Commissioning Manager

Job Description

Job Description

This job is in California:

Position summary 

The GLSS/HPM Commissioning Manager owns planning, execution, and closeout of commissioning for Gas Life Safety Systems (GLSS) and Hazardous Production Materials (HPM) systems on data center, semiconductor-adjacent, and other mission-critical projects. The role ensures gas detection, monitoring, alarming, ventilation interlocks, emergency shutdown, and related life-safety logic meet design intent, manufacturer requirements, AHJ conditions of approval, and owner operational standards before turnover. 

This is a field-facing technical leadership role. The manager coordinates designers, controls vendors, specialty contractors, fire-alarm and BMS integrators, commissioning agents, AHJs, and operations so systems are tested as a complete sequence—not as isolated devices. 

Scope of systems 

• Gas Life Safety Systems: toxic, combustible, oxygen-deficiency, refrigerant, hydrogen, and process-gas detection; controllers, HMIs/SCADA, notification, and remote alarming. 
• HPM rooms, gas cabinets, exhausted enclosures, valve manifold boxes, gas rooms, and associated piping/tubing interfaces as defined by IBC/IFC Group H-5 and project specifications. 
• Interlocks with emergency ventilation, exhaust, makeup air, isolation dampers, ESD/fail-safe valves, tool or process shutdowns, and occupancy controls. 
• Integration with fire alarm, mass notification, BMS/FMS/EPMS, and security or emergency-control-station interfaces. 
• Related support systems as assigned: battery-room hydrogen detection, generator/fuel-gas detection, clean-agent or inert-gas suppression monitoring, and leak-detection associated with on-site generation or LNG. 

Essential responsibilities 

• Develop and maintain the GLSS/HPM commissioning plan, matrix of responsibilities, test scripts, and integrated systems test (IST) procedures aligned with Cx Levels 2–5 / factory, component, system, and integrated testing. 
• Review design documents, sequences of operation, I/O matrices, P&IDs, gas zoning drawings, and specifications for testability, code compliance, and constructability; issue coordinated RFIs and design comments. 
• Lead pre-functional checklists, point-to-point verification, sensor placement validation, calibration witnessing, and loop checks before functional performance testing. 
• Execute and document functional tests: alarm setpoints and delays, voting logic, fail-safe states on power or communication loss, battery holdover, horn/strobe and HMI response, ventilation start/stop, damper positions, and ESD valve action. 
• Plan and lead integrated tests with fire alarm, BMS, HVAC, electrical shutdown, and process/tool interfaces; resolve sequence conflicts between trades. 
• Coordinate factory acceptance tests (FAT) and site acceptance tests (SAT) for gas controllers, PLC/SCADA platforms, and packaged gas cabinets or detection panels. 
• Manage issues through a Cx punch list and deficiency log; drive contractors and vendors to close items before substantial completion and occupancy. 
• Support permitting, AHJ inspections, third-party special inspections, and LEA/fire-prevention sign-off for gas detection and HPM rooms. 
• Verify as-built documentation: annotated drawings, final I/O matrix, setpoints, passwords/ownership of logic, O&M manuals, spare-parts lists, and training materials. 
• Deliver operator and emergency-response training on HMI/GUI use, alarm response, abort/reset procedures, and system limitations. 
• Establish seasonal or deferred testing requirements and a recommended ongoing inspection/calibration program for operations. 
• Enforce site safety around toxic, flammable, and oxygen-displacing gases; confirm lockout/tagout, gas-monitoring, and confined-space controls during testing. 
• Report status, risk, and readiness to the project director, owner Cx authority, and operations; recommend go/no-go for energization, gas-on, and occupancy. 

Qualifications — required 

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, chemical, fire protection, or controls engineering, or equivalent field experience. 
• 8+ years in commissioning, controls, or life-safety systems on mission-critical, semiconductor, laboratory, or industrial process projects; 3+ years in a lead or manager role. 
• Demonstrated experience commissioning gas detection / GLSS and/or HPM or specialty-gas systems through integrated testing and AHJ acceptance. 
• Working knowledge of IBC/IFC Section 415 and H-5/HPM requirements, IMC, NFPA 1/45/55/72/318 (as applicable), and manufacturer listing requirements for gas detection. 
• Ability to read P&IDs, sequences, control schematics, and network architecture drawings and to write clear test procedures from them. 
• Experience integrating life-safety systems with fire alarm and BMS/FMS platforms (e.g., Siemens, Honeywell, Schneider, Tridium, Ignition, or equivalent). 
• Strong field leadership: contractor coordination, deficiency tracking, and calm decision-making during live-gas or integrated tests. 
• Willingness to work on active construction sites and travel to projects as required. 

Qualifications — preferred 

• CxA, BCxP, CCP, or equivalent commissioning credential; PE license in mechanical, electrical, fire protection, or control systems. 
• NICET, CFPS, or fire-alarm / special-hazards certifications. 
• Hands-on experience with PLC platforms (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar) and gas-controller manufacturers used on the project. 
• Semiconductor fab, HPM piping, gas cabinet, or VMB commissioning experience. 
• Data center commissioning experience (UPS/battery rooms, generators, fuel systems, clean-agent suppression). 
• Familiarity with ISA, SEMI, and owner-specific gas-safety standards. 

Success measures 

• GLSS/HPM systems accepted by owner and AHJ on the project commissioning schedule, with no open life-safety deficiencies at occupancy. 
• Documented proof that alarm, ventilation, ESD, and integration sequences perform under both normal and failure conditions. 
• Clean turnover package: tested setpoints, as-builts, training records, and an operations-ready maintenance/calibration plan. 
• Zero testing-related safety incidents involving process or detection gases. 

Physical and work conditions 

Work is performed on active construction and commissioning sites. The role requires walking unfinished buildings, climbing ladders, entering mechanical and gas rooms, wearing required PPE, and occasional work near energized equipment or live-gas systems under controlled procedures. Overtime, nights, and weekends are expected during integrated testing and AHJ inspections. 

How to apply 

Submit a resume highlighting GLSS, gas detection, HPM, semiconductor, laboratory, or mission-critical commissioning experience, plus relevant licenses and project examples. Include the scale of systems commissioned (number of sensors/zones, gas types, and integration scope).