Lead Mechanical Commissioning Engineer - Data Center Projects

FST Technical Services is seeking a Lead Mechanical Commissioning Engineer for a major data center construction project in Atlanta, GA. This is a site-dedicated leadership role responsible for the mechanical commissioning team, L1–L5 execution, documentation delivery, client interface, testing, and project turnover.

About the Role

This is a true commissioning leadership position. The Lead Mechanical Commissioning 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.

Responsibilities

• 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 commissioning team meets project milestones and client expectations
• Serve as the primary mechanical commissioning interface with the client, GC/CM, MEP contractors, design engineers, controls teams, equipment vendors, and other commissioning disciplines
• Represent the mechanical commissioning 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 commissioning personnel complete required commissioning deliverables
• Provide clear project-status reporting to FST 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 and IST documentation
• Deficiency, issue, retest, and closure documentation
• System turnover packages and 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)
• Other mission-critical mechanical infrastructure

Requirements

• 7+ years of mechanical commissioning, engineering, construction, or mission-critical facilities experience (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 Commissioning 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
• OSHA 10/30 or equivalent construction safety training
• Experience with CxAlloy, Facility Grid, Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud/BIM 360, Bluebeam, or similar platforms

Pay

Base Salary: $150,000 to $170,000 depending on experience, plus comprehensive benefits.

Schedule

This is a long-term, site-dedicated position in Atlanta, GA. The successful candidate must be willing to mobilize to Atlanta and remain on-site for the duration of the project. Travel candidates are encouraged to apply, with full per diem, mobilization assistance, and a monthly home-travel allowance available for qualified candidates.

No visa sponsorship is available. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.