Director of Commissioning

Job Description

We are supporting a fast-growing data center developer as they build out their commissioning leadership capability across a growing portfolio of hyperscale developments.

\n

\n

This is an opportunity for an experienced commissioning leader to join at an important stage of the company's growth. The initial focus will be on leading commissioning for a major hyperscale data center campus, with the opportunity to develop into a program-level leadership position as the portfolio expands.

\n

\n

The developer is focused on delivering large-scale, power-intensive data center infrastructure for hyperscalers, colocation providers and enterprise customers, with projects spanning multiple markets and significant future capacity in the pipeline.

\n

\n

The Opportunity

\n

\n

As Director of Commissioning, you will take ownership of the commissioning strategy and execution for a major hyperscale data center project, working across the full project lifecycle from design through final customer turnover.

\n

\n

Initially, you will act as the senior commissioning lead for a single campus, coordinating commissioning across electrical, mechanical, controls and integrated systems.

\n

\n

As the portfolio grows, the role is expected to develop into a broader commissioning program leadership position, establishing standards and processes across multiple projects, building out the commissioning team and driving consistency across the wider development platform.

\n

\n

Key Responsibilities

\n

\n

Project Commissioning Leadership

\n

\n
• Lead commissioning activities across a large-scale hyperscale data center project.

\n

• Develop and execute the commissioning strategy from design through final turnover.

\n

• Manage the Owner's Commissioning Agent (CxA) and oversee the General Contractor's commissioning organization.

\n

• Ensure commissioning milestones remain aligned with the overall project schedule and customer requirements.

\n

• Lead readiness reviews for startup, functional testing, Integrated Systems Testing (IST) and turnover.

\n

\n

\n

Design & Construction

\n

\n
• Participate in design reviews to ensure systems are fully commissionable and maintainable.

\n

• Review commissioning specifications, startup procedures and test scripts.

\n

• Work closely with design consultants to resolve commissioning-related design issues.

\n

• Ensure commissioning requirements are incorporated into procurement packages and construction contracts.

\n

\n

\n

Commissioning Planning

\n

\n
• Develop detailed commissioning execution plans.

\n

• Establish system boundaries and turnover sequencing.

\n

• Review Level 3 and Level 4 commissioning schedules.

\n

• Coordinate completions management processes.

\n

• Identify commissioning risks and develop mitigation strategies.

\n

\n

\n

Contractor & Consultant Management

\n

\n
• Manage relationships with General Contractors, commissioning consultants, trade contractors, equipment vendors, OEM representatives and utility providers.

\n

• Hold project partners accountable for testing quality, documentation, schedule performance and issue resolution.

\n

• Drive clear communication and accountability across all commissioning stakeholders.

\n

\n

\n

Startup & Testing

\n

\n
• Oversee equipment startup and pre-functional inspections.

\n

• Lead Functional Performance Testing (FPT) and Integrated Systems Testing (IST).

\n

• Provide oversight of utility witness testing, generator and UPS testing, mechanical systems testing, building automation testing, electrical protection testing, load bank testing and reliability demonstrations.

\n

• Ensure testing is completed safely and in line with project and customer requirements.

\n

\n

\n

Turnover & Customer Acceptance

\n

\n
• Drive completion of commissioning documentation, including test reports, deficiency logs, O&M manuals, training documentation, as-builts and final commissioning reports.

\n

• Coordinate final customer acceptance and ensure a smooth transition into operations.

\n

\n

\n

Schedule, Risk & Executive Reporting

\n

\n
• Identify commissioning risks early and drive mitigation plans.

\n

• Coordinate critical-path commissioning activities.

\n

• Provide clear commissioning updates to senior leadership.

\n

• Escalate issues requiring executive intervention.

\n

\n

\n

Longer-Term Program Leadership

\n

As the organization's data center portfolio expands, you will have the opportunity to shape and build the company's broader commissioning function.

\n

\n

This will include:

\n

\n
• Developing standardized commissioning standards, specifications and procedures.

\n

• Creating commissioning playbooks and best-practice processes.

\n

• Establishing commissioning KPIs and reporting dashboards.

\n

• Building and managing a regional commissioning team.

\n

• Developing future commissioning staffing plans.

\n

• Supporting the recruitment, development and mentoring of commissioning professionals.

\n

• Driving lessons learned and continuous improvement across projects.

\n

• Supporting the selection and procurement of commissioning consultants and strategic partners.

\n

• Working directly with hyperscale customers on portfolio-level commissioning strategies.

\n

\n

\n

What They're Looking For

\n

\n

The ideal candidate will bring significant experience delivering and commissioning large-scale mission-critical facilities, ideally within hyperscale data centers.

\n

\n

Required:

\n

\n
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.

\n

• 12+ years' experience across mission-critical commissioning, construction or engineering.

\n

• At least 5 years' experience leading commissioning on large mission-critical facilities.

\n

• Experience delivering hyperscale data centers exceeding 50MW.

\n

• Strong technical understanding of electrical power systems, mechanical cooling, controls/building automation, commissioning processes, startup planning and IST.

\n

• Experience managing commissioning consultants, General Contractors and specialist subcontractors.

\n

• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills.

\n

• Willingness to travel extensively to project sites.

\n

\n

\n

Desirable:

\n

\n
• Professional Engineer (PE) qualification.

\n

• Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP) or Certified Commissioning Authority (CxA).

\n

• Experience working directly with major hyperscale customers.

\n

• Experience using commissioning management or completions platforms.

\n

• Experience overseeing multiple commissioning programs simultaneously.

\n

\n

\n

Why This Role?

\n

\n

This is more than a project-level commissioning position.

\n

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help shape the commissioning function of a growing data center developer, initially owning delivery on a major hyperscale campus before taking on increasing responsibility across the wider portfolio.

\n

\n

For an experienced commissioning professional looking to move beyond individual project execution and into program leadership, team development and commissioning strategy, this represents an opportunity to have a genuine influence on how a growing data center platform delivers its projects.