Commissioning Manager

Position Overview

GAI Consultants is seeking an experienced Commissioning Manager (Owner's Representative). The Commissioning Manager serves as the Owner's senior on-site representative for commissioning on mission-critical data center projects, providing independent, objective oversight of the entire commissioning process; the design team, the general contractor and its startup activities, and the third-party Commissioning Authority (CxA) verifying that systems are delivered in conformance with the Owner's Project Requirements (OPR), the design, and program standards across the full L0-L6 lifecycle.

This is an authority-and-oversight role, not a delivery- or people-management role. The Commissioning Manager does not execute the contractor's or CxA's scope; the Commissioning Manager reviews, witnesses, challenges, and approves it on the Owner's behalf. The position requires the technical depth to read a functional test script and judge its adequacy, to witness and interpret L4 functional performance testing and L5 integrated systems testing, and to hold the project team accountable to a rigorous, well-documented commissioning process through turnover and operational readiness.

Key Responsibilities

Owner's Representation & Commissioning Oversight

• Act as the Owner's single point of authority for commissioning on the project, providing independent, objective oversight of the design team, general contractor, startup contractors, and third-party CxA.
• Enforce the Owner's commissioning standards, OPR, and program requirements; embed Owner expectations into the project's commissioning process from design through turnover.
• Identify gaps early in the process and offer creative solutions to maintain milestone schedules.

Commissioning Process & Document Review

• Review and approve the commissioning plan, testing plans, test scripts (IVC, FPT, IST), schedules, and turnover documentation produced by the CxA and contractors before execution and before Owner acceptance.
• Participate in design and submittal reviews (L0-L1) to confirm commissioning feasibility and that Owner requirements are reflected in the design.

Test Witnessing & Verification (L2-L5)

• Witness and independently verify installation verification (L2), energization and startup (L3), functional performance testing (L4), and integrated systems testing (L5); validate results against acceptance criteria.
• Personally evaluate the technical adequacy of testing; sequence of operations, failure-mode scenarios, system interactions, and reject incomplete or non-conforming work.

Issue Escalation, Risk & Schedule

• Track commissioning progress, deficiencies, and risk against project milestones; escalate issues to Owner leadership and drive resolution and re-test verification.
• Represent the Owner's commissioning interests in project meetings, protecting uptime, quality, and schedule across the owner-contractor-engineer dynamic.

Turnover & Operational Readiness

• Verify deficiency closeout, as-commissioned documentation, systems manuals, and operator training before recommending Owner acceptance and turnover to operations (L6).

Safety

• Verify field commissioning is conducted in compliance with NFPA 70E electrical safe work practices, lockout/tagout, and job-hazard-analysis discipline.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Up to 75% travel; sustained work in energized electrical environments with full NFPA 70E PPE compliance; confined spaces, heights, temperature extremes, and elevated noise
• Occasionally lift up to 50 lbs; climb ladders and stairs up to 12 floors; available for extended hours during critical testing milestones; valid driver's license required
• Sustained work in energized electrical environments requiring full PPE compliance with NFPA 70E at all times
• Ability to work in confined spaces, at heights, and in environments with elevated noise levels, temperature extremes, and limited lighting
• Availability to work extended hours, nights, and weekends during critical testing milestones and owner acceptance events
• Frequently required to sit for prolonged periods of time
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, climb stairs up to 12 floors, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl

General Characteristics

• Independent and objective; comfortable challenging contractors, the CxA, and the design team while maintaining productive working relationships.
• Deep hands-on commissioning and testing judgment - can read a script, witness an IST, and know whether it is right.
• Owner-advocacy mindset; protects uptime, quality, schedule, and the Owner's long-term operational interests.

Minimum Years of Experience

• 12+ years of relevant experience
• Qualifying experience: project management, construction management, outage management, maintenance management, reliability engineering, or commissioning in critical infrastructure, power generation, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or comparable industries. Military technical backgrounds qualify. Some direct commissioning experience is required.
• Adjacent high-consequence backgrounds; power generation, petrochemical/process, pharmaceutical validation, healthcare facilities, or U.S. military technical and nuclear programs - are valuable for the underlying systems and consequence-management foundation.

Education

• B.S. Engineering, Construction Management or other technical degree or vocational/trade certification in relevant field or equivalent hands-on experience will be considered and may substitute for formal education requirements

Certification/Licensure

• Commissioning certification - ACG CxA, BCxP, or CCP - preferred (this role carries independent technical authority on the Owner's behalf).
• NFPA 70E and OSHA 30 (required or ability to complete; provided through GAI internal training during onboarding for candidates who do not hold them at hire).
• PMP and Uptime Institute ATD/ATF preferred. Valid driver's license required.

Technical Responsibilities

• Hands-on command of electrical systems (MV switchgear, UPS, generators, ATS/STS, PDU/RPP) and mechanical systems (chilled-water plants, CRAH/CRAC, BMS/BAS), fire/life-safety, and EPMS/BMS sufficient to independently judge test adequacy.
• Fluency in ASHRAE Guideline 0 and 1.7, NFPA 70E and 110, Uptime Tier classification, and the L0-L6 testing hierarchy, applied to enforce Owner and hyperscaler standards.

Project and Task Management

• Track commissioning scope, schedule, and phase-gate progression on the Owner's behalf; integrate Cx milestones with construction and turnover.
• Identify schedule and technical risk early and drive mitigation through the project team.

Management Responsibility

• No direct reports. Exercises functional authority over the project's commissioning process on the Owner's behalf; directing, reviewing, and approving the work of the CxA, GC startup, and contractor Cx teams without holding their employment.
• Accountable to Owner leadership for commissioning outcomes, documentation quality, and operational readiness at turnover.

Communication Skills

• Communicates commissioning status, deficiencies, and risk clearly and promptly to Owner leadership, contractors, the CxA, and the design team through written reports and live briefings.
• Credible and persuasive across technical and executive audiences; able to deliver difficult findings and hold the line on Owner requirements.

Why GAI?

GAI offers skilled professionals like you an exceptional place to work, grow, lead, and achieve. Explore anarray of opportunities in locations across the U.S. and join accomplished colleagues in tackling challenging projects for a range of markets. Enjoy work location and scheduling flexibility; your choice of comprehensive, personalized benefits; a range of employee wellness programs and discounts; and more. Feel good about being part of a collaborative teamthat'scommitted to supporting the communities we serve. Join GAI and distinguish yourself in a company poised for unlimited growth.

Benefits To Working at GAI Include:

Competitive Pay & Recognition

• Marketbased, competitive compensation

• Performancedriven recognition and development bonuses

Comprehensive Health & Wellness

• Medical, dental, and vision plans

• Companypaid short-term and long-term disability

• Companypaid life insurance

• Employee Assistance Program and wellness resources

Meaningful Work-Life Balance

• Generous paid time off + 7 paid holidays

• Anadditionalfloating holiday-use it for what matters to you

• Paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave

Growth, Learning & Financial Security

• 401(k) with company match

• Tuition reimbursement
• Support and rewards for professional development and certifications

Bachelors of Engineering (required)

NFPA 70E (required)
Direct commissioning experience (required)
12 years: Relevant experience in Project management, Construction management, Outage management, Maintenance management, Reliability engineering
Commissioning in critical infrastructure, power generation, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or comparable industries
(required)

Project Mgmt Prof (PMP) (preferred)
Driver's License (required)
OSHA 30-Hour Construction (required)