Senior Commissioning Manager - HV (substation)

Senior Commissioning Manager - HV (substation) Hybrid - Chicago Office CHO1 May 8, 2026 $150K - $224K The Senior Commissioning Manager – Substation & Utility Systems provides senior commissioning leadership for high‑and medium‑voltage power infrastructure supporting large‑scale data center campuses. This role serves as the commissioning authority for utility interconnections, substations, and off‑site power generation (OSPG) systems, ensuring that power assets are safely installed, tested, integrated, and transitioned to operations in alignment with enterprise standards. While the primary focus is on HV/MV utility and generation infrastructure, this role also maintains secondary accountability for data center electrical, mechanical, and multi‑vendor packaged (MVP) systems, ensuring end‑to‑end integration between upstream power sources and mission‑critical facility loads. Key Responsibilities Act as the accountable commissioning lead for high and medium voltage systems, including substations, utility interfaces, and off‑site power generation assets. Define and enforce commissioning scope boundaries from utility interconnection through substations and upstream of data center main MV/LV gear, while ensuring downstream readiness. Lead commissioning strategy, sequencing, and governance for HV/MV systems, delegating execution to EPCs, OEMs, and specialized commissioning agents. Review and approve commissioning documentation, including energization and switching plans, protection, control, and relay testing strategies, and integrated commissioning and phased turnover plans. Provide technical oversight during construction, commissioning, and energization, including issue resolution, change coordination, and safety leadership. Ensure commissioning activities comply with utility requirements, regulatory expectations, safety standards, and operational readiness criteria. Maintain secondary oversight of data center MEP and MVP commissioning, ensuring seamless integration with substation and utility power delivery. Support Integrated Systems Testing (IST), readiness milestones, and operational handover by validating upstream power availability and system performance. Serve as the senior escalation point for complex, cross‑discipline commissioning challenges involving electrical, mechanical, and controls systems. Direct and manage third‑party commissioning agents, OEM field service teams, EPCs, and specialized test firms supporting HV/MV and OSG scope. Provide technical input into vendor selection and engagement strategies for substation and switchgear OEMs, protection and control vendors, OSPG providers, and commissioning and testing specialists. Establish clear commissioning roles, responsibilities, acceptance criteria, and escalation paths across all external partners. Identify risks related to vendor execution, sequencing, or technical interfaces and drive mitigation strategies. Market Focus Initial Focus: Chicago market, supporting early‑phase substation, utility, and off‑site power generation commissioning activities. Primary Work Locations: Remote‑based within Ashburn, Chicago, New York, or Atlanta, with travel up to 50% to project sites as required. Secondary: Remote commissioning governance and technical support for other markets as the program expands. Qualifications Education : Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent technical discipline. Experience : 12+ years of commissioning experience in high‑voltage power systems, substations, utility infrastructure, or generation assets. Demonstrated leadership on complex, schedule‑critical programs supporting mission‑critical or industrial facilities. Technical Expertise : Substations, utility interconnections, HV/MV equipment, grounding systems, and protection & control. Working knowledge of data center electrical and mechanical systems and their interaction with upstream power infrastructure. Skills : Strong technical judgment, leadership, and stakeholder communication. Ability to operate as a senior authority while managing execution through external partners; ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead cross‑functional teams. Benefits The pay range shown is based on our compensation structure in place at the time of posting and may be updated periodically based on business needs. Individual pay is based on additional factors including job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education and/or training. The targeted pay range listed reflects the base pay only and does not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Employees are eligible for bonus, and equity may be offered depending on the position. Employee Assistance Program : An Employee Assistance program is available to all employees. US Benefits: Insurance: You may enroll in health, life, disability and voluntary plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members. Retirement: You and Equinix may contribute to a retirement plan to help you plan for your financial future. Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays: You will receive an accrued amount of PTO each pay period along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific plan or program terms. Equal Employment Opportunity Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability. If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form. Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy / childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political / organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law. We use artificial intelligence in our hiring process. Learn more here. #J-18808-Ljbffr