Senior Mechanical Commissioning Advisor - Mission Critical

Job description

Engineering data centers with precision and expertise.

At Strategic Mission Critical, we are more than just engineers; we are experts focusing solely on mission critical facilities. Our seasoned leadership team brings together decades of experience, equipping data center providers worldwide with robust, reliable solutions  that keep pace with the evolving digital landscape.

As demand for high-performance infrastructure accelerates - fueled by AI and the expanding digital landscape - SMC continues to lead through technical rigor and operational excellence. We’re seeking leaders who think beyond projects to improve the way we deliver them: individuals who elevate people, process, and performance across the firm.

OVERVIEW

SMC’s Commissioning and Operations Advisory (CxOA) Team is seeking a Senior Mechanical Commissioning Advisor to support mission critical data center projects. This is a field-based role requiring approximately 60–70% travel to active project sites , with the Advisor serving as SMC’s on-site technical representative and supporting the Owner throughout the commissioning process.

In this role, you’ll advise on mechanical commissioning activities from construction and equipment startup through functional testing, integrated systems testing (IST), and turnover, providing guidance and oversight on behalf of the Owner.

You’ll work directly with Owners, GCs, Commissioning Agents (CxAs), mechanical and controls contractors, vendors, design teams, and operations personnel to monitor testing readiness and commissioning schedules, identify risks and deficiencies, and help remove project roadblocks through successful turnover.

The role requires deep experience in data center mechanical commissioning and critical cooling systems, along with the ability to evaluate complex issues, challenge testing and execution when needed, and provide clear recommendations to project teams and the Owner. The role may also support live data center operations through facility audits, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), troubleshooting, and operational readiness and training.

RESPONSIBILITIES - Serve as a senior on-site advisor to the Owner, providing mechanical commissioning guidance and oversight throughout construction, testing, and turnover. - Advise on commissioning schedules, testing readiness, and day-to-day execution, coordinating with the Owner, GC, Commissioning Agent (CxA), mechanical and controls contractors, vendors, design teams, and operations personnel to identify risks and help keep commissioning activities on track. - Provide oversight across critical mechanical systems, including chillers, cooling towers, pumps, CRAH/CRAC units, AHUs, hydronic systems, heat exchangers, and BAS/BMS controls. - Provide commissioning guidance through L1–L5, including equipment readiness, startup, functional performance testing, controls verification, failure scenarios, and integrated systems testing. - Identify and track commissioning deficiencies, schedule risks, and testing roadblocks, providing recommendations and challenging project teams when execution does not align with design intent, project requirements, or Owner expectations. - Review and provide guidance on commissioning plans, test scripts, MOPs/SOPs, TAB reports, equipment startup reports, sequences of operation, controls documentation, submittals, and turnover documentation. - Evaluate mechanical system performance against design intent and sequences of operation, identifying operational, controls, capacity, or system performance issues and recommending corrective actions. - Perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for critical events during construction or within live data center environments, documenting findings and recommending corrective actions. - Audit existing mission critical facilities to identify operational, installation, maintenance, controls, or system performance issues and recommend corrective actions. - Support post-turnover operational readiness and training, helping operations personnel understand system functionality, operating requirements, and lessons learned. - Mentor less-experienced Advisors and engineers and contribute to commissioning standards, best practices, and internal knowledge development.

QUALIFICATIONS - Approximately 10+ years of relevant commissioning experience, including significant experience commissioning mechanical systems within mission critical data center environments. - Demonstrated experience providing commissioning advisory support and technical oversight, including testing readiness, schedule review, deficiency resolution, stakeholder coordination, risk identification, and project turnover. - Advanced working knowledge of critical mechanical infrastructure, including systems such as chillers, cooling towers, pumps, CRAH/CRAC units, AHUs, hydronic systems, heat exchangers, and BAS/BMS controls. - Extensive experience across the L1–L5 commissioning process, including startup, functional performance testing, controls verification, failure scenarios, integrated systems testing, and issue resolution. - Strong experience troubleshooting complex mechanical and controls-related issues and evaluating system operation against design intent within active or live data center environments. - Ability to independently evaluate complex technical and operational issues, challenge commissioning execution when needed, provide clear recommendations, and represent the Owner’s interests in active and live data center environments.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Commissioning experience across multiple data center projects, campuses, or programs, with exposure to different Owners, project teams, standards, cooling strategies, and commissioning approaches. - Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent field and commissioning experience will be considered. - Familiarity with commissioning and construction tools such as CxAlloy, Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), Procore, and Bluebeam; PE, EIT, or relevant commissioning/industry certifications are a plus.

COMPENSATION

Base Compensation: $150,000 - $225,000 Annually  (Actual compensation is subject to variation due to factors such as education, experience, skills and/or location)

SMC offers a competitive benefits package, with a 36-hour standard work week, hybrid working arrangement, 13 paid holidays, 100% coverage of medical, health, and dental insurance premiums for our full-time employees, and reimbursement of professional licensing costs. Spouse and family insurance premiums are subsidized by SMC. All full-time employees are additionally eligible for employer-sponsored life and long-term disability insurance as well as participation in our 401(k) plan, with annual safe harbor contribution.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law .