In this role, the Commissioning Manager will own the end-to-end readiness, start-up, and commissioning of Armstrong's packaged plant room and HVAC systems for data center projects across North America. The role bridges manufacturing, quality, logistics, project delivery, and site operations by verifying each package before shipment, inspecting it again following delivery, and leading safe, successful start-up and commissioning. The Commissioning Manager will also establish, develop, and lead the commissioning team and its supporting processes, ensuring work is completed safely, on time, within budget, and to specification.
Key Accountabilities
Site Supervision & Execution
- Lead package start-up, commissioning, functional testing, performance verification, and customer acceptance at site.
- Supervise installation readiness and coordinate internal field engineers, skilled trades, and third-party contractors.
- Manage deployment and commissioning plans in alignment with project milestones, site constraints, and logistics.
- Track progress, manage commissioning priorities, and promptly escalate safety, quality, schedule, or technical risks
Pre-Shipment Package Inspection & Release
- Lead or personally perform final package inspections before shipment to verify mechanical, electrical, controls, labelling, documentation, cleanliness, preservation, and shipping readiness.
- Verify completion against approved drawings, specifications, quality records, FAT results, punch lists, and defined release criteria.
- Coordinate closure of deficiencies with Manufacturing, Quality, Project Engineering, and Project Management before authorizing or recommending shipment release.
- Confirm equipment is protected, secured, and documented appropriately for transport.
Post-Shipment / Delivery Inspection
- Inspect packages after shipment and delivery, before installation or energization, to identify transport damage, missing or loose components, contamination, preservation issues, and deviations from the approved condition.
- Document findings with photographs and inspection records, initiate deficiencies or claims as required, and coordinate corrective actions with logistics, Quality, Project Management, and the customer.
Technical Oversight & Compliance
- Provide technical leadership and troubleshooting for mechanical, electrical, controls, and integrated system issues during start-up and commissioning.
- Ensure compliance with Armstrong quality requirements, project specifications, approved drawings, risk assessments, method statements, and safe working procedures.
- Own or coordinate Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), integrated functional testing, and completion of commissioning hold points.4
- Confirm defects and non-conformances are documented, assigned, corrected, and verified before release or customer handover.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
- Work closely with Project Management, Project Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, logistics partners, client representatives, and subcontractors to ensure smooth delivery and site execution.
- Act as the primary commissioning point of contact for project stakeholders and communicate readiness, risks, defects, and recovery actions clearly.
- Report lessons learned and drive cross-functional improvements in package design, manufacturability, transport protection, installation, commissioning, systems integration, and customer satisfaction.
Team Building & Functional Leadership
- Establish standard work, commissioning methods, tools, templates, safety expectations, and technical training for consistent execution across projects.
- Plan resource capacity and assign qualified personnel to projects based on technical scope, location, schedule, and risk.
- Create a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
Documentation & Reporting
- Ensure complete and accurate commissioning records are available for project completion, customer training, handover, and final acceptance.
What We're Looking For
To thrive in this role, you should bring:
Education & Experience:
- Demonstrated experience with pre-shipment inspection, delivery-condition inspection, equipment start-up, commissioning, and customer handover.
- Proven experience building, leading, and developing a commissioning or field service team, including resource planning and competency development.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field.
- Formal qualifications in mechanical/electrical engineering.
- Extensive experience in supervising installation and commissioning of HVAC or mechanical/electrical systems, particularly in data center environments.
- Proven track record in managing multi-disciplinary site teams and subcontractors.
Technical Skills:
- Strong working knowledge of FAT, SAT, QA/QC inspection, punch-list management, transport-damage assessment, start-up planning, and commissioning documentation.
- Ability to lead root-cause investigation and coordinate corrective action across factory and field teams.
- Strong knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and control systems relevant to HVAC and pumping technologies.
- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, wiring diagrams, and layout schematics.
- Familiarity with data center project lifecycles and customer-specific commissioning protocols.
- Working knowledge of building management systems (BMS) or remote monitoring platforms.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel to customer and project sites across North America.
Soft Skills:
- Strong understanding of health and safety regulations and QA/QC practices.
- Excellent communication, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
- Willingness to travel approximately 30% of the time across North America.
