Senior Project Manager - Chillers

ESP Enterprises Inc.; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ESP Enterprises Inc. is building a North American division focused on advanced cooling for data centers, seeking a Senior Project Manager to own the delivery of centrifugal chiller and modular cooling plant projects from contract award to turnover.

You will be the primary contact for customers, contractors, and internal teams, coordinating with engineering and manufacturing groups in the U.S. and Japan to ensure on-time, on-budget project completion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, PM or equivalent.
• 9+ years experience, incl. ≥4 years in centrifugal chiller/modular cooling projects.
• Proven end-to-end ownership of customer-facing chiller projects.
• Strong scope, schedule, budget, risk, and change management.
• Ability to read GA drawings, P&IDs, electrical drawings, and sequences of operation.
• Hands-on in coordinating permits, inspections, AHJ approvals, and field safety.
• Knowledge of NFPA 70/NEC and local code requirements.

Responsibilities

• Drive chiller and modular cooling projects through engineering, manufacturing, shipping, installation, and handover.
• Lead customer, consulting engineers, GC, EPCs, and MEP contractors as primary contact.
• Control scope, schedule, budget, risk, change orders; maintain project docs.
• Lead meetings, report status, raise issues early, keep decisions on track.
• Move GA drawings, P&IDs, electrical drawings, control narratives through review and approval.
• Monitor FAT, shipping readiness, plan deliveries, rigging, crane access, laydown.
• Verify site readiness before installation (foundations, utilities).
• Coordinate permits and AHJ/NRTL approvals, including field labeling.
• Manage site safety coordination (OSHA, JHA, LOTO, PTW).
• Handle refrigerant, environmental, water treatment, insurer requirements.
• Support SAT, commissioning, punch list, and closeout packages (O&M, as-builts, test records, warranty).

Skills

9+ years exp

End-to-end ownership

Scope management

Schedule management

Budget management

Risk management

Change management

Reading drawings

Permits coordination

Site safety coordination

NFPA 70/NEC knowledge

Education

Bachelors in mechanical or electrical engineering

Job description

A global industrial and energy technology leader is building a new North American division focused on advanced cooling for data centers, and it offers long-term stability and room to grow. The Senior Project Manager will own the delivery of centrifugal chiller and modular cooling plant projects from contract award to final turnover. You will be the primary contact for customers, contractors, and internal teams, and you will work closely with engineering and manufacturing groups in the U.S. and Japan.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive chiller and modular cooling plant projects through engineering, manufacturing, shipping, installation, commissioning, and handover.
• Serve as the lead contact for customers, consulting engineers, general contractors, EPCs, and MEP contractors.
• Control scope, schedule, budget, risk, and change orders, and maintain project documentation with clearly defined responsibility splits.
• Lead project meetings, deliver status reporting, raise issues early, and keep decisions on track.
• Move engineering submittals (GA drawings, P&IDs, electrical drawings, control narratives, sequences of operation) through customer review and approval.
• Monitor factory milestones, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and shipping readiness, and plan deliveries, rigging, crane access, and laydown areas.
• Verify site readiness before installation, including foundations and utility tie-ins.
• Coordinate permits, inspections, and approvals with AHJs and NRTLs, including field labeling when required.
• Manage site safety coordination, including OSHA compliance, job hazard analyses, lockout/tagout, and permit-to-work procedures.
• Handle refrigerant, environmental, water treatment, and insurer requirements that affect delivery and turnover.
• Support site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and punch list closure, and deliver full closeout packages (O&M manuals, as-builts, test records, warranty handover).

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, project management, or equivalent experience.
• 9+ years of experience, with at least 4 years managing centrifugal chiller and modular cooling plant projects.
• A proven record of owning customer-facing chiller or cooling plant projects end to end, from order to handover.
• Strong command of scope, schedule, budget, risk, and change management.
• Ability to read and interpret specifications, contracts, GA drawings, P&IDs, electrical drawings, and sequences of operation.
• Hands-on experience coordinating permits, inspections, AHJ approvals, and construction site safety programs.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and controls systems, NFPA 70/NEC, and local code and permitting requirements.

Nice to Have

• Data center or mission-critical project experience, particularly with hyperscale or colocation customers.
• Experience with cooling towers, pump skids, electrical skids, or other data center infrastructure equipment.
• A background in heavy-haul logistics, rigging, and commissioning readiness.
• Familiarity with UL/ETL/CSA labeling, UL 508A control panels, and field evaluations.
• Proficiency with Procore, Primavera P6, Smartsheet, Bluebeam, Autodesk Construction Cloud, SAP, or similar tools.
• PMP, OSHA-30, or another project management, safety, or commissioning certification.
• Familiarity with EPA Section 608 refrigerant regulations and environmental compliance.