Lead Mechanical Commissioning Engineer

Lead Mechanical Commissioning Engineer – Data Center Projects

Commissioning – Atlanta, Georgia – Full Time

We are hiring a Lead Mechanical Commissioning Engineer for a major data center construction project. This is a site-dedicated leadership role responsible for the mechanical Cx team, L1–L5 execution, documentation delivery, client interface, testing, and project turnover.

Travel candidates are encouraged to apply. Excellent compensation plus full per diem, mobilization assistance, and a monthly home-travel allowance are available for qualified candidates.

Position Overview

This is a true commissioning leadership position. The Lead Mechanical Cx Engineer will lead the mechanical commissioning effort through Levels 1–5, including equipment and documentation verification, installation inspections, startup and pre-functional activities, functional performance testing, Integrated Systems Testing support, turnover, and final project delivery.

The successful candidate will manage and provide technical direction to mechanical commissioning engineers and field staff while coordinating closely with the client, general contractor, MEP contractors, equipment vendors, controls teams, design engineers, and other commissioning disciplines.

Candidates must have previous mechanical commissioning leadership experience on data center construction projects. General mechanical engineering or commissioning experience without data center L1–L5 leadership will not be sufficient for this position.

What You'll Do

• Lead the Mechanical Commissioning program through L1–L5 for a large-scale data center construction project.
• Manage and provide technical leadership to Mechanical Commissioning Engineers and field personnel.
• Assign work, establish priorities, monitor progress, and ensure the mechanical Cx team meets project milestones and client expectations.
• Serve as a primary mechanical commissioning interface with the client, GC/CM, MEP contractors, design engineers, controls teams, equipment vendors, and other commissioning disciplines.
• Represent the mechanical Cx team during client meetings, commissioning meetings, coordination meetings, schedule reviews, and project-status discussions.
• Lead mechanical commissioning planning, system readiness, startup coordination, functional testing, issue resolution, and turnover.
• Oversee L1 equipment/documentation verification and L2 installation verification/construction-readiness inspections.
• Coordinate L3 startup, pre-functional checks, equipment startup documentation, and system readiness.
• Lead L4 Functional Performance Testing (FPT), including test-procedure review and coordination of contractors, vendors, and controls personnel.
• Provide mechanical leadership during L5 Integrated Systems Testing (IST), including normal, failure, recovery, and emergency operating scenarios.
• Lead mechanical system walkdowns and determine readiness for commissioning and testing.
• Review mechanical drawings, specifications, submittals, equipment documentation, sequences of operation, controls documentation, and commissioning requirements.
• Coordinate mechanical activities with BMS/controls, electrical, EPMS, life-safety, and other project disciplines.
• Monitor mechanical commissioning progress against the project schedule.
• Ensure contractors, vendors, and internal Cx personnel complete required commissioning deliverables.
• Provide clear project-status reporting to leadership and the client.

Documentation & Project Delivery

• L1–L5 commissioning documentation and supporting evidence, commissioning checklists and test scripts
• Equipment startup documentation and pre-functional checklists, Functional Performance Test documentation, IST documentation
• Deficiency, issue, retest, and closure documentation
• System turnover packages, mechanical commissioning reports
• Client deliverables and final project closeout documentation

The Lead will ensure documentation accurately reflects field execution and that incomplete documentation or unresolved deficiencies do not jeopardize system turnover or client acceptance.

Mechanical Systems Experience

Chilled water systems and central plants, chillers and cooling towers, CRAH and CRAC units, Air Handling Units (AHUs), pumps and hydronic systems, condenser water systems and heat exchangers, data hall cooling systems, HVAC and ventilation systems, BMS and mechanical controls, sequences of operation and controls integration, in-row cooling systems, CDU/direct-to-chip or liquid cooling systems (where applicable), and other mission-critical mechanical infrastructure.

What We're Looking For

• 7+ years of mechanical commissioning, engineering, construction, or mission-critical facilities experience, with 10+ years preferred.
• Significant direct data center commissioning experience is required.
• Demonstrated experience leading mechanical commissioning activities through L1–L5 on data center construction projects.
• Proven experience managing Mechanical Cx Engineers and/or field commissioning personnel.
• Demonstrated ownership of commissioning documentation, system turnover, issue management, and client deliverables.
• L5/Integrated Systems Testing experience required, with previous leadership responsibility strongly preferred.
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical and controls-related problems during commissioning.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, P&IDs, specifications, submittals, equipment documentation, and controls sequences.
• Strong leadership, organizational, technical communication, and client-facing skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or related technical discipline; extensive relevant field experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• PE, CxA, CCP, BCxP, or other relevant professional certification is a plus.
• OSHA 10/30 or equivalent construction safety training.
• Experience with commissioning management or construction management software platforms (e.g., project documentation, BIM coordination, or field-tracking tools).