Data Center, Senior Project Manager

Job description

**The Role** We are looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager to join our Project Management Office (PMO) within the Data Center Engineering organization. This role owns end-to-end delivery of natural gas engine and turbine power plant projects—spanning Behind-the-Meter (BTM) on-site generation and Front-of-the-Meter (FTM) grid-connected solutions. You will be the owner’s primary representative through every project phase: engaging with Market Development before Notice to Proceed (NTP) to ensure clean handovers into execution, directing the Owner’s Engineer (OE) team as your independent technical oversight partner, and driving projects to commercial operation on schedule and within budget. This is a high-visibility, high-accountability role reporting directly to the VP, Data Center Engineering. This role combines a strong business acumen, stakeholder management, problem-solving, and a builder’s mindset. You will be at the center of one of the energy industry’s fastest-growing intersections—distributed and grid-scale power for data centers. You’ll manage technically complex, high-impact projects with real accountability, working alongside an experienced PMO team and reporting directly to senior business leadership. You will help drive the expansion of our data center power solutions business, build trusted partnerships, and ensure Scale remains the leader in data center power solutions for mission-critical facilities. This role is based out of our Ridgewood, NJ headquarters, but could also be located at our NYC, LA, or Oakland, CA offices. Remote work is acceptable. You need to be prepared to travel up to 35% of the time to project sites, customer facilities, and OEM factories for FATs. Key responsibilities will include: - **Pre-NTP Market Development Coordination** - Partner with the Market Development team on go/no-go reviews, site assessments, and feasibility validation before the NTP is issued - Stress-test project schedules, equipment assumptions, interconnection strategies, and cost estimates for execution risk - Engage the OE and long-lead equipment suppliers during development to validate technology selections and flag procurement lead-time risks - Coordinate with Market Development to ensure a formal pre-NTP handover is held, delivering a documented Execution Readiness Report that captures all open items, assumptions, and risk mitigations - **Owner’s Engineer Coordination** - Direct the OE team as the independent technical oversight function across all project phases, from design review through commissioning acceptance - Assign OE review of all major engineering deliverables (P&IDs, single-line diagrams, equipment specifications, protection relay plans) and manage comment resolution cycles - Coordinate with Contracts Management to ensure OE witnessing of factory acceptance tests (FATs) for key project equipment - Direct OE construction observation visits require written site observation reports, and use OE findings to drive contractor corrective actions and payment milestone confirmations - Obtain OE independent verification of all performance test results before issuing the Commercial Operation Date (COD) certification - **Project Planning, Execution & Closeout** - Develop and maintain the integrated project management plan: scope, schedule, budget, risk register, QA/QC, and communications baseline - Serve as Owner’s representative during construction—chair weekly progress meetings, manage RFIs and submittals, enforce QA/QC and HSE compliance - Manage EPC/EPCM contracts and major equipment supply agreements; evaluate change orders with OE technical input and administer within delegated authority - Lead integrated commissioning planning, coordinating OEM startup technicians, BESS commissioning teams, utility representatives, and the OE - Own project budget from NTP through closeout: monthly cost reporting, EAC forecasting, invoice approval, and contingency management - Facilitate structured asset handover to O&M with OE-approved as-builts, OEM manuals, spare parts inventories, and the OE’s Final Technical Report - **Stakeholder Management & Reporting** - Primary point of contact for data center customers, utilities, ISOs/RTOs, air quality agencies, lenders, and EPC contractors - Deliver weekly project status reports and monthly executive dashboards to the VP, Data Center Engineering; include OE technical findings and open-item tracking - Manage air permitting (Title V, minor NSR) and utility/ISO interconnection applications; engage OE for technical responses to regulatory and utility information requests ### The Ideal Candidate - **Experience** - 15+ years of project management experience in power generation, energy, or utility infrastructure - Proven track record delivering natural gas engine or turbine power plant projects through construction and commissioning - Hands-on experience directing an Owner’s Engineer team across engineering, construction, and commissioning phases - Prior engagement with Market Development or origination teams during pre-NTP project development - Demonstrated ability to engage with hyperscalers, colocation providers, utilities, and other large-scale customers, ensuring their needs are met throughout the project lifecycle - EPC/EPCM contract administration experience on active construction sites - Familiarity with BESS projects - installation, safety compliance, and integration with natural gas generation - Experience with ISO/RTO interconnection processes (ERCOT, MISO, PJM, CAISO, SPP, or equivalent) for FTM projects - Data center or mission-critical facility project experience strongly preferred - **Education & Credentials** - Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Construction Management - PMP certification strongly preferred; PE licensure a plus - An advanced degree (MS Engineering or MBA) is a plus - **Technical Skills** - Proficiency in Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project - Working knowledge of industry codes and standards - Familiarity with Title V / minor NSR air permitting and NOx/CO/VOC emissions compliance for gas generation - Understanding of NERC reliability standards and FERC interconnection regulations for FTM assets Extended hours during commissioning, energization, and performance testing milestones may be required. Valid driver’s license required.