position for an experienced data center professional with deep knowledge of critical mechanical and electrical infrastructure.

Acting as part of the client-side consultancy team, you will provide commissioning leadership, technical oversight and delivery assurance from design and commissioning planning through equipment startup, functional testing, Integrated Systems Testing and final operational handover.

You will lead and coordinate commissioning activity across L1–L5, working closely with clients, A&E teams, general contractors, trade contractors, vendors, commissioning agents and operations teams to ensure systems are safe, complete, fully tested and operating in accordance with design intent and client requirements.

This is not simply a contractor-side commissioning management position. The role requires the technical credibility and client-facing presence to independently challenge readiness, identify risk, influence project teams and protect the owner’s technical and operational requirements.

SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the commissioning strategy and delivery of large-scale data center projects from design review and commissioning planning through testing, turnover and operational readiness.
• Provide client-side commissioning advisory and delivery assurance, acting as a trusted technical representative to the client.
• Develop, review and manage project commissioning plans, commissioning schedules, readiness milestones and turnover strategies.
• Lead and coordinate L1–L5 commissioning activities across critical electrical, mechanical and controls systems.
• Review design documentation and undertake commissionability reviews, identifying risks relating to system architecture, sequencing, maintainability, testing and operational readiness before they impact delivery.
• Review and challenge commissioning specifications, Basis of Design documentation, sequences of operation, control strategies and testing requirements.
• Lead or oversee Factory Acceptance Testing / Factory Witness Testing (FAT/FWT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), functional performance testing and Integrated Systems Testing (IST).
• Review, develop and approve commissioning procedures, test scripts, method statements, MOPs and commissioning documentation.
• Oversee testing and validation of critical data center infrastructure including utility systems, MV/LV electrical distribution, generators, UPS systems, switchgear, cooling systems, chillers, pumps, CRAH/CRAC systems, BMS/EPMS and associated controls.
• Verify system readiness prior to energization, startup and integrated testing.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary commissioning interfaces and ensure electrical, mechanical, controls and supporting systems perform together as an integrated facility.
• Monitor commissioning progress against the master project schedule and identify risks to key energization, testing, turnover and operational milestones.
• Own and drive commissioning issue, deficiency and punch-list management through resolution and closure.
• Provide independent technical challenge where installation, testing, documentation or system performance does not meet client requirements or design intent.
• Review contractor, vendor and commissioning-agent deliverables for technical quality, completeness and compliance.
• Interface directly with owners, developers, A&E consultants, general contractors, trade partners, vendors, commissioning agents and operations teams.
• Lead commissioning meetings, readiness reviews, technical workshops and senior stakeholder presentations.
• Provide clear commissioning reporting, dashboards, risk registers and executive-level updates to clients and project leadership.
• Support resolution of complex technical issues across mechanical, electrical and controls systems.
• Ensure commissioning records, test results, deficiency logs and turnover documentation are complete, auditable and appropriately closed out.
• Support client training, systems handover, operational readiness and transition into live operation.
• Work closely with design teams to ensure lessons identified during commissioning are incorporated into future designs and projects.
• Support project QA/QC and ensure commissioning is fully integrated with design, construction and project delivery processes.
• Promote safe commissioning and energization practices, including appropriate controls around live systems, LOTO and high-risk testing activities.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to commissioning engineers and wider project teams.
• Support Kent Data Centres’ continued growth in the Americas by building trusted client relationships and delivering technically excellent outcomes.

YOUR EXPERIENCE:

• 10+ years of data center infrastructure and commissioning experience, with strong exposure to both power and cooling systems.
• Demonstrable experience leading commissioning on large-scale data center projects.
• Proven experience managing or overseeing the complete commissioning lifecycle, including L1–L5, FAT/FWT, SAT, functional testing and IST.
• Strong technical knowledge of critical electrical infrastructure including utility interfaces, MV/LV systems, transformers, switchgear, generators, UPS systems, power distribution and controls.
• Strong technical knowledge of critical mechanical infrastructure including cooling systems, chilled water, heat rejection, pumps, CRAH/CRAC equipment and associated controls.
• Strong understanding of BMS, EPMS and controls integration and their role within Integrated Systems Testing.
• Experience operating in a consultancy, owner’s representative, commissioning authority or client-side technical advisory environment strongly preferred.
• Ability to independently review, challenge and validate commissioning strategies, procedures, test scripts and technical documentation.
• Strong understanding of commissioning readiness, system turnover, energization, phased delivery and operational handover.
• Experience coordinating A&E teams, general contractors, subcontractors, vendors, commissioning agents and client operations teams.
• Strong knowledge of design drawings, specifications, sequences of operation and technical submittals.
• Working knowledge of applicable US codes, data center standards and commissioning practices, including ASHRAE commissioning guidance, NEC/NFPA requirements, Uptime Institute principles and TIA-942.
• Knowledge of electrical safety, energization controls and LOTO practices within live or high-risk environments.
• Excellent client-facing communication skills with the confidence to present technical issues, risk and commissioning strategy to senior client and project stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, organization and problem-solving capability in fast-paced project environments.
• Ability to identify technical and schedule risk early and drive issues through to resolution.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant industry experience.
• CCP, CxA, PE, PMP, BCxP or relevant commissioning/data center certification advantageous.
• Data center commissioning experience is essential.
• Based in or able to work from Dallas, Texas, with willingness to travel to project sites across Texas and the wider Americas as required.
• Flexibility to support critical testing, energization and IST activities that may occasionally take place outside standard working hours.

About Kent Data Centres

Kent Data Centres operates within Kent's group-wide governance framework, applying consistent standards for safety, quality, technical assurance, and commercial control.

Kent Data Centres teams are experienced in delivering work within live, high-risk, and operationally critical environments, with a clear focus on continuity of service and predictable outcomes across the full asset lifecycle - from early strategy through delivery, commissioning, and operational readiness.