Technical Manager (Mechanical) - Commissioning

Role Overview

The Technical Manager (Mechanical) will play a key role within the Technical Delivery Team, supporting commissioning activities across all project phases in fast-paced, mission-critical data centre environments.

This role is primarily focused on mechanical systems (e.g. HVAC, critical cooling, fuel systems, and associated infrastructure) and the development of Level 0 (L0) deliverables, ensuring consistency, quality, and technical excellence across the business.

Working both remotely and in support of site teams, the role will contribute to commissioning strategy, support design assurance, drive standardisation of commissioning delivery, and provide expert technical guidance during complex testing and troubleshooting scenarios.

The role will also incorporate duties aligned to a Commissioning Consultant (CxC), including input into sustainability-led commissioning processes (e.g. LEED, BREEAM), with responsibility for ensuring commissioning deliverables meet both client and certification requirements.

The successful candidate will collaborate closely with internal teams, clients, and project stakeholders to ensure commissioning outcomes align with programme, safety, performance, operational, and compliance objectives.

Reporting to: Head of Technical Delivery

Location: Hybrid

 Key Responsibilities

Technical Delivery & Strategy

• Support the development and continuous improvement of programme-wide commissioning strategies for data centre projects
• Provide mechanical subject matter expertise across all project stages (design through to handover)
• Ensure alignment between commissioning activities, project programmes, and client delivery objectives
• Promote consistency in how commissioning is defined, executed, and reported across projects
• Contribute to the development and standardisation of commissioning processes, templates, and lessons learned
• Provide technical escalation support for complex mechanical commissioning challenges

Design Phase (L0 Focus & CxC Input)

• Undertake RIBA Stage 2, 3, and 4 design reviews at key percentage completion stages from a commissioning, operability, and maintainability perspective
• Review and provide structured input into:
  • Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR)
  • Basis of Design (BoD) documentation
• Act in a CxC advisory capacity, ensuring design alignment with commissioning best practice and certification requirements (e.g. LEED Fundamental & Enhanced Commissioning, BREEAM requirements)
• Support the development and review of commissioning specifications within employer’s requirements
• Produce initial draft Commissioning Plans aligned with project scope, programme, and phasing constraints
• Define phasing and operational strategies for critical mechanical systems (e.g. chilled water, air systems, fuel, fire/smoke interfaces)
• Develop and maintain a Commissioning Risk Register, identifying technical, operational, and programme risks
• Provide input into constructability and commissionability reviews, including system accessibility, redundancy, and failure scenarios

 Pre-Construction & Construction Support

• Provide remote technical support to project teams and site-based commissioning managers
• Review and contribute to commissioning documentation, including:
  • Method statements
  • Level 4–5 test scripts (drafting and technical assurance)
  • Commissioning checklists and procedures
• Provide guidance on Level 4 testing methodologies, integrated system testing approaches, and fault resolution
• Support Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) as required
• Act as a technical reviewer for mechanical commissioning deliverables, ensuring compliance with client, design, and CxC requirements
• Support coordination between mechanical, electrical, controls, and BMS disciplines to ensure integrated system performance
• Ensure quality, traceability, and consistency in commissioning outputs and documentation

Acceptance & Handover Support

• Provide technical oversight of Level 4 and Level 5 commissioning strategies for mechanical systems

• Support validation of system performance against OPR, BoD, and commissioning acceptance criteria
• Review commissioning results, identifying trends, risks, and non-conformances
• Contribute to final commissioning reports and technical close-out documentation
• Support delivery of commissioning evidence required for LEED/BREEAM certification (e.g. commissioning reports, issues logs, performance validation)
• Participate in and support lessons learned workshops to inform continuous improvement

Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• Strong background in mechanical systems within critical environments (e.g. data centres, healthcare, or similar)
• Demonstrable experience in, or suitable knowledge of commissioning mechanical systems (HVAC, chilled water, CRAH/CRAC, etc.)
• Solid understanding of commissioning processes

Desirable:

• HNC/HND in Mechanical or Building Services Engineering
• BEng (Hons) or equivalent in a relevant engineering discipline
• Experience acting in a Commissioning Consultant (CxC) or similar advisory role
• Knowledge of LEED (Fundamental / Enhanced Commissioning) and/or BREEAM commissioning requirements
• Formal project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2)
• Completed mechanical or building services trade apprenticeship or equivalent practical qualification

Skills & Competencies

• Strong technical expertise in mechanical systems and commissioning methodology
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to interpret complex engineering designs and documentation
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• Organised and methodical approach to documentation and process standardisation
• Ability to work independently while supporting distributed project teams

Additional Information

The role will involve collaboration across multiple projects and travel to project sites as required.