Job Type: Full-time
Pay: Starting at $55,000 per year; higher compensation available based on proven experience and leadership capability
Work Setting: Field-based position with extensive project travel
Location — Northeast Ohio Posting
Northeast Ohio and Surrounding Areas
AXN Engineering is hiring candidates based in Northeast Ohio and the surrounding area to support long-term data center and mission-critical projects throughout the region. This is a field-based position requiring regular work at active project sites and travel to other project locations as needed.
About the Position
AXN Engineering is seeking entry-level through lead-level Mechanical Commissioning Engineers and Technicians to support complex projects throughout the United States.
Our work includes hyperscale data centers, modular data centers, colocation facilities, government facilities, and other mission-critical environments that require highly reliable cooling, controls, and mechanical infrastructure.
Direct commissioning experience is not required for entry-level candidates. Mechanical contractor personnel, HVAC installers, HVAC service technicians, pipefitters, plumbers, piping installers, controls technicians, TAB technicians, startup technicians, field supervisors, and recent mechanical engineering or mechanical technology graduates are encouraged to apply.
Experienced candidates may be considered for lead-level responsibilities based on their demonstrated ability to work independently, lead a team, communicate with clients, and manage the complete mechanical commissioning scope of a project.
Why Join AXN Engineering?
AXN combines access to large, technically complex projects with a performance-driven environment where individual contributions are visible and recognized.
Employees have direct exposure to senior leadership, clients, contractors, controls vendors, design engineers, TAB contractors, and equipment manufacturers. Team members are not limited to one repetitive activity and may gain experience across the complete commissioning process, including:
- Design, drawing, and submittal reviews
- Level 2 installation verification
- Level 3 startup and pre-functional testing
- Level 4 functional performance testing
- Level 5 Integrated Systems Testing
- Controls and sequence validation
- Issue identification and resolution
- Client and contractor coordination
- Commissioning meetings and reporting
- Project turnover and final closeout
Employees who demonstrate technical ability, reliability, good judgment, communication skills, and leadership can earn increased responsibility and compensation based on proven performance.
Opportunity to Grow Into a Lead Role
Candidates do not need to already hold a formal lead title to be considered for leadership opportunities at AXN.
Mechanical professionals who have strong installation, startup, controls, service, testing, TAB, or field-coordination experience but have not yet been given the opportunity to lead at their current company are encouraged to apply.
AXN provides qualified team members with opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities by leading defined workstreams, coordinating testing activities, managing field personnel, developing commissioning procedures, and supporting client-facing responsibilities.
Advancement into a lead role is based on demonstrated performance and the ability to:
- Work independently with limited supervision
- Lead and coordinate engineers and technicians
- Communicate professionally with clients and contractors
- Develop and execute commissioning scripts and MOPs
- Lead testing activities and resolve field issues
- Manage schedules, documentation, and open items
- Take ownership of the mechanical discipline through final closeout
Candidates who already have proven experience independently running projects may be considered directly for a lead-level position.
Primary Responsibilities
- Support Level 2 through Level 5 commissioning and Integrated Systems Testing.
- Review mechanical drawings, piping diagrams, equipment submittals, specifications, sequences of operation, control diagrams, and testing requirements.
- Inspect mechanical equipment, piping, controls, and related systems for compliance with approved drawings, submittals, specifications, and project requirements.
- Participate in startup, testing, and commissioning of:
- Chillers and chilled-water systems
- Pumps and hydronic piping systems
- Air-handling units
- CRAH and CRAC units
- Cooling towers and dry coolers
- Condenser-water systems
- Computer room cooling systems
- Liquid-cooling systems
- Coolant distribution units
- Heat exchangers
- Ventilation and exhaust systems
- Plumbing and drainage systems
- BAS and mechanical controls
- Factory-integrated and modular mechanical systems
- Witness equipment startup and testing performed by mechanical contractors, controls vendors, equipment manufacturers, TAB contractors, and other testing agencies.
- Verify equipment operation, control sequences, setpoints, alarms, interlocks, safeties, and overall system response.
- Support functional performance testing, failure-mode testing, load testing, and Integrated Systems Testing.
- Complete commissioning checklists, daily reports, test records, deficiency documentation, and closeout reports.
- Identify, document, track, and assist with resolving commissioning issues.
- Coordinate with owners, general contractors, mechanical contractors, controls contractors, TAB contractors, engineers, manufacturers, and other project stakeholders.
Additional Responsibilities for Lead Candidates
Lead candidates will be responsible for managing the complete mechanical commissioning scope of their assigned project or discipline.
Responsibilities include:
- Lead, supervise, and coordinate a team of commissioning engineers and technicians.
- Independently manage the mechanical commissioning program from mobilization through final closeout.
- Develop commissioning plans, detailed functional testing procedures, commissioning scripts, Integrated Systems Testing scripts, and MOPs.
- Review scripts and procedures prepared by team members, contractors, controls vendors, and equipment manufacturers.
- Lead weekly commissioning meetings with the owner, general contractor, contractors, vendors, and other project stakeholders.
- Develop meeting agendas, communicate project status, assign action items, and track open items through resolution.
- Manage the mechanical commissioning schedule and coordinate activities with construction, equipment startup, controls integration, TAB, testing, and turnover milestones.
- Plan and coordinate Level 2 through Level 5 activities and Integrated Systems Testing.
- Coordinate contractor, OEM, controls vendor, TAB contractor, and client participation.
- Review equipment startup records, TAB reports, trend data, functional test results, and Integrated Systems Testing results.
- Determine whether equipment, controls, and complete mechanical systems meet approved procedures and project requirements.
- Manage daily reports, progress reports, issue logs, testing documentation, and final turnover records.
- Communicate directly with clients and independently resolve technical, controls, scheduling, and coordination issues.
- Take responsibility for the mechanical discipline’s field execution, team performance, documentation quality, schedule, and project closeout.
Entry-Level Qualifications
- No previous commissioning experience is required.
- Mechanical contractor or mechanical installation experience is preferred.
- HVAC installation, HVAC service, piping, plumbing, equipment startup, controls, TAB, maintenance, or field-service experience is acceptable.
- Mechanical contractors, HVAC installers, pipefitters, plumbers, mechanical installers, piping installers, and controls technicians are encouraged to apply.
- Recent mechanical engineering and mechanical technology graduates are encouraged to apply.
- A college degree is not required for candidates with relevant mechanical trade or field experience.
- Must be willing to learn data center mechanical systems, commissioning procedures, controls, testing requirements, safety procedures, and technical documentation.
- Must be dependable, organized, safety-focused, and willing to work in active construction environments.
Experienced and Lead-Level Qualifications
- Previous mission-critical or data center commissioning experience is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience with HVAC, chilled-water, controls, piping, liquid cooling, or mission-critical cooling systems is required for lead consideration.
- Experience with chillers, pumps, CRAH units, CRAC units, BAS controls, hydronic systems, TAB, and functional performance testing is strongly preferred.
- Liquid-cooling, coolant distribution unit, heat-exchanger, and high-density data center cooling experience is highly desired for lead-level candidates.
- Experience managing Level 2 through Level 5 commissioning and Integrated Systems Testing is preferred.
- Must be able to read and interpret mechanical drawings, piping diagrams, control diagrams, equipment submittals, sequences of operation, specifications, and test reports.
- Must be able to review trend data, equipment startup records, TAB reports, and functional performance results.
- Must be able to communicate effectively with clients, contractors, engineers, controls vendors, manufacturers, and field personnel.
- Lead candidates must be able to independently manage personnel, contractors, schedules, meetings, testing procedures, MOPs, issues, documentation, and final closeout.
- Lead candidates must be capable of taking ownership of the complete mechanical commissioning discipline with limited supervision from AXN management.
Compensation
Entry-level compensation starts at $55,000 per year for candidates entering the commissioning field who require structured training and supervision.
Final starting compensation is based on demonstrated and verifiable, job-related experience and capability, including:
- Relevant mechanical and commissioning experience
- Technical knowledge and troubleshooting ability
- Ability to work independently
- Amount of training and supervision required
- Data center and mission-critical project experience
- Controls, TAB, liquid-cooling, and startup experience
- Client-facing and documentation experience
- Ability to lead a team
- Ability to independently manage an entire project discipline
Candidates who can independently lead a commissioning team and take responsibility for the complete mechanical scope from the beginning of an assignment will be considered for higher lead-level compensation.
AXN conducts an annual compensation review based on performance, professional development, responsibilities, and contribution to the company.
Benefits and Project Support
AXN benefits and project support include:
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Annual compensation review
- Field-based onboarding and mentorship
- Approved airfare or other project travel
- Hotel or long-term lodging for qualifying assignments
- Rental vehicle or project transportation when applicable
- Project-related fuel and transportation expenses
- Applicable per diem for qualifying assignments
- Mileage reimbursement when approved for regional projects near the employee’s home area and a rental vehicle is not available
- Bonus opportunities for qualifying extended deployments or long-term project assignments
Travel and Schedule Requirements
- This is a field-based position and is not a remote office position.
- Extensive travel may be required, potentially 75% or more, depending on project assignments.
- Field assignments may last two weeks or longer.
- Projects may require 10- to 12-hour shifts, weekends, night work, or other non-standard schedules during critical testing periods.
- Employees must be comfortable traveling to project locations throughout their assigned region and, when required, throughout the United States.
- Home rotations for long-term assignments will be planned around project milestones, major testing activities, client requirements, and the overall commissioning schedule.
- AXN will communicate planned rotations and project schedules as early as reasonably practical so employees can plan personal and family commitments.
- Rotation schedules may change when required by equipment startup, critical testing, Integrated Systems Testing, or other project conditions.
Additional Requirements
- Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record
- Authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship
- Ability to complete client-required background checks, drug screenings, safety orientations, and site-access requirements
- Ability to work safely in active construction areas, mechanical rooms, equipment yards, and rooftops
- Ability to access stairs, ladders, equipment platforms, and other active construction areas
- Ability to use a laptop, Microsoft Office, commissioning software, and mobile reporting applications
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Professional and dependable conduct when representing AXN at client sites
AXN Engineering is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, demonstrated ability, experience, performance, and business needs.
Pay: From $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Some client projects require U.S. citizenship to obtain access to secure government or other restricted facilities. If assigned to those projects, would you be able to meet those client access requirements?
- Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B, TN, E-3, or other employment-based sponsorship)?
Ability to Commute:
- Youngstown, OH (Required)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: On the road
