Data Center Commissioning Engineer

What's on Offer

• Pay: $135,200 – $156,000 per year + overtime pay + $4,000 monthly per diem ($48,000 annually, non-taxable).
• Mobilization and Demobilization Bonus: $2,400 each (tax-free)
• Contract role, full-time on site. There is a possibility of conversion to W-2 after a 1 to 2 month trial period
• Long-term project opportunity (18 months) with a strong possibility of extension and subsequent project engagements.
• Training and professional development opportunities

Why Join Our Team:

• Work on a large hyperscale data center project
• Gain valuable mission-critical construction experience
• Opportunity to grow into higher-level leadership roles
• Access opportunities to move to future projects across the U.S.
• Contribute to a fast-growing industry with exposure to large-scale projects exceeding $100M

Job Description

• 18-month project with high possibility of extension and subsequent projects
• MV and LV electrical and mechanical commissioning supervision and coordination
• Hyperscale data center construction project
• Columbus Ohio area
• Contract role, full-time on-site
• Unrestricted ability to travel/relocate

NOTE: This position is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents only.

INTRODUCTION:

Since 1991, AB Consulting GSS has provided specialized project support and technical expertise to the manufacturing and construction industries. One of our key engagements involves supporting the construction of a major new data center in Ohio. Join our team and be part of impactful projects that shape the future of industrial innovation.

JOB SUMMARY:

A major client is asking us to provide a Commissioning (Cx) Engineer to oversee and coordinate Level 1 through Level 4 commissioning of facilities-level equipment and systems on a new hyperscale data center. The Cx Engineer will work in a plant construction environment under the direction of the client’s Cx Manager on site. This role requires strong Cx expertise and excellent coordination skills with subcontractors, superintendents, quality teams, and end client engineers.

CONTRACT TYPE: 1099 Independent Contractor

LOCATION: Columbus Ohio area

START DATE: As soon as possible, depending on availability

DURATION: 18 months with likely extension or transfer to other project

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Implement and follow the Project Commissioning Plan: Coordinate and oversee the GC’s subcontractors and the owner’s vendors to successfully complete L1-L4 commissioning on all facilities-level data center equipment and systems. Ensure all commissioning activities are well documented and follow project specs and industry standards.

Verify installation readiness: Conduct site walks to confirm that systems are installed per design. Validate that equipment is accessible, labeled, torqued, and safe to energize. Identify deficiencies early and drive corrective actions.

Execute and oversee system testing: Perform or supervise functional testing of electrical, mechanical, controls, and life-safety systems. Support load bank testing, PQM (power quality monitoring), and integrated systems testing. Ensure test scripts are followed and results documented.

Coordinate across all stakeholders: Run effective meetings, identify issues with the owner’s vendors, determine what’s blocking progress, effectively communicate and drive the priorities. Keep everyone aligned on schedule, readiness, and issue resolution. Manage Documentation and Reporting: Maintain commissioning logs, test reports, redlines, and deficiency lists. Ensure documentation is uploaded to the project’s commissioning platform. Track closeout requirements and ensure all systems achieve final acceptance.

Troubleshoot and Resolve Technical Issues: Identify root causes of failures during testing. Work with subs and vendors to resolve issues quickly. Ensure fixes are retested and validated.

Support Turnover and Owner Training: Ensure systems meet the owner’s operational requirements. Participate in training sessions for operations staff. Deliver final documentation packages and ensure a smooth handoff.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Certifications, and Experience:

o Minimum 2-year Associate’s degree in Electronics, Electrical, Mechatronics, or

Construction Engineering, OR solid electrical commissioning oversight on similar

industrial construction projects of at least $100M in value

o Minimum of 2 years as a Commissioning Engineer using similar facility construction

technology, methods, equipment, tools, and work procedures.

o Useful certifications: PE (Electrical or Mechanical), CxA, BCxP, or NEBB Cx

certifications, OSHA 30 (baseline expectation), NFPA 70E, factory training from OEMs

(Schneider, Vertiv, Cummins, etc.)

o Hyperscale data center experience is strongly preferred.

Strong technical foundation in mission-critical MEP systems:

o Medium- and low-voltage electrical distribution

o One-line diagrams and operational sequences

o UPS systems, batteries, and power electronics

o Generators and paralleling gear

o Chilled water plants, CRAH/CRAC units, and mechanical cooling sequences

o BMS/EPMS controls and integration logic

Hands-on commissioning experience:

o Experience executing commissioning plans, PFCs, functional tests, and IST

o Familiarity with ASHRAE, BCxA, NEBB, and similar commissioning standards

o Familiarity with owner-specific commissioning sequences (L-levels, etc.)

o Ability to lead vendors and subcontractors through structured test scripts

o Comfort troubleshooting failures under schedule pressure

Safety & energization competency:

o Deep understanding of LOTO, electrical safety, and energization protocols

o Ability to coordinate safe startup of MV/LV systems

o Experience working within strict energy-control frameworks (e.g., AWS Energy Marshall

model)

o Understanding of aggressive turnover milestones and safe, phased energization

Strong documentation & controls discipline:

o Manage commissioning logs, test scripts, deficiency lists, and turnover packages

o Work in structured platforms (Procore, BIM 360, SharePoint, or owner-specific tools)

o Maintain traceability and version control across thousands of test points

Cross-functional coordination skills:

o Effectively coordinate across subcontractors, OEMs, GC construction teams, owner Cx

teams, and ops readiness teams

Problem-solving & root-cause analysis ability:

o Diagnose electrical, mechanical, or controls issues quickly

o Work with OEMs to resolve failures

o Retest and validate fixes under tight deadlines

Demonstrate effective teamwork, maintain a professional demeanor, and foster positive

relationships inside and outside the team.

Willingness to travel/relocate for future projects within the continental USA.

Pay: $65.00 - $75.00 per hour

Application Question(s):

• 1. Are you an American or Canadian citizen, or a U.S. permanent resident?
• 2. Do you have an unrestricted ability to travel and relocate for future projects within the continental U.S.?
• 3. What is the highest degree you have completed, and what was your field of study (major)?
• 4. This role starts as a 1099 contract position, with potential conversion to W-2 after a 1-2 month trial period. Are you comfortable with this arrangement?

What is your preferred employment status?

• 5. How many years of experience do you have as a Commissioning Engineer working on industrial construction projects with a total project size exceeding 250,000 square feet?
• 6. How many years of experience do you have working on data center construction projects?
• What role(s) have you held on those projects?

What was the approximate budget/scope (USD and sq. ft.), the end client (e.g., Google, Microsoft, Amazon).

• 7. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, please rate your level of knowledge in the following areas. If you hold a certification, indicate it next to your rating (e.g., 5 / certified):
• PE (Electrical or Mechanical)
• CxA (Certified Commissioning Authority)
• BCxP (Building Commissioning Professional) • NEBB Commissioning Certification
• OSHA 30
• NFPA 70E
• Factory training from OEMs (e.g., Schneider, Vertiv, Cummins, etc.)
• 8. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest, please rank your technical expertise with the following types of systems and equipment:
• MV power distribution
• LV power distribution
• UPS systems
• Generators
• Chilled water plants

BMS/EPMS controls

• 9. On a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate your experience with:

• LOTO (Lockout/Tagout)

• Electrical safety

• Energization procedures

• 10. How many years of experience do you have working with owner-specific commissioning processes (e.g., Microsoft L-levels, Google, Meta, AWS, etc.). Which commissioning stages have you personally led or supported, and what were your responsibilities at each stage?
• 11. How many years of experience do you have coordinating cross-functional activities across subcontractors and OEMs? What role(s) have you held on those projects? What was the approximate budget and scope of those projects?
• 12. On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means no experience and 5 means expert-level experience, how would you rate your experience managing the following:

• Commissioning logs

• Test scripts

• Deficiency lists

• Turnover packages

• Procore

• BIM 360

• SharePoint

• 13. How many years of experience do you have managing construction MEP systems? Please specify the systems and equipment you have worked with

Work Location: In person