Datacenter Commissioning Strategy Leader

Overview

Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers Microsoft's cloud services. Within CO+I, the Datacenter Capacity Delivery (DCD) organization is responsible for delivering the critical infrastructure that supports Azure and the world's largest cloud platform. Within DCD, the Commissioning organization plays a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability, resiliency, safety, and operational readiness of Microsoft datacenters before they enter service.

As Microsoft continues to expand at an unprecedented scale across existing and emerging markets, we are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to drive our Global Commissioning Strategy function. This role will define and execute the long-term strategy, standards, processes, tools, and innovation roadmap for commissioning across Microsoft's global datacenter portfolio.

Responsibilities

• The successful candidate will be responsible for shaping how commissioning evolves to support accelerated delivery timelines, increasing portfolio complexity, emerging technologies, and Microsoft's sustainability and reliability goals. This leader will partner across Engineering, Construction, Operations, Supply Chain, and Regional Delivery organizations to drive consistency, scalability, and continuous improvement throughout the commissioning lifecycle.
• Define and execute Microsoft’s global commissioning strategy to enable the safe, scalable, and reliable deployment of mission-critical datacenter infrastructure, accelerate capacity delivery, and support long-term growth.
• Establish the global commissioning operating model, standards, governance framework, and performance metrics that drive consistency, predictability, and operational excellence across all regions and datacenter design platforms.
• Lead commissioning transformation and innovation initiatives, leveraging automation, digital solutions, AI, advanced analytics, and emerging industry practices to improve safety, quality, reliability, and speed to market while reducing delivery costs.
• Drive portfolio-level commissioning optimization by defining scalable approaches for testing, integrated systems validation, resource planning, equipment utilization, and schedule standards across our global datacenter portfolio.
• Champion a data-driven culture of continuous improvement, utilizing operational and commissioning performance insights to identify risks, improve reliability outcomes, increase productivity, and inform strategic investment decisions.
• Serve as Microsoft's executive thought leader for commissioning, influencing industry standards, advancing best practices, and positioning Microsoft as the industry leader in commissioning excellence, operational readiness, and infrastructure innovation.

Qualifications

• Required/minimum qualifications: Doctorate Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience OR Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field AND 10+ years technical engineering experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field AND 11+ years technical engineering experience.
• Other requirements: Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
• Additional or preferred qualifications: 15+ years of experience leading commissioning, mission-critical infrastructure, data center, industrial, power generation, or large-scale engineering programs.
• 10+ years of experience leading global, cross-functional teams and complex strategic initiatives.
• Demonstrated success driving organizational transformation, process improvement, and large-scale change management initiatives.
• Deep understanding of mission-critical infrastructure systems, commissioning methodologies, and operational readiness requirements.
• Proven ability to influence senior executives and drive alignment across large, matrixed organizations.
• Strong analytical and business acumen with demonstrated ability to leverage data for decision-making and performance improvement.
• #COICareers and #EPCCareers

Reliability Engineering M6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $220,800 - $331,200 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

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