Data Center Lead Mechanical Commissioning Engineer

The Lead Mechanical Commissioning Engineer is the technical authority responsible for leading the planning, execution, and validation of mechanical commissioning activities on mission-critical data center projects.

This role ensures cooling, heat rejection, and life-safety-related mechanical systems are installed, tested, and integrated in accordance with design intent, owner requirements, and the Anchor Mission Critical Playbook, with a focus on redundancy validation, control integration, and thermal performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the mechanical technical authority for commissioning scopes across assigned projects
• Lead mechanical Pre-Functional Checks (PFCs), including L2/L3 readiness inspections
• Plan and execute Functional Performance Testing (FPT) and support Integrated Systems Testing (IST)
• Validate mechanical sequences of operation, redundancy modes, and failure scenarios
• Coordinate with controls, electrical teams, OEMs, and EPC partners during testing and IST
• Identify, document, and resolve mechanical deficiencies and risks using Anchor Mission Critical issue protocols
• Review and approve mechanical commissioning documentation and reports

Technical & Leadership Competencies

• Deep understanding of mission-critical cooling architectures (chilled water, DX, evaporative, liquid cooling)
• Expertise in CRAH/CRAC systems, pumps, valves, heat exchangers, and heat rejection equipment
• Strong knowledge of mechanical sequences, controls integration, and sensor strategy
• Ability to lead complex testing activities under live-load and schedule-critical conditions
• Proven leadership in high-risk, operationally sensitive environments
• Clear, confident communication with owners, contractors, and operators

Education & Experience Requirements

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
• 10 –18+ years of experience in mission-critical or high-reliability mechanical systems
• Demonstrated experience leading mechanical commissioning on large data center projects

Preferred

• Hyperscale or large colocation data center experience
• Prior role as Senior Mechanical Commissioning Engineer or equivalent

Certifications (Preferred)

• Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP)
• Professional Engineer (PE)
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety

Performance Expectations

• Verification of mechanical redundancy and thermal resilience
• Successful execution of failure scenarios during IST
• High-quality, defensible commissioning documentation
• Effective mentorship of mechanical commissioning staff
• Consistent application of Anchor Mission Critical Playbook standards

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Performance-based bonus eligibility
• Travel expenses and per diem per company policy
• Benefits eligibility per company plans

Salary Range

The base salary range for this role is

$152,000 – $171,000+

This range reflects nominal experience of 10 –18 years in mission-critical mechanical commissioning. Compensation above the stated range may be considered for exceptional expertise, leadership capability, or project complexity.

Anchor Mission Critical offers a performance incentive bonus program that rewards individuals who consistently deliver high-quality outcomes and contribute to the company’s growth and operating discipline. Bonus eligibility and payout are based on a combination of individual performance, project success, and company-wide results.

Employment Status

This position is full-time and exempt. Employment is at-will, subject to applicable state and federal law.

About Anchor Mission Critical

Anchor Mission Critical is a professional services firm purpose-built to support hyperscale and high-reliability infrastructure projects. Anchor Mission Critical provides commissioning, integrated systems testing (IST), QA/QC, and operational readiness services for data centers and other no-fail environments.

Anchor Mission Critical was founded to address a persistent industry challenge: as data center projects grow in scale and complexity, execution quality too often depends on heroics rather than disciplined systems. The Anchor Mission Critical Playbook establishes a standardized delivery framework built on readiness, risk prevention, and repeatable execution—allowing teams to perform at a high level without chaos.

At Anchor Mission Critical, commissioning is engaged early and treated as a leadership function, not a back-end checkbox. Our teams operate with clear delivery cadence, defined readiness gates, and transparent issue management so professionals can focus on doing the work right – first time.

Anchor Mission Critical supports both technical and leadership career paths and offers the opportunity to help build durable standards, mentor teams, and grow with a firm designed for scale without bureaucracy.