Senior Mechanical Commissioning Advisor Critical

Remote, US

Engineering data centers with precision and expertise.

At Strategic Mission Critical, we are more than just engineers; we are experts focusing solely on mission critical facilities. Our seasoned leadership team brings together decades of experience, equipping data center providers worldwide with robust, reliable solutions that keep pace with the evolving digital landscape.

As demand for high-performance infrastructure accelerates - fueled by AI and the expanding digital landscape - SMC continues to lead through technical rigor and operational excellence. We’re seeking leaders who think beyond projects to improve the way we deliver them: individuals who elevate people, process, and performance across the firm.

SMC’s Commissioning and Operations Advisory (CxOA) Team is seeking a Senior Mechanical Commissioning Advisor to support mission critical data center projects.
This is a field-based role requiring approximately 60–70% travel to active project sites
, with the Advisor serving as SMC’s on-site technical representative and supporting the Owner throughout the commissioning process.

In this role, you’ll advise on mechanical commissioning activities from construction and equipment startup through functional testing, integrated systems testing (IST), and turnover, providing guidance and oversight on behalf of the Owner.

You’ll work directly with Owners, GCs, Commissioning Agents (CxAs), mechanical and controls contractors, vendors, design teams, and operations personnel to monitor testing readiness and commissioning schedules, identify risks and deficiencies, and help remove project roadblocks through successful turnover.

The role requires deep experience in data center mechanical commissioning and critical cooling systems, along with the ability to evaluate complex issues, challenge testing and execution when needed, and provide clear recommendations to project teams and the Owner. The role may also support live data center operations through facility audits, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), troubleshooting, and operational readiness and training.

• Serve as a senior on-site advisor to the Owner, providing mechanical commissioning guidance and oversight throughout construction, testing, and turnover.
• Advise on commissioning schedules, testing readiness, and day-to-day execution, coordinating with the Owner, GC, Commissioning Agent (CxA), mechanical and controls contractors, vendors, design teams, and operations personnel to identify risks and help keep commissioning activities on track.
• Provide oversight across critical mechanical systems, including chillers, cooling towers, pumps, CRAH/CRAC units, AHUs, hydronic systems, heat exchangers, and BAS/BMS controls.
• Provide commissioning guidance through L1–L5, including equipment readiness, startup, functional performance testing, controls verification, failure scenarios, and integrated systems testing.
• Identify and track commissioning deficiencies, schedule risks, and testing roadblocks, providing recommendations and challenging project teams when execution does not align with design intent, project requirements, or Owner expectations.
• Review and provide guidance on commissioning plans, test scripts, MOPs/SOPs, TAB reports, equipment startup reports, sequences of operation, controls documentation, submittals, and turnover documentation.
• Evaluate mechanical system performance against design intent and sequences of operation, identifying operational, controls, capacity, or system performance issues and recommending corrective actions.
• Perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for critical events during construction or within live data center environments, documenting findings…