Skip to main content

Commissioning Project Manager - Mission Critical (Traveling)

Ryan Companies

Chicago, ILFull-time$100–135K/yrPosted 6mo agoStill listed today

Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.

You apply on the employer's site, with no Olive account needed.

Watch jobs like this.

Don't just apply. Show up ready.

Olive works from this exact posting.

At a glance

Compensation
$100–135K/yr
Location
Chicago, IL
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

The Commissioning Project Manager oversees commissioning activities for commercial data center construction projects, ensuring systems are installed, tested, and perform according to owner requirements and design. The role plans Level 2 and 3 commissioning, tracks owner-furnished contractor-installed equipment, and supports clients and third-party agents during Level 4 and 5 testing. It also coordinates project teams, vendors, and stakeholders through testing, issue resolution, and facility handover.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Construction Project Management, requiredMEP Systems, requiredData Center Systems, requiredCommissioning Lifecycle, requiredL2/L3 Commissioning, requiredIntegrated Systems Testing, requiredOFCI Equipment Management, requiredProcore, requiredP6, requiredCommissioning Certifications, nice to haveBuilding Systems, nice to haveProject Management, nice to haveLiquid Cooling, nice to haveHigh-Density Data Centers, nice to haveProfessionalism, requiredHonesty, requiredIntegrity, requiredIndependent Work, requiredTravel, required

Qualifications

4+ Years Construction Project Management, requiredBachelor's in Engineering or Related, requiredEquivalent Work Experience, requiredCxA, CEM, PE, or PMP, nice to have

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Match
Tuition Assistance
Paid Time Off
Parental Leave

Full job description

Job Description:

The Commissioning Project Manager serves as a key liaison between internal stakeholders, design teams, subcontractors, and owners to drive successful handover of high-performing facilities.

The Project Manager with a Commissioning focus is responsible for the overall management and successful execution of all commissioning activities for commercial data center construction projects. This individual will ensure that all systems are installed, tested, and perform according to the owner's project requirements and the basis of design. The role focuses on the detailed planning and execution of Level 2 and Level 3 commissioning, meticulous tracking of Owner Furnished Contractor Installed (OFCI) equipment, and providing critical support to the client and their third-party commissioning agent during Level 4 and Level 5 testing phases.

The Commissioning Project Manager serves as a key liaison between internal stakeholders, design teams, subcontractors, and owners to drive successful handover of high-performing facilities.

Some things you can expect to do:

General Construction

  • Participate in owner/client sales presentations.

  • Participate in some design development, budget preparation, and project schedule.

  • Share job cost responsibility with supervising PM or Division Manager by keeping supervisor informed of efforts.

  • Under supervision prepare and control budget, schedule, and bid documents; negotiate and award subcontracts; help prepare profit projections.

  • Help conduct jobsite coordination meetings and job status reports.

  • Conduct project close-out duties, including final cost, punch list, final billing, and final collection of fees.

Commissioning Management

  • Lead the planning and scheduling of L2 (Site Acceptance/Pre-energization) and L3 (Functional Performance Testing) commissioning activities in coordination with the equipment vendors and trade partners.

  • Assist the client’s hired commissioning agent in the execution of L4 (Integrated Systems Testing) and L5 (Post-Occupancy/Seasonal Testing) commissioning scripts and procedures.

  • Provide timely and clear communication of all commissioning-related project risks, schedule impacts, and progress updates to the project team, clients, and third parties.

  • Integrate commissioning and project schedules, issue tracking and closure, client communications, and general commissioning management.

  • Manage coordination and issue resolution with clients, vendors, and other stakeholders when critical commissioning issues arise. Monitor progress of commissioning activities and ensure alignment with project milestones.

  • Complete all requested commissioning documentation, including test reports, Cx checklists, deficiency logs, as-built or record documents, warranties, and other procedures that support a successful project closeout and handover.

  • Ensure field inspections, functional testing, and documentation support the successful execution of the quality and commissioning program.

OFCI Management

  • Create, organize, and meticulously update tracking logs for all Owner Furnished Contractor Installed (OFCI) equipment, managing the process from factory witness testing to final installation and startup.

  • Manage owner-contracted vendors to review and approve OFCI submittals and track procurement issues through delivery to the site.

  • Coordinate resolution of all vendor issues with all OFCI equipment for L2 through L5 activities. Escalate issues to the client with proactive and clear communication.

  • Ensure project commissioning teams are aware of and aligned with design intent and performance criteria for all OFCI equipment.

MEP Trade Management

  • Review and provide feedback on MEP submittals, RFIs, and Methods of Procedures (MOPs) to ensure they align with the project's commissioning and operational goals.

  • Assist the field team with the development of MEP and commissioning-specific tasks for the overall Project Schedule.

Team Leadership & Guidance

  • Lead, mentor, and train a team of commissioning project engineers, superintendents, and consultants.

  • Provide training and guidance to field teams on commissioning sequencing, durations, and expectations.

  • Coordinate and lead commissioning kickoff meetings to describe commissioning objectives and requirements to equipment vendors, subcontractors, and owner representatives.

  • Promote a culture of safety, quality, and accountability within the project team.

Continuous Improvement & Knowledge Sharing

  • Implement and maintain commissioning KPIs and continuous improvement processes to prevent repeat deficiencies and minimize impacts to project schedules.

  • Capture, document, and communicate lessons learned across projects to improve future commissioning efforts.

Job Requirements:

  • You must have at least 4 years of experience in construction project management with a strong focus on MEP systems within a data center environment.

  • A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field (or equivalent work experience) is required.

  • You must have deep knowledge of complex data center MEP systems and a demonstrated understanding of the full (L0-L5) commissioning lifecycle.

  • Experience in planning and executing L2/L3 commissioning activities and familiarity with L4/L5 integrated systems testing is essential.

  • Proven experience managing OFCI equipment procurement, delivery, and installation processes.

  • Working knowledge of construction management tools such as Procore and P6 is required.

  • A high level of professionalism, honesty, and integrity, with the ability to work with limited supervision and travel as needed for project success.

You will really stand out if you have:

  • Professional certifications related to commissioning, building systems, or project management (e.g., CxA, CEM, PE, PMP)

  • Experience commissioning liquid cooling and high density data center environments (hyperscale / colocation)

Compensation:

The salary range is $100,000 - $135,000. The salary base rate may vary within the anticipated range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include commission and/or an incentive program.

Eligibility: Position requires verification of employment to work in the U.S.

Benefits:

  • Competitive Salary

  • Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits

  • Retirement and Savings Benefits

  • Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts

  • Life Insurance

  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

  • Educational Assistance

  • Paid Time Off (PTO)

  • Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs

  • Parenting Benefits

  • Employee Discount Programs

  • Pet insurance

  • Ryan Foundation – charitable matching funds

  • Paid Time for Volunteer Events

Disclaimer: Eligibility may vary based on factors such as role, hours worked, employment status, length of service, location, and other considerations. Detailed information will be shared with eligible candidates during the hiring process, and the official terms and conditions will be outlined in each individual offer document.

Ryan Companies is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Non-Solicitation Notice to Recruitment Agencies: Ryan Companies kindly requests that recruitment agencies and third-party recruiters do not submit unsolicited resumes or candidate information to any Ryan Companies employee or office. Ryan Companies will not be responsible for any fees or expenses associated with unsolicited submissions. If recruitment services are required, we will reach out directly to agencies on our approved vendor list. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

How this job compares

Set against the 1,865 open Construction Project Manager jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$100–135K/yr
  • Illinois median$101–160K/yr37 salary ranges
  • US median$115–187K/yr1,104 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $118K, is 8% below the Illinois median midpoint ($128K) — in the lowest quarter of Construction Project Manager salary ranges in Illinois.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 52 open Construction Project Manager jobs in Illinois and 1,865 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Illinois
Experience
This posting asks for at least 4 years of experience — less than three in four Construction Project Manager postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 1,300 postings).
Education
385 of the 1,865 open Construction Project Manager jobs (21%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

Prepare for this role

You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.