Commissioning Project Manager

Job Type: Full-time | Location: Sweetwater or Childress, Texas | Department: Innovation | Reporting to: Director, Data Center Commissioning | Work Location: #onsite

IREN is a vertically integrated AI Cloud provider, delivering large-scale data centers and GPU clusters for AI training and inference. IREN’s platform is underpinned by its expansive portfolio of grid-connected land and power in renewable-rich regions across North America, Europe and APAC. 

The Commissioning or Cx Project Manager owns commissioning for one IREN campus from contract input through Level 5 integrated systems testing and turnover to Operations, and is the senior commissioning person on site. Two things define the role. First, Commissioning Authority (CxA) vendor management: you hold the campus CxA contract (specification, procurement with Procurement, scope, staffing, scorecards, change control) and direct the CxA, which develops the scripts, witnesses and leads integrated systems testing. Second, project management of the campus commissioning scope: the commissioning schedule and its interface to the construction schedule, the budget for the CxA, NETA testing, load banks, temporary cooling and other commissioning services, change control, risk and reporting.

On IREN's self-perform campuses you direct the IREN construction commissioning crew through the Construction Commissioning Manager (superintendents, supervisors, leads and technicians who operate the equipment through Level 3 to Level 5) and lead the campus roles: the Project Commissioning Lead – Controls, the Cx / Operations Turnover Lead and the Cx Scheduler / Document Controller. You recommend Level 3 entry and prepare Level 5 acceptance for the Director's signature, coordinate with the project through the Construction Manager, and are accountable to the Director for the schedule, quality and cost of commissioning on the campus. Commissioning on a campus can run across several buildings and conversion phases at once, with deferred-testing close-out and turnovers to Operations running alongside new building start-up.

Responsibilities

• Issue the project's Division 1 MEP commissioning specification and the Commissioning Authority request for proposal from the IREN templates, route them to the Director for review before issue, and lead Commissioning Authority selection with Procurement.
• Own the Commissioning Authority contract and performance: scope, staffing levels, scorecards, monthly reviews and change management; approve the CxA's commissioning plan, scripts, methods of procedure, schedule and final reports; act as the CxA's primary point of contact.
• Be on site from fit-out start of the project's first building, two months before Level 3; mobilize the team and the Commissioning Authority so that the IREN commissioning platform, records and witness plan are in place before the first energization release.
• Lead, develop and performance-manage the campus commissioning team: the construction commissioning crew through the Construction Commissioning Manager, and the campus roles; run the daily and weekly commissioning cadence with the CxA, the crew, the trade contractors or general contractor and Construction.
• Manage the campus commissioning scope as a project: the commissioning schedule in Microsoft Project and its feed to the Primavera P6 master schedule; the budget and change control for the CxA, NETA testing, load banks, temporary cooling, leak detection and other commissioning services; and the early stand-up of GPU clusters during Level 4 and Level 5 that the self-perform model exists to deliver.
• Hold the Level 3 entry gate: confirm with Construction's quality function that Level 1 and Level 2 records are complete in the IREN platform, recommend entry to the Director, and refuse entry in writing when records are not complete.
• Own the project issues log through the Commissioning Authority: drive identification, remediation and verified closure of deficiencies before each level gate; chair Level 3, 4 and 5 readiness reviews with the Project Director, who retains the Level 3 to 4 and 4 to 5 gate decisions.
• Peer-review Construction quality on the project: witness hold points and sample records to the agreed plan; share first-pass rate, defects by discipline and rework with the quality manager.
• Coordinate factory witness testing, site acceptance testing and vendor start-up with Engineering, Procurement and Operations; make sure vendor evidence arrives progressively, not at final handoff.
• Give commissioning input into construction contracts before award, including Commissioning Authority templates, hold points and IREN witness rights written into general-contractor contracts.
• Report progress, risks and KPIs to the Director and project leadership; escalate schedule-versus-standard conflicts early for joint decision by the Director and delivery leadership.
• Ensure safe execution of all commissioning activity: energization permits, lockout/tagout under the site LOTO program, arc-flash and hot-work controls, method-of-procedure reviews, pre-task planning and change control; hold stop-work authority for commissioning activity on the project; no equipment is energized without the Commissioning Authority's written release.
• Own turnover sequencing for the project: the order in which systems and data halls are started, tested and handed to Operations, agreed with Construction and the CxA and held in the commissioning schedule; lead the readiness reviews and walkdowns that precede each energization and start-up.
• Coordinate commissioning with HSE, project controls, utility representatives and the general contractor or trade contractors, including utility energization sequences and protection coordination at the point of interconnection.
• Own the project's commissioning record set in the IREN platform (test reports, issue and punch lists, turnover packages, redlines, as-built records, certificates and lessons learned) and the operator training and knowledge-transfer plan delivered with the CxA and vendors before each handoff to Operations.
• Prepare the Level 5 acceptance package for the Director's signature and capture lessons learned at each level gate for the Commissioning Subject Matter Experts and the KPI & Lessons Learned Lead.

LOCATION & SITE REQUIREMENTS
On-site at one IREN data center campus in Texas (one position per campus) for the duration of the assignment, with travel between IREN sites as required. Candidates must be able to commute to the site daily or relocate before starting; relocation or living-out allowance applies as set out in IREN policy.

• Site-based at the assigned campus for the duration of the assignment; you must be able to commute to the site daily or relocate before starting (relocation or living-out allowance as applicable under IREN policy); travel between IREN sites as required.
• Commissioning follows the test schedule: rotational coverage including nights and weekends is expected during Level 3 to Level 5 testing and integrated systems test windows, planned by the Cx Project Manager. Full-time hourly (non-exempt) position; overtime, night premium and per diem apply under IREN's site policy.
• Active construction site: steel-toed boots are the employee's; all other personal protective equipment is supplied. OSHA 30 and NFPA 70E awareness as stated in the qualifications; site safety induction before the first shift.
• Works under the site lockout/tagout (LOTO) program run by IREN Construction: lockout/tagout, dead-to-live, preservation and inspection remain Construction's responsibility on every IREN site; commissioning staff follow the site LOTO procedure and its energy marshal and do not alter it.
• Pre-employment screening, including background check and substance testing, may be required under company policy.

Requirements

REQUIRED

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Construction Management or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of data center or mission-critical commissioning, including full Level 1 to Level 5 delivery on at least two projects.
• Demonstrated management of a third-party Commissioning Authority as a vendor, including specification, procurement, contract, performance and change management.
• Working knowledge of medium-voltage distribution, UPS, generators, chilled-water and liquid-cooling plant, and BMS/EPMS integration.
• Experience leading a team on site (direct reports or a matrixed project team); able to run readiness gates and hold contractors and the Commissioning Authority to acceptance criteria.
• Project-management ownership of a commissioning scope: schedule, budget, change control and vendor contracts; able to plan the early cluster stand-up with Construction, Operations and the customer's technical program managers.
• OSHA 30 and NFPA 70E awareness.
• Site-based at the campus for the duration of the assignment, with travel between IREN sites; senior hourly field role.
• Authorized to work in the United States.

PREFERRED

• BCxP, CCP or CxA certification held; PMP.
• Commissioning of GPU or liquid-cooled data halls (coolant distribution units, direct-to-chip loops).
• Experience under both self-perform and general-contractor delivery models.
• CxAlloy or an equivalent commissioning platform; Microsoft Project and Primavera P6 literacy.

Benefits

At IREN, we offer a comprehensive, market-competitive total rewards package designed to support employees’ well-being, career advancement, and financial wealth. Our offerings reflect our commitment to Proceed with Purpose while rewarding high performance and long-term growth.   

Compensation  

• The expected hourly rate for this role will be determined based on factors such as experience and qualifications.
• Per Diem amount of $180.00 and project allowance, when applicable
• 15% night-shift premium for eligible roles, when applicable 
• Overtime compensation for non-exempt workers for hours worked over 40 per week 
• Relocation and Living-out-allowance (as applicable and based on successful candidate circumstances) 

 
Health & Wellness  

• 100% company paid health insurance premiums (medical, dental, and vision) for employees, 75% company paid coverage for dependents 
• Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance 
• Voluntary life, critical illness, and accident coverage available 
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) – when combined with the High-Deductible Health Plan 
• Employee Assistance Program and wellness resources

 
Retirement & Financial Wealth  

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match 
• Paid professional development and access to financial planning and legal services 

 
Time Off & Leave Programs  

• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays 

 
 Growth & Development  

• Professional development to support certifications, continuing education, or role related training 

 
Community & Culture  

• Company events and team-building activities 

IREN is an equal opportunity employer committed to a fair and inclusive recruitment process. We are committed to evaluating qualified applicants and do not discriminate against protected characteristics under applicable local laws, regulations, and ordinances. We evaluate all qualified applicants without regard to these characteristics.  

This job will remain posted until filled. While we appreciate all applications we receive, we are only able to contact candidates under consideration.  

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IE US Operations, Inc. “IREN” participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States