10+ years in quality management and commissioning for large-scale developments
Expertise in construction methods and quality standards across multiple trades
Ability to interpret design documents to ensure field compliance
Experience in developing quality management systems at a portfolio level
Strong communication skills with stakeholders at all levels
Proactive in identifying quality risks before they affect project timelines
Ability to thrive in complex, fast-paced environments with accountability
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain QA/QC programs for data center construction
Review and approve QA/QC and commissioning plans to ensure compliance
Conduct site inspections across various construction disciplines
Validate installation quality against project specifications and manufacturer requirements
Monitor and manage punch list items and corrective actions
Collaborate with developers' commissioning teams for documentation readiness
Maintain quality tracking and reporting dashboards for leadership
Train site teams on quality standards and documentation practices
Drive continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned
Benefits
Opportunity to lead quality initiatives in cutting-edge AI infrastructure
Significant travel opportunities, enhancing global collaboration
Engagement in a quality-first culture across projects
Access to industry-leading best practices and standards
Work within a mission-driven organization committed to ethical AI development
Full Job Description
About the Role
We're hiring a Commissioning and Quality Program Manager to oversee quality assurance, quality control and commissioning across all phases of our global hyperscale data center program. You will oversee the delivery quality for a massive portfolio of projects across several campuses. You'll ensure work meets or exceeds OpenAI's design standards, performance requirements, and reliability expectations-from early construction through commissioning and turnover to operations.
You'll own development and enforcement of QA/QC standards, inspection protocols, commissioning scope, and acceptance criteria, working closely with contractors, design teams, and commissioning partners to embed a quality-first culture.
Travel: Up to 50%
Key Responsibilities
Develop and maintain the portfolio-level QA/QC program for hyperscale data center construction (standards, checklists, acceptance protocols).
Review and approve developer QA/QC and commissioning plans for alignment with project specs and industry best practices.
Oversee site inspections across civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, and electrical scopes.
Validate installation quality against drawings, specifications, and manufacturer requirements.
Monitor and track punch list items, NCRs, and corrective actions with the developer and contractors, including critical Method of Procedure (MOP) work.
Partner with the developer's commissioning teams to ensure QA/QC documentation supports readiness for both functional and integrated testing.
Validate functional and integrated systems testing completion in preparation for OAI acceptance.
Maintain real-time quality tracking and reporting dashboards for program leadership.
Train and guide site teams on quality expectations, inspections, and documentation standards.
Drive continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and updating standards for future sites.
Qualifications
Have 10+ years managing quality and commissioning for mission-critical, hyperscale, or complex commercial developments.
Have deep technical knowledge of construction means/methods and quality standards across major trades.
Can interpret design documents, specs, and submittals to verify field compliance.
Have experience developing and implementing quality management systems at program or portfolio scale.
Communicate effectively with executives, contractors, and site teams-translating findings into actionable recommendations.
Proactively identify quality risks before they impact cost or schedule.
Thrive in fast-paced, complex environments and can drive accountability across stakeholders.
Preferred Skills
This role is central to ensuring every system is delivered to spec, on time, and built to last-supporting OpenAI's reliability expectations across a global hyperscale build program
Experience delivering QA/QC and commissioning programs for hyperscale data centers (e.g., >50MW campuses) across multiple regions. Familiarity with industry commissioning standards and frameworks (e.g., ASHRAE, Uptime Institute, CSA, BICSI).
Deep expertise in mission-critical MEP systems, including power (MV/LV), cooling (chilled water, DX), controls, and redundancy architectures (N, N+1, 2N).
Experience working with JDM/ODM or developer-led delivery models, including navigating multi-party accountability structures.
Proven track record managing third-party commissioning agents (CxA) and integrating their work into broader program QA/QC frameworks.
Strong understanding of digital QA/QC and commissioning tools (e.g., Procore, BIM 360, PlanGrid, CxAlloy, Bluebeam, or similar platforms).
Experience building and scaling portfolio-level quality dashboards and reporting systems for executive visibility.
Ability to operate effectively in global environments, including managing cultural, regulatory, and contractor differences across regions.
Background in failure analysis, root cause investigation, and reliability engineering for mission-critical infrastructure.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field (advanced degree or professional certifications such as PE, PMP, CxA, LEED are a plus)
About OpenAI
OpenAI is an artificial intelligence research laboratory consisting of the for-profit corporation OpenAI LP and its parent company, the non-profit OpenAI Inc. The company was founded in 2015 by a group of technology leaders, including Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and John Schulman. OpenAI's mission is to develop and promote friendly AI for the betterment of humanity. The company has developed a number of cutting-edge AI technologies, including GPT-3, a language processing system that can generate human-like text. OpenAI has received funding from a number of high-profile investors, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and venture capitalist Peter Thiel.
