# Commissioning Project Lead, Data Center Delivery

**Company:** [OpenAI](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/openai)
**Location:** San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA
**Role:** Technical Program Management
**Salary:** $141k – $285k/yr
**Experience:** 10+ years
**Skills:** Commissioning, Construction Management, Technical Program Management, Project Delivery, Electrical Systems, Mechanical Systems, Controls, Functional Performance Testing, Integrated Systems Testing, Qa/Qc, Master Scheduling, Risk Management, Deficiency Resolution, Turnover Management, PMP
**Posted:** 2026-08-10

> Leads commissioning strategy and execution for a large-scale data center, coordinating construction readiness, startup, testing, risk management, and turnover across multidisciplinary teams and external partners. Requires 10+ years of experience in mission-critical infrastructure or similarly complex technical delivery.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Own the project commissioning strategy and execution plan, including scope, governance, acceptance criteria, responsibilities, sequencing, and escalation paths.
- Lead the hybrid owner and commissioning-partner delivery model, including RACI ownership, staffing, performance expectations, and issue management.
- Integrate commissioning into the master project schedule across construction readiness, energization, equipment startup, functional testing, integrated systems testing, and turnover.
- Coordinate commissioning across construction management, contractors, design teams, equipment vendors, operations, and field/test engineering teams.
- Drive multidisciplinary readiness across electrical, mechanical, controls, and supporting infrastructure.
- Identify and resolve schedule, readiness, design, submittal, safety, resource, deficiency, and documentation risks.
- Coordinate QA/QC inspections and test execution.
- Review commissioning plans, test procedures, readiness checklists, deficiency logs, test reports, turnover packages, and related deliverables against acceptance criteria.
- Report commissioning readiness, staffing, test progress, open risks, issue aging, and turnover status to project and executive leadership.
- Drive final system acceptance, turnover readiness, closeout, and lessons learned.

## Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in commissioning, construction, engineering, technical program management, or project delivery for mission-critical facilities or similarly complex technical infrastructure.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary commissioning programs through construction readiness, startup, functional performance testing, integrated systems testing, and turnover.
- Strong knowledge of electrical and mechanical commissioning workflows, including dependencies across power, cooling, controls, and supporting systems.
- Experience integrating commissioning into construction schedules, lookaheads, energization plans, equipment startup sequences, and turnover milestones.
- Experience managing owners, contractors, equipment vendors, and commissioning agents while driving accountability without direct authority.
- Experience managing commissioning documentation, test procedures, deficiency resolution, issue tracking, acceptance criteria, and quality governance.
- Ability to identify operational-readiness risks and translate technical issues into actionable schedule and project decisions.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including communication of technical readiness, risk, and recovery plans to senior project leadership.

## Nice-to-haves
- Owner-side commissioning experience.
- Experience establishing or scaling hybrid owner/vendor commissioning delivery models.
- Professional credentials such as PE, QCxP, CxA, BCxP, CCP, PMP, or another relevant commissioning, engineering, construction, or project management certification.

## Compensation and Benefits
- Annual salary range: $141,000–$285,000.
- The role initially supports planning and coordination in a hybrid capacity and transitions to full-time onsite presence during active construction, startup, testing, and commissioning.
- Travel to project sites, vendor facilities, and other locations may be required.

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