Lease Commissioning Director

Overview

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind the cloud. Within CO+I, the Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) organization is responsible for delivering core datacenter infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud business. The Microsoft portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large-scale datacenter construction and lease projects across the globe. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help deliver the leased datacenter capacity that powers the world’s largest online services.

The CO+I Commissioning team is responsible for managing the end-to-end delivery of new data center capacity. Through development of industry-leading commissioning, program management, and operational readiness processes, the team ensures that new infrastructure is validated, tested, and ready to support Microsoft’s cloud operations.

The Lease Commissioning Director is responsible for the strategy, program management, and execution of lease commissioning across the Americas sub-regional portfolio. This position leads a team of Lease Commissioning Managers responsible for ensuring leased capacity achieves operational readiness and is delivered in alignment with Microsoft standards, contractual requirements, commissioning objectives, and business schedules.

The successful candidate will partner closely with Lease Delivery, Lease Providers, Global Commissioning, Data Center Operations, Networking, Engineering, and Finance organizations to ensure leased facilities are commissioned, validated, and ready for service. This role requires leadership across multiple metros and lease providers while driving consistency, governance, readiness, risk management, and continuous improvement throughout the lease commissioning lifecycle.

The Commissioning Director will establish strategy, standards, processes, and execution frameworks that ensure leased capacity transitions into reliable operational capacity that can be safely and confidently consumed by Microsoft services.

This role is eligible for remote work and requires travel to lease provider facilities and Microsoft project locations throughout the Americas.

Responsibilities

Leadership & People Management

• Reports to the CO+I Regional Commissioning Director – AMERS Leases
• Lead, manage, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Lease Commissioning Managers.
• Drive accountability, capability development, succession planning, and performance management across the lease commissioning organization.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, talent reviews, and employee development discussions.
• Create and sustain a culture focused on safety, inclusion, operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure consistent execution and alignment of commissioning practices across all assigned metros and lease providers.
• Support organizational growth through recruiting, onboarding, and development of commissioning talent.

Lease Commissioning Program Management

• Own the Americas Lease Commissioning program, including commissioning governance, readiness strategy, execution standards, metrics, and performance reporting.
• Establish and maintain commissioning processes that ensure leased facilities are delivered in accordance with Microsoft commissioning requirements and operational readiness expectations.
• Oversee commissioning activities from design reviews through Integrated Systems Testing (IST), operational turnover, and Ready for Service (RFS) milestones.
• Drive consistency in commissioning execution across multiple lease providers, geographies, and delivery models.
• Lead resolution of complex technical, schedule, operational, and contractual risks impacting lease readiness.
• Ensure commissioning scope, schedules, risks, milestones, and dependencies are actively managed throughout project execution.

Operational Readiness & Capacity Delivery

• Champion the delivery of operationally ready capacity that can be safely accepted and consumed by Microsoft.
• Ensure commissioning activities validate reliability, maintainability, resiliency, and operational performance of critical infrastructure systems.
• Drive readiness reviews and go/no-go decisions associated with IST completion, operational turnover, and Ready for Service milestones.
• Identify portfolio risks that could impact capacity delivery and develop mitigation strategies.

Lease Provider Engagement

• Establish executive-level relationships with lease providers and commissioning partners.
• Drive accountability with lease providers to ensure commissioning execution meets Microsoft expectations and contractual obligations.
• Partner with lease providers to improve commissioning quality, schedule performance, reporting, governance, and overall operational readiness outcomes.
• Support development and implementation of lease provider performance metrics, scorecards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead escalation and resolution of significant commissioning and readiness issues affecting project delivery.

Business Processes & Standards

• Develop and maintain lease commissioning standards, procedures, governance frameworks, and best practices.
• Collaborate with Global Commissioning and regional stakeholders to drive alignment between lease and build commissioning programs.
• Drive standardization of commissioning deliverables, readiness reviews, testing expectations, reporting practices, and turnover requirements.
• Implement lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives across the lease commissioning portfolio.
• Leverage data and performance metrics to improve predictability, efficiency, and commissioning outcomes.

Communications & Stakeholder Management

• Provide regular executive reporting on commissioning health, operational readiness, risks, project status, and capacity delivery milestones.
• Lead commissioning reviews with senior leadership, lease providers, and cross-functional partners.
• Coordinate activities across Lease Delivery, Engineering, Data Center Operations, Networking, Security, Global Commissioning, and Finance teams.
• Communicate risks, decisions, priorities, and mitigation strategies clearly and effectively to all stakeholders.
• Influence leaders and business partners to drive alignment on project priorities and delivery objectives.

Strategy & Organizational Development

• Develop and execute the long-term vision for lease commissioning across the Americas region.
• Partner with senior leadership to align commissioning strategy with Microsoft's capacity delivery roadmap.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational readiness, reduce risk, accelerate delivery, and improve lease provider performance.
• Drive innovation in commissioning tools, processes, reporting, and readiness assessments.
• Contribute to the evolution of global commissioning practices and standards.

Accountability

• Responsible for the successful execution of commissioning and readiness programs across the Americas lease portfolio.
• Accountable for delivery of commissioned, validated, and operationally ready capacity.
• Responsible for portfolio-level health, risks, quality, schedule performance, and readiness outcomes.
• Ensure projects are executed safely and in compliance with Microsoft standards and requirements.
• Work independently while supporting broader CO+I commissioning and capacity delivery objectives.

Microsoft Culture

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Doctorate Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years technical engineering experience
  • OR Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field AND 7+ years technical engineering experience
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience.
  • OR relevant experience

Other Requirements: 

• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred/Additional Qualifications 

• Demonstrated experience leading commissioning, mission critical operations, operational readiness, or data center delivery organizations.
• Demonstrated understanding of critical electrical and mechanical infrastructure systems, data center operations, and Integrated Systems Testing.
• Experience managing large-scale portfolios, programs, and cross-functional teams.
• Executive communication, stakeholder management, and organizational leadership skills.
• Experience managing external partners, service providers, contractors, and lease providers.
• Ability to influence across organizations and drive alignment among diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Willingness to travel as required to support lease projects across the Americas
• Personnel and Budget Management.
• Data Center Commissioning
• Construction QA/QC
• Project Management
• Understanding of UPS systems, switchgear, generators and critical HVAC and mechanical systems
• Able to develop and write detailed Commissioning Test Scripts
• Issue identification and resolution management
• Proficiency with MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), MS Visio, MS Project

Reliability Engineering M5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

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Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.