Commissioning Engineer - Industrial Construction - Data Center

Contract Commissioning Engineer role onsite supporting a new hyperscale data center project in the Columbus, Ohio area (Jeffersonville, OH). You will oversee Level 1 through Level 4 facilities-level commissioning in an active plant construction environment, coordinating with the client’s Cx Manager, GC subcontractors, owner vendors, quality teams, and end client engineers. This is a long-term engagement (18 months) with strong potential for extension and further projects.

Compensation includes hourly pay plus travel and project incentives. Earn $65.00 - $75.00 per hour, with $135,200 – $156,000 per year plus overtime pay and $4,000 monthly per diem (non-taxable, estimated $48,000 annually). Mobilization and demobilization bonuses are $2,400 each (tax-free).

What you will do

• Implement and follow the Project Commissioning Plan, coordinating the GC subcontractors and the owner’s vendors to complete L1 through L4 commissioning for facilities-level data center systems and equipment.
• Ensure commissioning activities are documented and conducted according to project specs and industry standards.
• Perform site walks to confirm systems are installed per design, and validate equipment is accessible, labeled, torqued, and safe to energize.
• Identify deficiencies early, drive corrective actions, and support functional testing across electrical, mechanical, controls, and life-safety systems.
• Support load bank testing, PQM (power quality monitoring), and integrated systems testing, ensuring test scripts are followed and results are properly recorded.
• Run productive meetings to surface issues with owner vendors, determine what is blocking progress, communicate priorities, and keep stakeholders aligned on schedule, readiness, and issue resolution.
• Maintain commissioning records including commissioning logs, test reports, redlines, and deficiency lists, and ensure documentation is uploaded to the project’s commissioning platform.
• Track closeout requirements, support final acceptance, identify root causes of failures during testing, and ensure fixes are retested and validated.
• Support operational readiness by ensuring systems meet owner operational requirements and participating in training sessions for operations staff.
• Deliver final documentation packages to support smooth turnover to operations.

What you bring

• Minimum 2-year Associate’s degree in Electronics, Electrical, Mechatronics, or Construction Engineering, OR solid electrical commissioning oversight on similar industrial construction projects valued at least $100M.
• Minimum 2 years as a Commissioning Engineer using similar facility construction technology, methods, equipment, tools, and work procedures.
• Useful certifications: PE (Electrical or Mechanical), CxA, BCxP, or NEBB Cx certifications; OSHA 30 (baseline expectation); NFPA 70E; and factory training from OEMs such as Schneider, Vertiv, Cummins.
• Hyperscale data center experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of LOTO, electrical safety, and energization protocols, including ability to coordinate safe startup of MV/LV systems.
• Experience working within strict energy-control frameworks (for example, the AWS Energy Marshall model), along with understanding of aggressive turnover milestones and safe, phased energization.
• Ability to manage commissioning logs, test scripts, deficiency lists, and turnover packages, with traceability and version control across thousands of test points.
• Comfort coordinating across subcontractors, OEMs, GC construction teams, owner Cx teams, and ops readiness teams; quick diagnosis and troubleshooting of electrical, mechanical, or controls issues; and retesting fixes under tight deadlines.
• Familiarity with commissioning standards including ASHRAE, BCxA, and NEBB, plus owner-specific commissioning sequences (L-levels, etc.).
• Experience executing commissioning plans, PFCs, functional tests, and IST.
• Willingness to travel or relocate for future projects within the continental USA.

Tools and platforms you may use

• Procore, BIM 360, SharePoint, and the AWS Energy Marshall model.

Project details

• Location: Columbus Ohio area (onsite/in person; work location listed as Jeffersonville, OH)
• Start date: As soon as possible, depending on availability
• Duration: 18 months with likely extension or transfer to other project
• Contract type: 1099 Independent Contractor
• Eligibility: Available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents only

Benefits and professional support

• Pay range: $135,200 – $156,000 per year plus overtime and $4,000 monthly per diem (non-taxable).
• Mobilization and demobilization bonuses: $2,400 each (tax-free).
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• Long-term project opportunity (18 months) with strong possibility of extension and subsequent project engagements.
• Potential conversion to W-2 after a 1 to 2 month trial period.