Technical Field Advisor

Spencer Ogden; Homer City (Indiana County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Spencer Ogden seeks an Owner's Representative – Data Center Power Infrastructure & Commissioning to serve as the owner's on-site technical authority for converting a decommissioned coal plant into a data center campus. The role oversees civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and commissioning activities, focusing on foundations, turbine installation, retrofit integration, QA, and readiness.

The Owner's Rep acts as the owner's advocate, ensuring contractors, equipment suppliers, commissioning

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in power generation, industrial construction, mission-critical facilities, or large infrastructure projects.
• Experience as Owner's Representative, Construction Manager, Commissioning Manager, Resident Engineer, or Field Engineer.
• Experience with gas turbine power plants, heavy civil construction, foundations and structural concrete, and data centers or mission-critical facilities.
• Strong ability to review construction drawings, specifications, schedules, and QA/QC documentation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary field representative for the owner.
• Monitor EPC, general, and subcontractors, OEMs, and commissioning agents.
• Verify work aligns with drawings, specifications, contracts, and quality standards.
• Provide daily oversight of construction activities and progress reporting.
• Identify risks and lead mitigation efforts; conduct site walks and inspections.
• Oversee foundations, turbine foundations, and equipment support structures.
• Coordinate with turbine OEMs during installation and startup.
• Ensure safety, environmental compliance, and quality throughout the project.
• Oversee data center infrastructure installation, including electrical, cooling, and BAS systems.

Skills

Owner's Representative

QA/QC leadership

Safety leadership

Project coordination

Commissioning management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Construction Management

Job description

Owner's Representative – Data Center Power Infrastructure & Commissioning

Position Summary

The Technical Field Advisor serves as the owner's on-site technical and construction authority for the conversion of a decommissioned coal-fired power plant into a state-of-the-art data center campus. This individual will oversee all aspects of civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and commissioning activities, with particular emphasis on foundation construction, turbine installation, retrofit integration, quality assurance, and operational readiness.

The Owner's Rep will act as the owner's advocate, ensuring contractors, equipment suppliers, commissioning providers, and consultants execute work safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with project specifications, industry standards, and owner expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Construction Oversight & Owner Representation

• Serve as the primary field representative for the owner.
• Monitor EPC contractors, general contractors, subcontractors, OEMs, and commissioning agents.
• Verify work is completed in accordance with project drawings, specifications, contract requirements, and quality standards.
• Provide daily oversight of construction activities and progress reporting.
• Identify project risks and lead mitigation efforts before impacts occur.
• Conduct site walks and field inspections to ensure safe and effective execution.
• Oversee demolition and remediation activities associated with the former coal plant.
• Monitor excavation, grading, piling, deep foundations, equipment pads, and structural concrete installations.
• Verify foundation construction meets geotechnical recommendations and engineered design requirements.
• Ensure turbine foundations and equipment support structures achieve required tolerances.
• Review field testing reports including:
• Soil compaction
• Rebar inspections
• Foundation settlement monitoring
• Structural quality verification
• Monitor receipt, storage, preservation, assembly, and installation of gas turbines and auxiliary equipment.
• Coordinate with turbine OEM representatives during installation and startup activities.
• Verify execution of:
• Equipment setting
• Alignment activities
• Mechanical completion inspections
• Ensure installation complies with manufacturer's requirements and warranty conditions.
• Oversee supporting systems including:
• Cooling systems
• Lubrication systems
• Generator installations

Data Center Infrastructure Oversight

• Oversee construction and fit-out of mission-critical facilities.
• Verify installation quality of:
• Medium-voltage and low-voltage electrical systems
• Switchgear and substations
• UPS systems
• Standby generation systems
• Cooling infrastructure
• Building automation systems
• Data halls and white space infrastructure
• Ensure infrastructure meets reliability and redundancy requirements.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

• Establish and enforce rigorous QA/QC programs.
• Review Inspection and Test Plans (ITPs).
• Verify contractor quality processes and documentation.
• Ensure all installations comply with:
• Applicable building codes
• NFPA standards
• ASME requirements
• IEEE standards
• Manufacturer specifications
• Owner standards
• Manage punch lists and deficiency tracking.
• Review and approve turnover documentation packages.

Safety & Environmental Compliance

• Promote a strong safety culture across the project.
• Verify compliance with OSHA requirements and site-specific safety procedures.
• Monitor environmental compliance activities related to remediation and retrofit construction.
• Participate in incident investigations and corrective actions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in power generation, industrial construction, mission-critical facilities, or large infrastructure projects.
• Experience serving as an Owner's Representative, Construction Manager, Commissioning Manager, Resident Engineer, or Field Engineer.
• Demonstrated experience with:
• Gas turbine power plants
• Heavy civil construction
• Foundations and structural concrete
• Data centers or mission-critical facilities
• Mechanical and electrical system commissioning
• Strong understanding of commissioning methodologies and startup procedures.
• Proficiency reviewing construction drawings, specifications, schedules, and QA/QC documentation.