Technical Programme Manager Data Centre – Testing & Commissioning

Position

The Technical Programme Manager – Testing & Commissioning (TPM – T&C) is a full-time role based in Singapore or Indonesia (Batam).

The role reports to the Programme Director – Data Centre.

Overview

The TPM – T&C is responsible for leading the technical planning, governance and execution of the Testing & Commissioning programme for mission-critical data centre developments, ensuring that all mechanical, electrical, controls and integrated systems are commissioned, validated and handed over in accordance with client requirements, industry standards and operational performance objectives.

As the technical authority for commissioning, the role establishes commissioning strategies, methodologies and technical standards across multiple projects, providing leadership throughout design review, construction, testing, integrated systems testing, operational readiness and final client acceptance.

Working closely with project delivery teams, design consultants, commissioning managers, contractors, equipment manufacturers, controls specialists and facility operations teams, the TPM – T&C ensures that all critical infrastructure performs reliably, safely and as designed, while driving continuous improvement and technical excellence across the commissioning programme.

The role provides technical leadership, governance and assurance across the entire commissioning lifecycle, ensuring facilities are delivered fully operational, resilient and ready for business-critical operations.

Key responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Engineering Assurance

• Act as the technical authority for all Testing & Commissioning activities across data centre programmes and projects.
• Develop and implement commissioning philosophies, governance frameworks, technical standards and best practices to ensure consistency across projects.
• Lead technical reviews of engineering designs to ensure systems are commissionable, maintainable, operable and aligned with operational requirements.
• Review and approve commissioning methodologies, procedures, method statements, test scripts and acceptance criteria.
• Provide expert technical guidance on mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), controls, automation and integrated systems throughout project delivery.
• Lead resolution of complex engineering, systems integration and commissioning issues affecting project delivery or operational performance.
• Drive continuous improvement through standardisation, lessons learned and adoption of industry best practices.

 Commissioning Programme Management

• Lead the development and execution of integrated Testing & Commissioning programmes from design through operational handover.
• Develop commissioning execution plans covering Level 1-5 commissioning activities, factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), pre-functional testing, functional performance testing, integrated systems testing (IST), reliability demonstrations and client acceptance.
• Integrate commissioning activities with overall project schedules, construction sequencing and operational readiness plans.
• Establish commissioning governance, reporting structures and programme controls across multiple concurrent projects.
• Monitor programme performance and implement mitigation or recovery plans to maintain project objectives.

 Integrated Systems Testing & Operational Readiness

• Lead planning and execution of Integrated Systems Testing (IST) to validate end-to-end performance of critical facility infrastructure.
• Develop and approve integrated testing scenarios covering normal operation, failure modes, redundancy validation and emergency operating conditions.
• Ensure successful validation of electrical, mechanical, controls and building management systems under all operating scenarios.
• Lead operational readiness activities, ensuring facilities are fully prepared for safe occupancy and live operations.
• Coordinate reliability demonstrations, burn-in testing, resilience validation and final client acceptance testing.
• Ensure all commissioning documentation, asset information, O&M manuals and training requirements are completed prior to handover.

 Technical Systems Integration

• Provide technical leadership across critical power, cooling and control systems, including:
  • Medium and low-voltage electrical distribution.
  • Generators and fuel systems.
  • UPS systems and battery energy storage.
  • Static transfer switches (STS).
  • HVAC and chilled water systems.
  • Fire detection and suppression systems.
  • Building Management Systems (BMS).
  • Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS).
  • SCADA and industrial control systems.
  • Network and communications interfaces supporting critical infrastructure.
• Ensure effective integration between all mission-critical building systems to achieve required levels of resilience, redundancy and operational reliability.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering interfaces throughout commissioning activities.

 Quality, Compliance & Technical Standards

• Ensure commissioning activities comply with applicable regulatory requirements, client standards and recognised industry practices.
• Promote compliance with ASHRAE commissioning guidelines, CSA commissioning processes, Uptime Institute commissioning practices and other recognised mission-critical standards.
• Lead technical assurance reviews, commissioning audits and quality assessments throughout project delivery.
• Review and approve commissioning documentation, test records and completion dossiers.
• Ensure commissioning deliverables satisfy contractual, statutory and operational requirements.

 Commercial & Programme Controls

• Support development of commissioning budgets, resource plans and programme forecasts.
• Review commissioning resource requirements across multiple projects to optimise programme delivery.
• Provide technical input into procurement of commissioning services, specialist testing contractors and equipment vendors.
• Manage commissioning consultants, commissioning agents and specialist service providers.
• Monitor commissioning progress, technical risks and programme performance, implementing corrective actions where required.

 Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain effective relationships with clients, project directors, consultants, contractors, equipment manufacturers and facility operators.
• Serve as the senior technical representative for all Testing & Commissioning matters.
• Lead multidisciplinary technical workshops and commissioning readiness reviews.
• Present commissioning progress, technical risks and operational readiness status to executive leadership and client stakeholders.
• Facilitate timely technical decision-making across complex multidisciplinary teams.

 Risk, Governance & Safety

• Establish governance frameworks for commissioning activities across the programme.
• Identify, assess and mitigate technical and programme risks throughout the commissioning lifecycle.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental and corporate governance requirements.
• Promote safe systems of work during all testing and commissioning activities.
• Lead technical investigations into commissioning failures, defects and non-conformances, implementing corrective and preventive actions.

 Key accountabilities

• Successful delivery of Testing & Commissioning programmes across data centre developments.
• Achievement of all commissioning milestones, integrated systems testing and operational readiness objectives.
• Delivery of resilient, reliable and fully operational mission-critical facilities meeting client performance requirements.
• Technical compliance with industry standards, contractual obligations and commissioning best practices.
• Effective management of commissioning risks, governance and multidisciplinary stakeholder relationships.
• Successful client acceptance and seamless transition from project delivery to live operations.
• Continuous improvement of commissioning methodologies, technical standards and organisational capability.
• High levels of client satisfaction and confidence in technical commissioning leadership.

 Qualifications & experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng), Professional Engineer (PE) or equivalent professional registration is highly desirable.
• Professional certification such as PMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP) or equivalent is advantageous.
• Minimum 5 years of experience delivering Testing & Commissioning for mission-critical facilities, including significant experience in hyperscale or colocation data centre environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading end-to-end commissioning programmes from design review through integrated systems testing, operational readiness and client handover.
• Extensive knowledge of mission-critical infrastructure including electrical distribution, generators, UPS systems, HVAC, chilled water systems, fire protection, BMS, EPMS, SCADA and controls integration.
• Proven experience planning and leading Integrated Systems Testing (IST), reliability demonstrations and operational performance validation.
• Strong understanding of commissioning methodologies, including Level 1-5 commissioning, FAT, SAT, functional performance testing and integrated systems testing.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams, commissioning agents, consultants, contractors and equipment vendors.
• Strong technical, contractual, commercial and risk management capability.
• Experience working with hyperscale cloud providers, colocation operators or mission-critical infrastructure developers is highly desirable.
• Experience delivering projects across the Asia-Pacific region would be an advantage.

 Key competencies

• Technical leadership in mission-critical infrastructure.
• Testing & Commissioning programme management.
• Data centre MEP systems and controls expertise.
• Integrated Systems Testing (IST) and systems integration.
• Operational readiness and facility handover.
• Engineering governance and technical assurance.
• Strategic planning and programme execution.
• Risk identification, analysis and mitigation.
• Problem solving and decision-making in complex technical environments.
• Continuous improvement and innovation.
• Strong commitment to health, safety and quality excellence.