Job Details

Director, Commissioning

The Director of Commissioning is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational execution, and continuous improvement of all commissioning (Cx) activities for mission-critical equipment within data center environments. This role ensures that all systems are commissioned safely, compliantly, and to the highest technical standards while delivering exceptional customer experience.

The Director will build and scale commissioning capabilities across multiple regions, standardize processes, develop technical talent, and ensure flawless startup and turnover of equipment including power, cooling, controls, and integrated systems.

This leader must balance technical depth, project execution rigor, and organizational scalability in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Develop and execute the commissioning strategy aligned with company growth objectives.

Build scalable commissioning processes to support rapid expansion.

Establish KPIs for quality, schedule adherence, safety, and customer satisfaction.

Drive standardization of startup, testing, documentation, and turnover procedures.

Operational Execution

Oversee all commissioning activities including FAT support, site acceptance, integrated systems testing (IST), and final turnover (FR).

Ensure commissioning aligns with contract scope, specifications, and project schedules.

Lead cross-functional coordination with project management, field service, engineering, and customers.

Resolve complex technical and schedule-related escalations.

Technical Authority

Serve as subject matter expert for mission-critical equipment commissioning.

Ensure compliance with industry standards (Uptime Institute, NFPA, NEC, ASHRAE, IEEE, etc.).

Approve commissioning plans, test scripts, and turnover documentation.

Support root cause analysis and corrective action for startup failures.

Talent Development & Organizational Design

Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing commissioning managers and field engineers.

Establish a technician-to-leader development pathway.

Define span of control and regional leadership structure.

Lead technical training initiatives and certification programs.

Safety & Quality Ownership

Champion a zero-incident safety culture.

Ensure adherence to LOTO, arc flash, and energized work procedures.

Drive quality control processes and documentation accuracy.

Implement commissioning audit programs.

Financial & Commercial Oversight

Manage commissioning budget, labor forecasting, and margin performance.

Support sales with technical pre-construction input and scope clarification.

Identify change orders and mitigate scope creep.

Improve commissioning productivity and cost efficiency.

Customer Experience & Relationship Management

Act as executive-level escalation point during critical commissioning events.

Lead customer-facing technical reviews and readiness meetings.

Ensure professional turnover documentation and customer training delivery.

Strengthen long-term client relationships in hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise markets.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field (preferred).

Equivalent field experience in mission-critical commissioning considered.

Experience

10+ years in data center commissioning, startup, or field service leadership.

5+ years leading multi-regional technical teams.

Experience with mission-critical equipment such as:

o UPS systems

o Generators and paralleling switchgear

o MV/LV distribution

o Cooling systems (CRAC/CRAH/chillers)

o Controls and BMS integration

Proven experience scaling technical organizations in high-growth environments.

Certifications (Preferred)

Professional Engineer (PE)

Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP)

OSHA 30

NFPA 70E

Skills & Competencies

Executive presence and leadership maturity

Deep technical credibility in mission-critical systems

Operational rigor and process discipline

Ability to lead in high-pressure commissioning environments

Strong financial acumen

Talent development and succession planning mindset

Customer-first orientation