Senior Director, Commissioning and Startup

About Nscale At Nscale, we are building the infrastructure for the AI revolution. Nscale is developing cutting-edge, sovereign generative AI solutions powered by a new generation of high-performance, sustainable data centers and GPUs built specifically for AI workloads. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented global demand for compute and GPU infrastructure. Positioned at the heart of this transformation, Nscale is delivering the platforms that will enable the next decade of innovation. Working closely with the world's most advanced AI technology providers, including Microsoft and NVIDIA, Nscale integrates next-generation compute hardware and GPU clusters across both partner and self-delivered facilities. This is a unique opportunity to join Nscale's journey, play a pivotal role in delivering transformative AI infrastructure, and help shape a company designed to scale rapidly across North America, Europe, and beyond. About the role Location: Houston, TX. Remote candidates within the US will be considered, with regular travel to project sites (up to 50% during active startup campaigns). We are hiring a Senior Director, Commissioning and Startup to own the transition of Nscale's power generation assets from mechanical completion to commercial operation. Nscale's Power & Energy group develops and delivers multi-gigawatt generation colocated with our data center campuses: large reciprocating engine fleets, fuel cells, battery energy storage systems, high-voltage switchgear and substations, and the fuel gas, water, and controls infrastructure that supports them. Getting these assets from "built" to "running reliably" is one of the highest-leverage phases of the entire program, and this role owns it. This is not a role that starts when construction ends. You will engage early in pre-construction to shape designs for commissionability and startability: influencing system boundaries and turnover sequencing, energization and first-fire logic, tie-in and temporary utility strategy, and testability of performance guarantees. You will bring an operations perspective into the design process, so that decisions made on paper hold up in the field and in year five of operation. You will report to the SVP, Technology (Power) and work across the full asset lifecycle: with engineering and technology teams on one side, operations teams on the other, and EPC partners, permitting consultants, and equipment OEMs in between. For equipment with complex commissioning sequences (generator sets, battery energy storage systems, switchgear and protection systems, and plant control systems), you will own the overall delivery and hold them to disciplined, well-sequenced startup execution. This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role. You will build Nscale's power generation commissioning and startup function, its standards, and its team, while personally driving execution on active projects. What you'll be doing Commissioning and startup leadership • Own end-to-end commissioning and startup strategy, planning, and execution for Nscale's power generation assets, from mechanical completion through performance testing to commercial operation. • Define the systemization, turnover, and energization philosophy for each project: system and subsystem boundaries, MC and turnover package definitions, energization sequencing, first fire, tuning, performance testing, and reliability run requirements. • Develop and approve commissioning plans, schedules, procedures, test scripts, and integrated systems testing protocols across mechanical, electrical, controls, and protection scopes. • Drive punch list discipline, walkdown standards, and completion tracking so that turnover to startup is clean, sequenced, and predictable. • Own the demonstration of commercial operation: performance guarantee testing, capacity and reliability demonstrations, and the evidence package that supports COD under our commercial agreements. Design for commissionability • Engage in pre-construction design development to optimize plants for commissioning, startup, and operation: startup and shutdown paths, temporary utilities and commissioning provisions, isolation and tie-in philosophy, instrumentation needed for testing, and access for construction completion verification. • Bring operational insight into design reviews, model reviews, HAZOPs, and operability and maintainability reviews, representing the people who will start up and run these plants. • Feed lessons learned from startup and early operations back into Nscale's engineering standards and reference designs. Safety and process safety • Own commissioning-phase safety: pre-startup safety review (PSSR), permit-to-work during commissioning, energization safety, LOTO and isolation management, and management of change during startup. • Uphold Nscale's process safety discipline in power generation, applying rigor more typical of the process industries to fuel gas, rotating equipment, high-energy electrical, and battery systems. • Champion a stop-work culture through the highest-risk phase of any project's life. Stakeholder and OEM management • Direct EPC commissioning teams and hold them accountable for scope, quality, schedule, and documentation. • Manage OEM technical advisors and factory commissioning teams for generator sets, BESS, switchgear, transformers, and plant control systems, including FAT witnessing, site support planning, and warranty preservation through startup. • Work with permitting consultants to plan startup within permit constraints: commissioning-phase emissions, startup and shutdown provisions, and performance testing under permit conditions. • Coordinate with data center delivery and operations teams so that power availability, load bank strategy, and load ramp sequencing align with campus energization needs. Building the function • Build Nscale's commissioning and startup organization: standards, procedures, digital commissioning management tooling, and the team of commissioning managers and startup engineers who will execute across the portfolio. • Establish turnover-to-operations requirements: training, operating procedures, spare parts readiness, and documentation handoff, so operations inherits assets they can run from day one. • Report commissioning progress, risk, and readiness to project and executive leadership with clear metrics and honest forecasts. About you • 15+ years of experience in commissioning, startup, and operations of power generation or comparable heavy process facilities, with senior leadership of at least one major greenfield startup from mechanical completion through commercial operation. • Deep, hands-on technical knowledge across mechanical, electrical, and controls systems, including engine or turbine generation, medium- and high-voltage switchgear and protection, BESS, fuel gas systems, and plant control systems. • Direct experience with energization planning, first fire, performance testing, and reliability demonstrations, ideally including island-mode or behind-the-meter generation. • Strong process safety grounding: PSSR, permit-to-work, MOC, and safe energization practices as working disciplines, not paperwork. • Proven ability to direct EPC contractors and OEM commissioning teams, and to resolve technical disputes on the basis of data and engineering judgment. • Experience engaging in design development and design reviews from an operations and startup perspective. • Track record of building teams, standards, and processes in a fast-scaling environment, and comfort operating with ambiguity while doing so. • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering or a related field; PE license or equivalent professional credential is an advantage. • Willing and able to travel to project sites regularly (up to 50% during active startup campaigns). What we can offer you At Nscale, you'll find a collaborative, supportive, and innovative environment where your contributions spark real impact. We're building something extraordinary, and our people are driving it. • Highly competitive US compensation package (base + bonus + equity), with performance reviews every 12 months • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage • 401(k) retirement plan with company match • Generous PTO plus US federal holidays • A career-defining opportunity to be an early leader in one of the fastest growing AI infrastructure companies in the world • A human-first approach: we treat you as humans first. Our flexible workplace trusts Nscalers to deliver, giving you the autonomy needed to get the job done. Equal opportunities statement At Nscale, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives enriches our work environment, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. If there's anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know. The responsibilities outlined in this job description are not exhaustive and are intended to provide a general overview of the position. The employee may be required to perform additional duties, tasks, and responsibilities as assigned by management, consistent with the skills and qualifications required for the role. The range below reflects the base salary for the position. Actual compensation may vary based on job-related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs. Nscale may offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation. Salary Range $160,000—$290,000 USD For information on how Nscale handles candidate personal data, please see our Employee & Candidate Privacy Notice: Here. Nscale does not accept unsolicited candidate submissions from recruitment agencies.