Project Manager

Job Title: Data Center Project Manager

Location: Stafford, VI

Placement Type: Contract to Hire

Top Skills

• 5+ years of project management in data centers or comparable critical infrastructure experience

• Knowledge of critical data center equipment

• Knowledge of engineering documentation, electrical diagrams and standard operating procedures

• Knowledge of building codes and regulations including Life Safety, BOCA, NFPA, NEC, or OSHAe

• Experience reading and interpreting construction specifications and drawings for all domains

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Data Center Project Manager to serve as a key technical resource within mission-critical data center facilities. In this role, you will join a highly creative, efficient team responsible for designing, building, and operating complex data infrastructure. You will oversee projects across electrical, mechanical, controls, and architectural disciplines, ensuring they align with organizational strategy, commitments, and goals. You will identify opportunities for improvement, act on operational data, and design, develop, and deploy innovative solutions to address real-world operational challenges. This position requires both strong independent contribution and effective collaboration within multi-disciplinary teams, with project scopes that include improvements to electrical, mechanical, fire detection, and building automation systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control, and completion of data center projects, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and goals.

• Oversee and review all project disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, controls, and architectural, to ensure technical quality and operational reliability.

• Serve as a technical resource within data centers, providing guidance and support to operations, engineering, and construction teams.

• Identify areas for improvement in data center infrastructure and operations, and develop actionable plans based on performance data and feedback from internal and external stakeholders.

• Design, develop, and deploy innovative solutions to address operational challenges in critical infrastructure environments.

• Manage multiple concurrent projects, typically ranging from 3 to 12 at a time, varying in size and scope, while maintaining quality and schedule adherence.

• Support projects across key categories, including capacity expansion, safety enhancements, availability improvements, and structural upgrades such as building envelope renovations.

• Coordinate and oversee on-site construction activities, including mechanical, electrical, and general trades, ensuring compliance with design specifications and safety standards.

• Direct and manage contractors and vendors, including planning, scheduling, performance oversight, and issue resolution.

• Review, interpret, and validate engineering documentation, electrical diagrams, construction specifications, and drawings for all domains related to data center construction.

• Ensure adherence to building codes, regulations, and standards, including Life Safety, BOCA, NFPA, NEC, and OSHA requirements.

• Collaborate closely with operations, engineering, and facilities partners to integrate project work into an active, operational environment with minimal disruption.

• Discuss and evaluate technical concepts, manage trade-offs, and incorporate feedback from a wide range of stakeholders to refine project scope and execution.

• Monitor project progress, identify risks and constraints, and implement corrective actions to keep projects on schedule and within defined parameters.

• Work proactively and independently to meet deadlines, deliver on project commitments, and maintain a high level of accountability in a fast-paced environment.

• Contribute to a culture of safety, precision, and continuous improvement in all aspects of project planning and execution.

• Engage in daily interactions with contractors, operations teams, and engineering partners to resolve field issues and support real-time decision-making.

Essential Skills

• At least 5 years of construction or project management experience.

• At least 5 years of experience managing projects in data centers or comparable critical infrastructure in an operational environment.

• Experience with comparable critical infrastructure such as facilities with 24/7 emergency backup systems, manufacturing (including semiconductor, automotive, medical equipment, or clean rooms), mass transportation (freight or passenger rail), oil and gas, utilities, hospitals, or similar industries.

• At least 5 years of experience in on-site construction trades such as mechanical, electrical, or general construction.

• Demonstrated experience in vendor and contractor management in an active facility environment.

• Strong project management skills, including project execution, scheduling, and coordination across multiple stakeholders.

• Knowledge of critical data center equipment and systems.

• Ability to read, interpret, and work from engineering documentation, electrical diagrams, and standard operating procedures.

• Knowledge of building codes and regulations, including Life Safety, BOCA, NFPA, NEC, and OSHA standards.

• Experience reading and interpreting construction specifications and drawings for all domains related to data center construction.

• Proven ability to work proactively and independently, meet deadlines, and deliver on assigned projects and tasks.

• Demonstrated success delivering results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• Strong communication skills with the ability to discuss technical concepts and manage trade-offs with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• At least 5 years of experience in the technical field of power distribution and data center mechanical cooling systems.

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, or a similar technical discipline.

• Experience in construction management and engineering within critical infrastructure or data center environments.

• Ability to evaluate opportunistic new ideas and incorporate stakeholder feedback into project planning and execution.

• Experience supporting projects across capacity, safety, availability, and structural categories in operational facilities.

• Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on ownership, accountability, and visible impact.

• Comfort working with multi-disciplinary teams, including operations, engineering, facilities, and external contractors.

• Motivation to grow within a role that offers clear opportunities for advancement and long-term career development.

Work Environment

This role is fully on-site at a data center facility within an operational environment. The standard work schedule runs from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Stafford, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $80.00 - $92.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Stafford,VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 28, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.