Mission-Critical Data Center Construction | QA/QC Manager
LOCATION
Amarillo, TX (US)
TRAVEL
Site-based; up to 100%
EXPERIENCE
Minimum 5 years Cx-QA/QC experience
Compensation:
$140k - $190k Annual base salary, dependent on experience and location
We're seeking two (2) experienced QA/QC Managers who will each join one of two dedicated/core four-person QA/QC project teams supporting the quality assurance and quality control program for two large-scale data center construction projects in Amarillo, Texas. As part of this team, you will provide program-level leadership and continuity across the entire project, as well as additional oversight capacity to ensure the highest standards of quality across every phase of these mission-critical builds.
This is a field-based position requiring regular weekly travel and on-site work at client project locations, as assigned. The initial assignment is in Amarillo, TX. The initial assignment is expected to last several months, with future assignments varying based on project needs and client requirements. Candidates must maintain a permanent residence and be willing to travel to assigned project sites on a weekly basis. The company offers travel expense reimbursement in accordance with company policy.
Position Overview:
The QA/QC Manager leads the quality assurance and quality control program for data center construction projects, ensuring that all work delivered by trade contractors, vendors, and internal teams meets project specifications, applicable codes, owner standards, and industry best practices. This role combines strategic program ownership with hands-on field leadership to uphold the highest standards of safety, quality, and reliability across mission-critical environments.
The QA/QC Manager directs a team of electrical, mechanical, and civil/structural QA/QC specialists and inspectors, establishing the policies, procedures, and workflows that govern quality across the project lifecycle — from design review and constructability analysis through installation, commissioning, and turnover. The role serves as the primary quality interface with the owner, general contractor, commissioning authority, and third-party testing agencies.
The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in construction quality management on data center or mission-critical projects, strong leadership and mentoring skills, and the ability to balance program-level strategy with the tactical demands of an active construction site.
Key Responsibilities:
QA/QC Program Leadership
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve the project-specific QA/QC program, including the Project Quality Plan (PQP), inspection and test plans (ITPs), checklists, procedures, and reporting standards.
- Align the QA/QC program with owner requirements, applicable codes, and industry standards (IEEE, NFPA, NEC, ASHRAE, SMACNA, NEBB, AABC, ASME, NETA) and adapt the program as project scope or client expectations evolve.
- Establish quality KPIs and dashboards to measure program effectiveness, track trends, and drive accountability across trades.
- Lead lessons-learned reviews at project milestones and feed improvements back into standard procedures and playbooks.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of QA/QC specialists and inspectors covering electrical, mechanical, civil/structural, and commissioning scopes.
- Manage team staffing, workload balancing, and schedule coverage across multiple project sites and shifts, including night and weekend testing events.
- Conduct performance reviews, provide coaching, and identify training and certification opportunities to strengthen technical depth and consistency across the team.
- Foster a cooperative, improvement-oriented culture that emphasizes safety, professionalism, and constructive communication under pressure.
Field Execution & Oversight
- Oversee day-to-day QA/QC field activities, including inspections, surveillance, witness points, hold points, and punch list management through L1–L5 commissioning phases.
- Coordinate closely with the Energy Marshal and commissioning leadership to confirm pre-energization verifications, LOTO readiness, and safe execution of testing events.
- Manage the non-conformance report (NCR) process — ensuring timely identification, documentation, root-cause analysis, corrective action, and verification of closure.
- Review and approve Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) protocols and results for major equipment (switchgear, UPS, generators, transformers, chillers, CRAHs, PDUs) and oversee closure of deferred items prior to site delivery.
- Validate integration and interoperability between electrical, mechanical, and control systems, and oversee corrective actions through retesting prior to turnover.
Stakeholder & Client Management
- Serve as the primary QA/QC point of contact for the owner, general contractor, commissioning authority, design team, and third-party testing and inspection agencies.
- Represent the QA/QC organization in executive-level project reviews, risk workshops, and owner audits, providing clear reporting on quality posture, risks, and mitigation plans.
- Partner with project management, safety, and scheduling leads to ensure quality milestones are integrated into the master schedule and resourced appropriately.
- Interface with hyperscale or colocation owner QA/QC representatives and adapt the program to align with client-specific standards, platforms, and turnover requirements.
Documentation & Reporting
- Oversee the collection, integrity, and turnover of QA/QC documentation — including inspection reports, checklists, MOPs, test verification forms, NCR logs, and as-built records — within approved customer platforms (e.g., Procore, Bluebeam, Cx Alloy, Aconex).
- Ensure timely compilation and submission of commissioning reports, turnover packages, O&M manuals, training materials, warranties, and attic stock records.
- Produce executive-level weekly and milestone reports summarizing quality status, open NCRs, audit findings, and readiness for energization, IST, and final turnover.
Risk, Budget & Vendor Management
- Identify and manage quality-related risks to cost, schedule, and reliability, escalating appropriately and leading recovery plans when required.
- Manage the QA/QC budget, including staffing, third-party testing, and specialty inspection services.
- Evaluate and qualify vendors, subcontractors, and third-party inspection agencies; lead pre-award quality reviews and ongoing performance monitoring.
Qualifications:
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or a related field. Equivalent experience may be considered.
- Relevant certifications strongly preferred, such as USACE Construction Quality Management for Contractors (CQM-C), ASQ Certified Manager of Quality / Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP), PMP, or LEED Accredited Professional.
- OSHA 30 Construction certification
Experience:
- Minimum of 10 years of construction QA/QC experience, with at least 5 years on data center, mission-critical, or other complex industrial/commercial projects.
- Minimum five (5) years of direct experience in QC of MEP equipment
- Minimum of 3 years in a supervisory or management role overseeing a multidisciplinary quality program and QA/QC team.
- Demonstrated experience owning project-level QA/QC programs, including plan development, ITPs, NCR management, and turnover.
- Strong working knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems typical of data centers — switchgear, UPS, generators, transformers, PDUs, chilled water systems, CRAH/CRAC units, and airflow management.
- Working knowledge of data center Tier classifications and redundancy topologies (e.g., Uptime Institute Tier III/IV, N+1, 2N, 2N+1) and their impact on commissioning and quality sequencing for concurrent maintainability.
- Broad familiarity with applicable standards and codes — IEEE, NEC, NFPA, NETA, ASHRAE, SMACNA, NEBB, AABC, and ASME.
Skills:
- Proven leadership, mentoring, and team-building skills, with the ability to develop and retain technical talent across disciplines.
- Strong program management and organizational skills; able to operate simultaneously at strategic and tactical levels.
- Exposure to Building Management Systems (BMS/BAS), Electrical Power Monitoring Systems (EPMS), and SCADA platforms as they relate to integrated testing and commissioning.
- Proficient with commissioning and project management platforms such as Cx Alloy, Bluebeam, Procore, Aconex, and Microsoft Office (Excel, Project, PowerPoint).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to executive and owner stakeholders.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills under pressure.
- Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential owner information and NDAs typical of hyperscale projects.
Working Conditions:
- Travel up to 100% to data center project sites, for the duration of assignments as required.
- Ability to work in construction and industrial environments, including exposure to varying temperatures, noise levels, and confined spaces; ability to perform regular site walkdowns and climb ladders, stairs, and scaffolding as needed.
- Ability to support night shift and weekend testing events. Energization events, load bank tests, and Integrated Systems Testing (IST) often occur on nights and weekends to avoid impacting construction activities.
- Extended hours expected during critical project phases, particularly around energization, IST, turnover, and project close-out.
Compensation & Benefits:
- $140,000 - $190,000, dependent on experience and location
- Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, LTD/STD, Life-AD&D
- Retirement: 401(k), discretionary Pension & Profit sharing, subject to Plan documents
- 15 days paid time off (prorated based on start date) and 8 holidays
- Company credit card for qualified travel expenses
- NFPA 70E Arc Flash training provided
- Professional development and certification reimbursement opportunities
Pre-Employment Requirements:
- Successful completion of a background check.
- Successful completion of drug testing.
- Must have a valid US driver's license
- Must have permanent residence in CONUS with access to a primary airport for weekly travel
About Vertex
Vertex Innovations has supported mission-critical and data center deployments nationwide for more than two decades. Our teams provide construction oversight, QA/QC, commissioning support, and technical program management for hyperscale, enterprise, and telecom clients. We deliver quality, reliability, and trusted partnership on every project.
Vertex Core Values
- Integrity – To move through the world with honesty and truth empowering our employees, clients and communities through our words and actions.
- Accountability – To take full ownership and responsibility in our roles as we serve our company, clients and communities.
- Commitment – To stand behind our word and our promises
- Respect – To embrace and honor the individuals, clients, and companies in their contribution to the work that we create together through our interactions, conversations and our way of being.
- Performance – To allow ourselves to be measured by our commitments and be accountable for every action to our employees, clients, and communities.
VERTEX Innovations, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
