Commissioning Senior Manager - Mechanical

Fleet Data Centers designs, builds and operates mega-scale data center campuses. Fleet provides its customers flexibility and predictability to meet their upside demand forecasts, addressing a key need in the market as traditional leased models are struggling to keep pace with the demand for new Cloud and AI infrastructure. Fleet is led by a team of industry veterans that have already made a lasting imprint on the evolution of global digital infrastructure and are committed and uniquely capable of upleveling data center development scale and operations in the face of rising demand. Fleet is well positioned to bring in-house design, engineering and operational capabilities to collaborate with customers on tailored solutions for campuses of 500MW+. This unique model enables Fleet to provide the world’s largest and most sophisticated customers a seamless extension of their own data center fleets with constant access to design innovation.

The Mechanical Commissioning Senior Manager leads the end-to-end commissioning lifecycle for all mechanical systems in mission-critical and supporting facilities, ensuring these are installed, tested, verified, and handed over to operations to meet performance, reliability, and safety requirements. This role integrates design intent with field execution, orchestrates multi-disciplinary teams, manages risk, and delivers auditable commissioning evidence that enables on-time, on-budget, and right-first-time facility readiness.

The successful candidate will need to possess a strong understanding of HVAC systems, chilled water plants, industrial water systems, adiabatic cooling, CRAC/CRAH units, hydronic distribution, fuel oil systems, building management systems (BMS), fire protection systems, water treatment plants, and administration and logistics buildings. In addition, they will need to lead multi-disciplinary teams under tight deadlines and high-pressure conditions, while maintaining accurate commissioning records and turnover packages shared with Fleet leadership. This person will attend all commissioning meetings, track schedule adherence, issue closure rates, and system performance metrics.

Job Responsibilities

The successful candidate will have experience and practical expertise in the following:

- Planning & coordination:

• Review Basis of Design (BoD), drawings, specifications, and submittals for commissioning requirements and testability.
• Review and collaborate on sequences of operation (SOO) with design and controls teams; ensure sensor placement, access, and valving support for commissioning and future operations.
• Development and/or assist with the development and upkeep of the Commissioning Plan (scope, phasing, staffing, RASIC, tools, documentation control, quality gates).
• Define mechanical commissioning schedule aligned with construction and IST milestones; identify long-lead equipment and factory witness tests.
• Develop and/or assist with the development of Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 commissioning checklists.
• Develop and/or assist in the development of Level 4 and Level 5 commissioning test scripts.

- Commissioning Operations & Execution:

• Be responsible for commissioning team communications and updates, including leading or co-leading meetings.
• Oversee and/or lead Site Acceptance, Installation, and Pre-energization inspections, checklists, required documentation provided by contractors and vendors and issue resolution.
• Oversee and/or lead first time energization, pre-functional checklists (PFCs), start-up acceptance testing (SAT), and functional test scripts (FTs) for mechanical equipment and systems across all modes (normal, degraded, failover, emergency, maintenance bypass, recovery), including required documentation provided by contractors and vendors and issue resolution.
• Oversee vendor/OEM Level – 3 start-ups; verify conformance to submittals and sequences of operation (SOO).
• Oversee and coordinate TAB (Testing, Adjusting, Balancing) strategy, prerequisites, witnessing, and final report acceptance.
• Validate BMS point-to-point, alarm priorities, trending, graphics, and historian; ensure controls narratives are executable and traceable.
• Oversee and/or lead the plan and execution load bank testing, thermal validation protocols (as applicable), and performance testing to prove capacity and stability.
• Drive Integrated Systems Testing (IST) readiness and execution with electrical and life safety teams, ensuring mechanical responses and interlocks perform per design intent.
• Ensure project commissioning schedules are being met.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk, hear, and smell. Frequently required to sit, climb, and balance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, basic color differentiation and the ability to adjust focus. Regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

- Documentation & Turnover:

• Maintain a controlled repository within the Commissioning Platform for commissioning artifacts: SAI, Installation, PFCs, SATs, FPTs, IST results, issues logs, RFIs, redlines, and sign-offs.
• Review and/or produce consolidated Commissioning Reports with executive summaries, data visuals, narratives, and appendices.
• Assist with assembling Turnover Packages: final SOO, as-builts, TAB report, O&M manuals, warranties, spare parts lists, PM matrices, and training materials.
• Oversee and coordinate operator training and verify knowledge transfer (sign-in records and demonstration or assessment).

- Team Leadership & Development:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for mechanical commissioning scope; build trusted relationships with clients, GC/CMs, sub-contractors, vendors, and operations.
• Communicate progress, challenges, and solutions to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders; lead regular meetings and readiness reviews.
• Collaborate closely with pre-construction, design, construction, and operations teams to ensure seamless transition from construction to steady-state operations.

- Safety & Compliance:

• Operate safely in a fast pace, multi-phase construction atmosphere.
• Enforce lockout/tagout (LOTO), hot work permits, confined space, working at heights, and chemical handling protocols.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards (e.g., ASHRAE guidelines, NFPA where applicable, local/state mechanical codes).
• Conduct Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) and pre-task plans; use proper PPE; lead daily toolbox talks during commissioning peaks.
• Champion safety culture and environmental compliance across all commissioning activities.

- Financial & Performance Management:

• Manage commissioning budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation to ensure cost-efficient delivery.
• Establish and track KPIs: schedule adherence (% milestones achieved), defect density & closure rate (issues per MW; time-to-close), test coverage (% completed vs planned), performance compliance (% systems meeting OPR/BoD tolerances), handover quality (turnover completeness; operator training satisfaction), and safety outcomes (TRIR, near-miss reporting).
• Drive operational excellence to meet corporate targets and deliver projects on time and within budget.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of mechanical commissioning experience in mission-critical facilities (data centers, hospitals, labs, pharma, or industrial)
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a related field
• In lieu of degree, Graduate of applicable Commissioning Technical school or military with relevant military electrical or technical experience AND (8) years minimum commissioning work experience.
• Proven track record leading functional testing and IST coordination, with strong SCADA/controls/BMS integration and TAB familiarity.
• Demonstrates the ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams in high-stakes startup and cutover windows.
• Exceptional organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills, with strong documentation discipline.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and stakeholder management skills; proficiency with project management and commissioning platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• ASHRAE BCxP, ACG CxA, NEBB BSC or equivalent certifications

Travel and Schedule: Willingness and ability to travel (25–50%) to project sites as needed; extended hours during startup/functional/IST windows, including weekend/night shifts, and an occasional holiday if required.

Location: This is a remote position with travel

Expected Salary Range: $160,000 - $190,000 Base salary + Discretionary Bonus

Fleet Data Centers Employment

Fleet Data Centers employees enjoy competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401K program, standard paid holidays, and unlimited PTO.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties to meet the organization's ongoing needs.

Fleet Data Centers is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status. If you need assistance applying for any of our open positions, please contact us at [email protected]