Position Overview
Nscale is building the infrastructure behind the next generation of AI. Our data centers are purpose-built for high-density GPU compute, which means power and cooling systems that push well past traditional enterprise loads and leave very little margin for error.
The Commissioning Manager owns the commissioning program for one of our data center builds from design review through Level 5 Integrated Systems Testing (IST) and handover to operations. You will lead the third-party Commissioning Agent, coordinate the general contractor and trade partners, and report directly to the on-site Senior Construction Manager as Nscale's accountable voice on whether a system is truly ready to carry customer load. You will manage a small team of commissioning engineers and work closely with Design, Construction, Quality, and Data Center Operations.
This is a hands-on leadership role. We need someone who is as comfortable walking down a switchgear lineup or witnessing a start-ups of mechanical system and can running a Cx coordination meeting or reporting readiness risk to senior leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Commissioning program ownership — develop and own the Owner's Project Requirements (OPR) alignment, Commissioning Plan, and Cx schedule for the site, fully integrated with the master construction schedule
Cx Agent and contractor management — direct the third-party Commissioning Agent and hold the GC, MEP trades, and OFCI vendors accountable for Cx deliverables, quality, and dates
Design and submittal review — review design documents, Basis of Design, sequences of operation, and submittals for commissionability, maintainability, and resilience
Level 1–5 execution — oversee factory witness testing (FWT), installation verification, pre-functional checks, functional performance testing, and Level 5 IST, including load bank and failure-scenario testing
Electrical systems — lead commissioning of MV/LV switchgear, transformers, UPS, BESS, generators, ATS/STS, busway, and PDUs/RPPs, including coordination with NETA acceptance testing
Mechanical and liquid cooling — lead commissioning of chillers, cooling towers/dry coolers, CRAH/fan walls, pumps, CDUs, and direct-to-chip liquid cooling loops, including flushing, fill, and water-quality verification
Controls and monitoring — verify BMS, EPMS, and DCIM point-to-point checks, alarms, sequences, and integration with Nscale's operations tooling
Issues and risk management — run the Cx issues log, drive deficiencies to closure, and escalate schedule, safety, or quality risks early and clearly
Safety — Help monitor and enforce lockout/tagout, energization procedures, NFPA 70E arc-flash practices, and Nscale site safety standards during all testing activities
Reporting — deliver weekly Cx status, readiness dashboards, and executive-level go/no-go recommendations ahead of each energization and handover milestone
Handover to operations — ensure complete O&M manuals, as-builts, test records, training, warranties, and spare parts are turned over so Operations can run the facility from day one
Continuous improvement — capture lessons learned and help build Nscale's commissioning standards, scripts, and templates for future sites
Team leadership — hire, coach, and lead commissioning engineers and technicians on site
Qualifications
Required
5+ years of commissioning experience in mission-critical facilities, with at least 2 years leading Cx on data center or similar critical-facility projects
Proven experience delivering Level 1–5 commissioning, including leading Level 5 IST on a live project
Deep working knowledge of data center electrical (MV/LV distribution, UPS, generators, switchgear) and mechanical (chilled water, heat rejection, air handling) systems
Experience managing third-party Commissioning Agents and holding general contractors and trades to schedule and quality
Strong understanding of ASHRAE Guideline 0 and 1.1, NFPA 70E, NETA ATS, and relevant local electrical and building…