Mechanical Commissioning Project Manager

Mechanical Commissioning Project Manager

Mission-Critical Data Center Construction | Owner's Representative & Construction Management

LOCATION

Abilene, TX (US) + Travel

TRAVEL

100% to active sites

EXPERIENCE

7+ years, mission-critical Cx

Compensation:

• $130k - $170k Annual base salary, dependent on experience and location

• Lead and own the mechanical commissioning program across all levels (Level 1 factory testing through Level 5 integrated systems testing) in accordance with the project commissioning plan, owner's project requirements (OPR), and basis of design (BOD).
• Develop, maintain, and enforce commissioning schedules that align with the overall construction sequence, ensuring mechanical commissioning milestones are integrated into the master project schedule.
• Author and review commissioning documentation including pre-functional checklists, functional performance test scripts, IST scripts, issues logs, and final commissioning reports.
• Chair commissioning meetings and provide regular status reporting to the owner, design team, and Vertex project leadership, escalating risks and deviations promptly.

• Oversee commissioning of critical cooling infrastructure including air-cooled and water-cooled chiller plants, cooling towers, condenser and chilled-water pumping systems, CRAC/CRAH units, air handling units, and associated piping and valving.
• Commission advanced and high-density cooling systems such as economizer/free-cooling modes, glycol and waterside systems, coolant distribution units (CDUs), rear-door heat exchangers, and direct-to-chip / liquid cooling where applicable.
• Direct integrated thermal and load testing including load bank and thermal-load testing, "pull-the-plug" / loss-of-cooling and loss-of-utility scenarios, and failure-mode and recovery testing across redundancy configurations (N+1, 2N).
• Verify airflow management and environmental performance including hot/cold aisle containment, static pressure control, temperature and humidity setpoints, and compliance with ASHRAE TC 9.9 thermal guidelines.
• Validate BMS and controls integration confirming sequences of operation, monitoring, alarming, trending, and automatic failover perform correctly during normal, maintenance, and failure scenarios.
• Witness and document factory acceptance testing (FAT) at vendor facilities for chillers, CRAH/CRAC units, and CDUs, and reconcile findings with site acceptance testing (SAT).

• Enforce QA/QC standards for mechanical installation and testing-including pipe flushing, hydrostatic and pressure testing, cleanliness, and TAB (testing, adjusting, and balancing) verification-ensuring nonconformances are tracked to closure.
• Champion jobsite safety during mechanical startup and testing, including lockout/tagout, confined-space and rigging procedures, and compliance with site safety protocols.
• Coordinate cross-discipline dependencies with electrical commissioning, controls, and the general contractor to sequence startup and integrated testing without schedule conflict.
• Manage commissioning data in Procore (or the project's designated platform), maintaining a complete, auditable record of checklists, test results, deficiencies, and turnover packages.
• Support turnover and closeout by assembling commissioning documentation, verifying training and as-built completion, and confirming operational readiness for the owner's facilities team.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field-or equivalent combination of education and hands-on commissioning experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in mechanical commissioning, HVAC/mechanical construction, or mission-critical facilities, with at least 3 years in a project management or commissioning lead role.
• Demonstrated experience commissioning data centers or comparable mission-critical environments (e.g., hospitals, semiconductor, pharmaceutical facilities).
• Thorough working knowledge of the Levels 1-5 commissioning process and integrated systems testing (IST) methodology.
• Strong command of mechanical cooling systems: chillers, cooling towers, pumps, CRAC/CRAH units, air handling, chilled- and condenser-water systems, and associated controls.
• Working knowledge of applicable codes and standards, including ASHRAE (TC 9.9 thermal guidelines and commissioning guidelines), the International Mechanical Code, and TAB procedures (AABC/NEBB).
• Proficiency with construction management and commissioning software, particularly Procore, and with the Microsoft 365 suite.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead meetings and produce clear, client-ready documentation.
• Willingness to travel up to 75% to active project sites and the ability to work on-site at active construction environments.

• Recognized commissioning credential (e.g., BCxP, CxA, ACG/AABC CxA, or NEBB certification).
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in one or more U.S. states.
• Prior experience in an Owner's Representative or third-party commissioning capacity.
• Familiarity with hyperscale and colocation data center delivery standards and Uptime Institute Tier topologies.
• Experience commissioning high-density and liquid cooling systems (CDUs, rear-door heat exchangers, direct-to-chip).

• Work is performed primarily on active data center construction sites, with exposure to typical construction conditions and operating mechanical equipment during startup and testing.
• Must be able to traverse construction sites, climb ladders and stairs, and access rooftops, mechanical rooms, and equipment yards; capable of lifting up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and comply with all site and electrical safety protocols.
• Extended hours, including occasional nights and weekends, may be required to support critical testing milestones.

• $130,000 - $170,000, dependent on experience and location
• Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, LTD/STD, Life-AD&D
• Retirement: 401(k), discretionary Pension & Profit sharing, subject to Plan documents
• 15 days paid time off (prorated based on start date) and 8 holidays
• Company credit card for qualified travel expenses
• NFPA 70E Arc Flash training provided
• Professional development and certification reimbursement opportunities

• Successful completion of a background check.
• Successful completion of drug testing.
• Must have a valid US driver's license
• Must have permanent residence in CONUS with access to a primary airport for weekly travel