Senior Director, Power Commissioning & Startup

Nscale; Georgia; Hybrid; USD 220,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base + bonus + equity

Medical, dental and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Nscale is hiring a Senior Director of Commissioning and Startup in Houston with remote US options and up to 50% travel. You will lead end-to-end commissioning and startup of power generation assets, shaping facilities from design through commercial operation.

You will drive systemization, safety culture, and disciplined startup execution across EPC partners and OEMs, building a high-performing team in a fast-scaling AI infra company.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in commissioning, startup, and operations of power generation or heavy process facilities.
• Hands-on knowledge across mechanical, electrical, and controls systems.
• Experience with energization planning, first fire, performance testing, and reliability demonstrations.
• Strong process safety: PSSR, permit-to-work, MOC and safe energization practices.
• Proven ability to direct EPC contracts and OEM commissioning teams.
• Experience in design development from an operations/startup perspective.
• History of building teams, standards, and processes in fast-scaling environments.
• Willing to travel to project sites up to 50%.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end commissioning and startup strategy from mechanical completion through COD.
• Define systemization, turnover, and energization philosophy for each project.
• Develop commissioning plans, schedules, procedures, test scripts, and testing protocols.
• Drive punch list discipline and turnover readiness for startup.
• Demonstrate commercial operation with performance testing and reliability demos.
• Engage in pre-construction design to optimize for commissioning and operation.
• Lead safety activities: PSSR, permit-to-work, energization safety, LOTO.
• Direct EPC and OEM teams, plan FATs, site support, and warranty preservation.
• Build the commissioning and startup organization, standards, and tooling.

Skills

Leadership

Commissioning & startup

EPC management

Safety culture

Operations perspective

Design reviews

Team building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Job description

Nscale is hiring a Senior Director of Commissioning and Startup in Houston with remote US options and up to 50% travel. You will lead end-to-end commissioning and startup of power generation assets, shaping facilities from design through commercial operation.

You will drive systemization, safety culture, and disciplined startup execution across EPC partners and OEMs, building a high-performing team in a fast-scaling AI infra company.