Critical Operations Integration Lead

About the role

The Critical Operations Integration Lead plays a pivotal role in ensuring that newly constructed data center facilities are fully prepared for operation upon turnover. This position requires a deep understanding of both construction and operational standards to identify and mitigate potential issues before they affect ongoing operations.

Responsibilities

• Own formal readiness criteria and a risk-based go/no-go register for turnover.
• Conduct pre-turnover readiness checks, evaluating handover packages for completeness and alignment with STACK's operational standards.
• Perform site walks focused on maintainability, safety access, operator touchpoints, and as-left equipment state prior to handover.
• Witness critical equipment functional performance tests and operator-facing BMS/EPMS alarm and controls tests.
• Verify that submittals, one-lines, O&M manuals, and warranty documentation are organized, complete, and accessible to site operators before handover.
• Ensure CMMS/EAM data is loaded and usable before turnover.
• Identify issues that fall between teams as construction and commissioning phases close, and ensure those issues have a defined owner and resolution path before they become an operations burden.
• Verify critical spares, consumables, special tools, and vendor support paths are in place.
• Own early-life support and warranty-period defect capture with a standard defect taxonomy.
• Publish portfolio KPIs tied to readiness quality escapes.
• Partner with Construction in turnover meetings and walkdowns as an ops-interest voice, without adding gates or friction.
• Collaborate with Commissioning to carry operator-impact findings forward without altering Cx execution.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years in critical infrastructure environments, with meaningful exposure to both the build/Cx side and operations.
• An analytical instinct: able to categorize findings, spot patterns, and build structured outputs others can act on.
• Hands-on familiarity with commissioning processes, turnover documentation, and BMS/EPMS systems from an operational use perspective.
• A working knowledge of construction QA/QC and what good GC execution looks like versus what gets accepted under schedule pressure.
• Enough operations experience to know what breaks operators post-handoff, and to speak credibly with site teams.
• A cross-functional credibility: able to work alongside Construction and Cx as a partner while holding an independent ops-interest perspective.
• A working knowledge of commissioning processes and what they do and don't verify, whether from a Cx, construction, or senior operations background.
• A builder mindset: this role will create things that don't exist yet, the right candidate is energized by that.
• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct data center experience in construction, commissioning, or hyperscale environments.
• Familiarity with controls deployment quality: point-to-point testing, logic mapping, alarming, and naming standards.
• Experience with CMMS platforms and understanding of how turnover quality affects long-term maintenance performance.
• Exposure to quality management systems or reliability-centered methodologies (FMEA, RCM, or equivalent).
• Experience contributing to process improvement at a systems level, not just identifying problems but designing the mechanism that prevents recurrence.

Competencies

• Pattern-recognition thinker, sees systemic signal in what others treat as isolated incidents.
• Operationally grounded, thinks like the person who has to run the building, not just deliver it.
• Collaborative without being conflict-avoidant, surfaces difficult findings constructively and with credibility.
• Clear communicator who can translate field observations into structured intelligence for leadership.
• Bias for closure, findings have owners, issues don't disappear into the gap between teams.

Why STACK?

• A competitive compensation package with strong benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401K program, and flexible spending accounts.
• Fun is part of our DNA, with events, game nights, and barbecues.
• We are growing – this is a great time to join and make an impact!
• We foster a culture of appreciation, including monthly ASSEMBLY gratitude points.
• We offer educational focus and support.
• We provide a variety of events and activities to keep employees engaged and connected.
• We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.