Senior Commissioning Lead- Houston, USA [Hybrid]

About Submer

Submer designs and delivers end-to-end AI datacenter infrastructure built around industry-leading liquid cooling. We help organizations scale AI beyond the limits of traditional datacenters by enabling higher density, greater efficiency and lower environmental impact – accelerating time-to-AI from first deployment to full production.

At Submer, we’re committed to creating a digital world that is safer, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable. Our technologies are addressing the critical challenges faced by data centers, supercomputing, hyperscale, and edge computing. By joining Submer, you’ll be part of a team driving innovation that directly contributes to a greener tomorrow. As we continue to grow our teams and operations in the US, we are positioning ourselves to effectively meet the increasing demand for our solutions.

What impact you'll have:

The Senior Commissioning Lead is responsible for the end‑to‑end commissioning of prefabricated containers hosting liquid cooling and air‑cooled infrastructure. This role defines the commissioning strategy, leads on‑site execution, and verifies that IT loads, power systems, direct-to-chip(DTC) liquid cooling, and air‑cooling subsystems perform to design intent, OEM specifications, and customer SLAs before the container enters production. The position requires close coordination with design, construction, OEM vendors, and customer operations to de‑risk start‑up of high‑density AI workloads.

What you’ll do:

Commissioning strategy and planning

• Develop the project‑specific pre‑commissioning and commissioning plan for each container, including scope, milestones, resource plan, and dependencies across civil, electrical, mechanical, and IT workstreams.

• Define system boundaries and test packages for DTC liquid cooling loops, air‑cooling paths, rack power distribution, safety systems, and controls.

• Participate in design reviews to ensure commissioning requirements (valving, test points, bypasses, sensor placement, drain/fill points) are incorporated into the container and rack designs.

Mechanical and cooling system commissioning

• Lead pre‑functional checks and functional performance tests for liquid cooling circuits and air-cooled systems.

• Execute full‑load and partial‑load thermal tests, including step‑load and transient scenarios, to verify container cooling performance, stability, and redundancy behavior.

Electrical, controls, and integrated systems testing

• Coordinate commissioning of container power distribution from incoming feeds through distribution boards, rack‑level power, and any UPS/BBU interfaces feeding the GPU racks and network.

• Lead commissioning of control systems including BMS/BAS, DTC loop controls, CDU logic, leak detection, and alarm / interlock strategies for both liquid and air‑cooled domains.

• Plan and execute integrated systems testing (IST) to validate start‑up, normal operation, failover (e.g., pump or fan failures, power events), emergency shutdown, and recovery across power, cooling, and IT subsystems.

IT rack commissioning

• Coordinate with server and rack OEMs to ensure safe connection of liquid loops, controlled filling and venting, and verification of flow, pressure, and temperature at each rack and manifold.

• Support IT workload testing, monitoring thermal and power telemetry to identify any infrastructure bottlenecks, derates, or instability under realistic AI workloads.

Quality, documentation, and turnover

• Develop and maintain commissioning procedures, scripts, checklists, and test forms tailored to the container architecture, and combined liquid/air environment.

• Maintain detailed commissioning logs, punch lists, and issue registers; drive root‑cause analysis and corrective actions with responsible contractors and vendors.

• Compile and approve final commissioning deliverables including as‑built documentation, calibrated setpoints, test reports, and handover packages for operations, and deliver training for the customer’s operations staff.

Safety, compliance, and leadership

• Enforce site safety requirements for electrical work, pressurized liquid handling, confined spaces, and working at height; lead daily safety and coordination briefings for commissioning teams.

• Ensure commissioning activities comply with applicable codes, standards, and OEM guidelines for high‑density data centers, liquid cooling, and network equipment.

• Lead and mentor a cross‑functional team of commissioning engineers and technicians, and act as the primary point of contact for the client during all commissioning phases of the container.

What you’ll need

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent practical experience in mission‑critical facility commissioning.

• 7+ years of commissioning experience in data centers or comparable mission‑critical environments, including at least 3 years in a lead or site‑lead role.

• Strong technical background in mechanical/HVAC systems and hydronic or liquid cooling, with proven hands‑on experience bringing high‑density IT or GPU racks into production.

• Working knowledge of data center electrical distribution (from main distribution to rack‑level power), and controls/BMS concepts sufficient to lead integrated system tests and troubleshoot issues.

• Demonstrated experience developing commissioning plans, test scripts, and reports, and managing commissioning records, issues, and close‑out.

• Proven ability to coordinate multiple contractors and vendors on a live site, with strong communication skills and the ability to represent the project to customers and operations teams.

Preferred qualifications

• Direct experience commissioning DTC liquid‑cooled racks.

• Experience with modular or containerized data centers, including factory testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT) of prefabricated units.

• Certifications in commissioning, TAB, or related fields (e.g., NEBB, AABC, CxA) and/or relevant safety certifications.

• Experience with commissioning management software and digital tools for issue tracking, test execution, and documentation.

• Background working in fast‑paced AI or cloud infrastructure environments with aggressive deployment schedules and rapidly evolving designs.

What we offer

• Attractive compensation package reflecting your expertise and experience.
• Medical Insurance Plan.
• 401k Employee volunteer contribution Plan.
• A great work environment characterized by friendliness, international diversity, flexibility, and a hybrid-friendly approach.
• You´ll be part of a fast-growing scale-up with a mission to make a positive impact, offering an exciting career evolution.

Our inclusive responsibility

Submer is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.

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