We are seeking a Data Center Construction Manager supporting live data center retrofit projects in Northern Virginia (Ashburn area).This role will support large-scale electrical and MEP retrofits within active, mission-critical hyperscale facilities, with a strong emphasis on safety, governance, and electrical capacity expansion.
- Work Model: 100% onsite; no remote or hybrid
- Environment: Live, mission-critical hyperscale data centers
- Client Profile: Large hyperscaler; highly governance- and security-driven
- Project Type: Large-scale electrical retrofits and power expansion (stranded capacity recovery, PDUs, UPS, generators, environmental systems)
- Labor Model: Union electrical subcontractors onsite
- Urgency: Extremely high; first hires are foundational and high-risk
Electrical Retrofit & Capacity Expansion
The initial scope of work centers on recovering and materially increasing available electrical capacity in existing, live data center facilities:
- Sites may be rated for higher megawatt capacity (e.g., ~40 MW) but are operating well below theoretical limits (e.g., low–mid 30 MW range) due to internal constraints.
- The program objective is to identify stranded capacity and incrementally unlock it through:
- Major electrical retrofits
- Deployment of additional PDUs and power distribution components
- Upgrades to UPS, generators, and supporting MEP infrastructure
- Supporting OT and environmental system modifications required to safely scale load
- In some cases, this work is intended to nearly double usable capacity within an existing facility footprint (e.g., effectively pushing toward 70–80 MW outcomes over time).
This work is performed inside live, production environments, meaning:
- Cutovers, shutdowns, and energizations must be meticulously planned
- Rollback strategies are mandatory
- Governance, access control, and safety take precedence over speed alone
Summary
The Construction Manager is the onsite execution leader responsible for day-to-day field management at live data center sites in Ashburn, VA. Each CM is assigned to one site (with potential coverage of multiple smaller sites) and is accountable for safety, quality, sequencing, and coordination of subcontractor work.
Responsibilities
Onsite Execution & Coordination
- Serve as primary onsite point of contact for subcontractors and client operations.
- Coordinate and sequence electrical, mechanical, and supporting trades.
- Track task completion against schedule and report impacts immediately.
- Lead daily start-of-day and end-of-day coordination with client ops teams.
Safety & Governance
- Enforce client safety protocols including LOTO, hot work, confined space, and energized work.
- Conduct pre-task planning meetings and daily safety checks.
- Manage permits, access control, badging, and secure-area compliance.
- Be hyper-aware of site access violations, door alarms, and unauthorized activity.
Documentation & Controls
- Maintain daily field reports and site logs.
- Initiate RFIs; support change order documentation with field evidence.
- Track and execute work per approved MOPs, SOPs, and IFC drawings.
- Coordinate inspections with AHJs and client representatives.
Cutovers & Live Work
- Coordinate and execute shutdowns, energizations, and cutovers.
- Ensure rollback plans are clearly defined and executable.
- Maintain constant situational awareness during high-risk activities.
Required Experience & Traits
- 3–5+ years of construction management or field engineering experience
- Direct experience working in live data center or mission-critical environments
- Strong understanding of electrical distribution systems (switchgear, PDUs, UPS, generators)
- Prior exposure to union subcontractor environments preferred
- Ability to operate independently with minimal supervision
Ideal Personality Traits
- High autonomy; does not require hand-holding
- Calm under pressure; decisive but not abrasive
- Politically savvy; able to influence without authority
- Methodical, detail-oriented, and slightly “paranoid” about risk
Required / Preferred Certifications (These certifications may be completed during onboarding if missing):
- OSHA 30
- First Aid / CPR (in-person training)
- Bloodborne Pathogen Training
- Hazardous Communication
- NFPA 70E (online acceptable)