Senior Project Manager, Data Centers, Project & Development Services

Senior Project Manager, Data Centers, Project & Development Services

The Senior Project Manager (SPM), acting as Owner's Representative, is responsible for leading delivery of an advanced AI test factory focused on the assembly, integration, and validation of liquid cooled AI server racks prior to deployment in production data centers. This role oversees planning, design coordination, construction, commissioning, and turnover of a highly technical, MEP dominant facility operating at mission critical performance levels. The SPM serves as the primary point of accountability for project execution, ensuring cost, schedule, quality, safety, and operational readiness objectives are met while coordinating across internal stakeholders, design consultants, contractors, equipment vendors, and end users.

Position Overview

The Senior Project Manager (SPM), acting as Owner's Representative, is responsible for leading delivery of an advanced AI test factory focused on the assembly, integration, and validation of liquid-cooled AI server racks prior to deployment in production data centers. This role oversees planning, design coordination, construction, commissioning, and turnover of a highly technical, MEP-dominant facility operating at mission-critical performance levels.

The SPM serves as the primary point of accountability for project execution, ensuring cost, schedule, quality, safety, and operational readiness objectives are met while coordinating across internal stakeholders, design consultants, contractors, equipment vendors, and end users.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the Owner's Representative for all phases of project delivery, from early planning through commissioning and handover.
• Establish project execution strategies aligned with operational requirements for AI rack assembly, liquid cooling, and test validation.
• Lead day-to-day project governance, decision-making, and stakeholder alignment.

MEP-Focused Execution

• Oversee MEP-intensive scopes, including high-capacity electrical distribution, power quality, controls, and direct-to-chip liquid cooling systems.
• Coordinate central utility plant infrastructure, process cooling, house air systems, and test/validation environments that simulate data-center operating conditions.
• Ensure systems are designed and installed to support high-density loads, burn-in testing, and repeatable commissioning processes.

Design & Engineering Management

• Manage and coordinate multi-disciplinary design teams (mechanical, electrical, low-voltage, controls, structural, and civil).
• Lead design reviews to ensure constructability, sequencing, and alignment with manufacturing and test workflows.
• Validate that design intent supports operations, maintainability, scalability, and future technology upgrades.

Construction & Contractor Oversight

• Oversee general contractors, trade partners, and specialty vendors, with emphasis on sequencing, quality control, and safety.
• Lead construction coordination in a fast-paced environment, including work in partially active or start-up conditions.
• Proactively identify and mitigate schedule risk, scope gaps, and cost exposureparticularly within MEP and systems integration scopes.

Schedule, Cost, and Risk Management

• Develop and manage detailed project schedules with clear milestones for equipment installation, start-up, and testing.
• Lead cost control, change management, and forecasting efforts to maintain budget discipline.
• Maintain active risk and issue logs, driving timely resolution and escalation when required.

Commissioning, Start-Up & Turnover

• Lead start-up, test balance, and commissioning planning in coordination with owners, vendors, and contractors.
• Ensure all systems meet performance criteria prior to rack shipment and facility turnover.
• Oversee documentation, as-builts, O&M manuals, and readiness for operations and production use.

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven experience as an Owner's Rep or Senior Project Manager on complex industrial, mission-critical, or advanced manufacturing facilities.
• Strong background in MEP-heavy projects, including electrical power systems and process or liquid cooling infrastructure.
• Experience supporting commissioning-driven environments such as data centers, semiconductor, life sciences, or advanced tech manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders in fast-track, high-change environments.
• Strong command of scheduling, cost control, contractor oversight, and risk management fundamentals.
• Comfortable operating at both executive and field levels, with a hands-on leadership style.

Role Characteristics

• Environment: Fast-paced, technically complex, and execution-focused
• Scope: MEP-dominant, commissioning-driven, production-adjacent
• Leadership Style: Decisive, collaborative, detail-oriented
• Ideal Background: Mission-critical, data center, or advanced manufacturing delivery