Manager of Commissioning –HPC / Data Center
Location: Spartanburg, SC
Employment Type: Direct Hire
Work Arrangement: On-Site
Benefits: 100% Company-Paid Benefits
Overview
Our client is seeking an experienced, hands-on
Manager of Commissioning to serve as the on-site commissioning authority for a large-scale HPC and mission-critical data center facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
This role will own the field execution of the commissioning lifecycle through Levels 1–5, ensuring electrical, mechanical, controls, and life-safety systems are installed, tested, documented, energized, and ultimately validated through Integrated Systems Testing (IST).
The Manager of Commissioning will serve as the primary on-site point of contact for commissioning activities, working closely with the general contractor, subcontractors, third-party commissioning agents, OEM startup technicians, design teams, construction leadership, and site operations.
This is a field-driven role requiring strong technical knowledge, disciplined execution, and the ability to coordinate complex commissioning activities in a fast-paced, mission-critical construction environment.
Key ResponsibilitiesCommissioning Execution
- Lead day-to-day commissioning activities across electrical, mechanical, cooling, controls, and life-safety systems.
- Manage field execution of commissioning Levels 1–5, from equipment readiness and startup through functional testing and Integrated Systems Testing.
- Ensure systems are commissioned in accordance with design intent, Owner Project Requirements, applicable codes, approved commissioning plans, and project standards.
- Serve as the primary on-site commissioning authority for field verification, functional testing, troubleshooting, and issue resolution.
- Coordinate directly with third-party commissioning agents to review commissioning scripts, testing plans, schedules, load-bank activities, and system turnover requirements.
- Drive commissioning issues, deficiencies, and punch-list items through resolution and final acceptance.
Equipment Readiness & Turnover
- Verify FAT/FWT documentation, equipment readiness records, startup documentation, and other required commissioning deliverables before equipment enters the commissioning process.
- Coordinate equipment startup activities with OEM technicians as major electrical and mechanical equipment arrives on site.
- Review testing and installation documentation including torque records, insulation resistance testing, grounding documentation, load-bank results, and equipment startup records.
- Confirm required documentation complies with applicable project standards and industry requirements, including NETA, NEC, NFPA, IEEE, and ASHRAE guidelines.
- Partner closely with construction and MEP leadership to ensure installation sequencing supports commissioning milestones and system turnover.
Energization & Critical Activities
- Lead coordination of first-time energization events and electrical system activation in accordance with approved commissioning schedules.
- Assist in developing and managing Critical Methods of Procedure (CMOPs) for switching, energization, load-bank testing, and other high-risk activities.
- Develop and coordinate switching plans and load-bank test plans in partnership with contractors, commissioning teams, and site operations.
- Ensure personnel participating in critical activities are properly briefed and understand CMOP requirements before execution.
- Support safe execution of live-environment and mission-critical commissioning activities.
Schedule & Field Coordination
- Align commissioning milestones with the construction schedule, system turnover, OFCI equipment delivery, OEM startup activities, and site readiness.
- Identify commissioning risks that may affect the critical path and escalate schedule or readiness concerns to project leadership.
- Coordinate with general contractors, subcontractors, design engineers, OEMs, and commissioning teams to resolve field discrepancies and sequencing conflicts.
- Maintain close coordination with MEP leadership regarding installation completion, system readiness, testing requirements, and turnover milestones.
- Support Facilities and Site Operations teams to maintain operational continuity during active construction and commissioning.
Safety & Compliance
- Reinforce a strong site safety culture throughout all commissioning activities.
- Ensure contractors, subcontractors, OEM technicians, and commissioning personnel follow site safety programs and applicable OSHA requirements.
- Support safe work practices related to electrical switching, energized systems, mechanical startup, load-bank testing, and other high-risk activities.
- Promote compliance with NFPA 70E and applicable electrical safety standards.
Reporting & Stakeholder Communication
- Provide regular commissioning status updates to the Director of Construction & Commissioning.
- Report progress against commissioning milestones, system turnover status, open deficiencies, schedule risks, and field issues affecting readiness.
- Represent commissioning during Owner-Architect-Contractor meetings, stakeholder meetings, construction reviews, and project status discussions.
- Maintain accurate commissioning documentation, issue logs, testing records, and turnover information throughout project execution.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of hands-on commissioning experience within mission-critical environments such as data centers, HPC facilities, semiconductor facilities, advanced manufacturing, power generation, or similar infrastructure.
- Experience executing commissioning programs in active or live mission-critical environments.
- Demonstrated experience with Integrated Systems Testing, load-bank testing, first-time energization, switching procedures, and CMOP development.
- Experience coordinating FAT/FWT documentation, equipment readiness, OEM startup activities, and system turnover.
- Strong working knowledge of electrical infrastructure, including high-voltage and low-voltage distribution systems.
- Working knowledge of mechanical and cooling infrastructure, controls, BMS/EPMS systems, and fire/life-safety systems.
- Experience managing or coordinating third-party commissioning agents.
- Strong understanding of commissioning documentation, testing requirements, deficiency tracking, and closeout processes.
- Ability to coordinate effectively across construction, MEP, engineering, facilities, operations, OEM, and commissioning teams.
- Strong communication, documentation, organization, and field problem-solving skills.
Technology Experience
Experience with the following tools is strongly preferred:
- CxAlloy
- Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC)
- Primavera P6
- Procore
- BIM 360
Preferred Qualifications
- OSHA 30 certification.
- NFPA 70E certification or equivalent electrical safety training.
- Bachelor's degree or higher technical qualification in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
- Familiarity with NFPA, NEC, IEEE, NETA, and ASHRAE standards.
- Previous commissioning experience within hyperscale data centers, HPC environments, large-scale AI infrastructure, or other mission-critical facilities.
Work Authorization
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship now or at any time in the future.
Benefits & Perks
- 100% Company-Paid Benefits: Employer-paid medical coverage through the company's High Deductible Health Plan, plus dental and vision coverage for employees and eligible family members.
- 401(k): 100% company match on employee contributions up to 6%.
- Paid Time Off: 25 days of PTO plus 12 company holidays.
- Paid Parental Leave: 16 weeks.
- Company-Paid Lunch Stipend: Lunch provided through Grubhub.
- Additional Company-Paid Benefits: Employee Assistance Program, life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability.
- Optional Benefits: PPO medical coverage, Health Savings Account with company contribution, Flexible Spending Accounts, supplemental life insurance, Wellhub, and additional voluntary benefits.
This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications. Responsibilities may change or additional duties may be assigned based on evolving business and project needs.