Sr. Commissioning Mechanical Mgr

KODIAK Construction Recruiting & Staffing; Midland (TX); On-site; USD 103,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

KODIAK Construction Recruiting & Staffing is seeking a Senior Commissioning Manager for field-based work on West Texas facilities. You’ll lead mechanical and process commissioning from system turnover through startup, performance testing, and final handover.

The role requires 12+ years in commissioning, 5+ years leading teams, and strong coordination with construction, operations, vendors, and client leadership.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in commissioning, startup, construction, or operations in heavy industrial settings.
• At least 5 years leading commissioning or startup teams on major field projects.
• Hands-on knowledge of mechanical and process systems including rotating & fixed equipment, piping, utilities.
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, process flows, equipment data sheets, and turnover records.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical and process commissioning from turnover through startup and turnover.
• Develop commissioning plans, staffing, schedule, and acceptance criteria.
• Coordinate daily execution with construction, operations, engineering, quality, safety, vendors, and client.
• Lead readiness activities and walkdowns; manage punch lists and turnover dossiers.

Skills

Field leadership

Project management

Mechanical systems

Process systems

Root cause analysis

Safety awareness

MS Office proficiency

Tools

P&IDs interpretation

Job description

Senior Commissioning Manager | Mechanical & Process Systems

Location: Odessa, TX / West Texas Project Sites

Compensation: $75–$80/hour

Additional compensation: Overtime + Daily Per Diem ($150 per day)

Employment: Contract-to-Hire

18-Month Contract

13 Days On / 1 Day Off

Assignment: Field-based project work in West Texas, with travel as required.

Take critical West Texas facilities from mechanical completion to first flow—leading the teams, systems, and startup decisions that bring them safely online.

Bring complex systems to life

A major West Texas project needs a field leader who can turn completed construction into safe, reliable operations. As Senior Commissioning Manager, you’ll lead mechanical and process commissioning from system turnover through startup, performance testing, and final handover.

You’ll guide the work on compressors, pumps, vessels, piping, utilities, and packaged equipment, coordinating closely with construction, operations, engineering, vendors, and the client. Your focus is mechanical and process systems; electrical and instrumentation teams will be key partners.

How you’ll lead

• Put safety first and stop work when conditions, permits, isolations, procedures, or personnel readiness are inadequate.
• Set clear daily priorities and hold teams accountable for safe, complete execution.
• Raise problems early and communicate their impact on startup milestones.
• Stay visible in the field and verify system readiness firsthand.

What you’ll lead

• Set the commissioning and startup plan, including system boundaries, turnover sequence, staffing, schedule, priorities, and acceptance criteria.
• Drive mechanical completion, pre-commissioning, commissioning, startup, stabilization, performance testing, and turnover.
• Define systems and subsystems using P&IDs, process flow diagrams, equipment lists, line lists, and turnover packages.
• Lead readiness activities for compressors, pumps, turbines and drivers, separators, vessels, exchangers, fired equipment, tanks, piping, valves, utilities, and packaged process equipment.
• Oversee pressure testing, flushing, blowing, chemical cleaning, leak testing, drying, inerting, lubrication, alignment checks, rotation checks, and equipment readiness.
• Verify completion records, test packages, inspection records, vendor documents, punch lists, and turnover dossiers before startup authorization.
• Coordinate daily execution across construction, operations, engineering, quality, safety, vendors, subcontractors, and client representatives.
• Lead walkdowns and prioritize punch-list items according to startup risk and turnover needs.
• Build and manage commissioning schedules, turnover forecasts, constraint logs, manpower plans, daily execution plans, and progress reports.
• Prepare and approve commissioning procedures, startup sequences, check sheets, test records, readiness reviews, and system acceptance documents.
• Coordinate vendor support for equipment verification, first runs, troubleshooting, warranty compliance, and performance testing.
• Resolve mechanical and process issues during startup and early operation, using root-cause analysis to drive lasting fixes.
• Keep simultaneous operations, permits, isolations, line breaking, confined-space work, pressure testing, and startup energy hazards under control.
• Complete handover to operations with organized records, operator training, spare-parts status, and clear ownership of remaining items.

What you’ll bring

• 12+ years of progressive commissioning, startup, construction, operations, or maintenance experience in oil and gas, gas processing, midstream, petrochemical, refining, or a comparable heavy industrial setting.
• At least 5 years leading commissioning or startup teams on major field projects.
• Hands-on knowledge of mechanical and process systems, including rotating and fixed equipment, piping, pressure systems, valves, utilities, and packaged equipment.
• Strong understanding of mechanical completion, systemization, turnover, preservation, pre-commissioning, startup, performance testing, and final acceptance.
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, process flow diagrams, equipment data sheets, plot plans, isometrics, vendor manuals, cause-and-effect documents, and turnover records.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary field teams and coordinating with construction, operations, engineering, quality, safety, controls, and client leadership.
• Working knowledge of applicable API, ASME, OSHA, and client-specific commissioning requirements.
• Strong planning, documentation, scheduling, problem-solving, and field decision-making skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and commissioning, completion, turnover, or project-control systems.

Preferred experience

• Commissioning experience with gas plants, compressor stations, cryogenic processing facilities, pipelines, terminals, refineries, or large industrial process facilities.
• EPC contractor or self-performing industrial construction experience on fast-track projects.
• Responsibility for commissioning budgets, staffing plans, integrated schedules, and client reporting.