TPM - DC Operational Readiness, Maintenance & Eng Leader

Job Description:\n\n Salute is a leading provider of cutting-edge Data Center Infrastructure Services, dedicated to serving data center clients worldwide.

We pride ourselves on delivering sustainable solutions, unparalleled reliability, and outstanding customer service.

As we continue to grow, we are seeking a dynamic and experienced Technical Program Manager - Data Center Operational Readiness, Maintenance and Engineering Leader to join our team and drive our relationships with hyperscale clients to new heights.

Hours: Monday – Friday (Days) Salary: $155k-$175k/yr + 10% annual bonus Must be located in the Greenville / Spartanburg, SC area.

Technical Program Manager - Data Center Operational Readiness, Maintenance and Engineering Leader We’re looking for a transformational technical leader to serve as the Owner’s Representative during the construction, commissioning, and operational readiness certification, of a next-generation, High-Performance Compute Center (HPCC) in the Greenville/Spartanburg region of South Carolina.

As the Principal Technical Program Manager (TPM), you will be the vital bridge between design, construction, commissioning, and operations — driving the seamless transition from build phase to full 24/7/365 live mission-critical operations.

This role is not about checking boxes — it’s about architecting the operational backbone of a state-of-the-art HPCC from the ground up.

You will recruit, build, and lead the operational team, while developing and implementing a comprehensive suite of site-specific systems, processes, and governance programs.

From critical systems integration and facilities readiness to maintenance strategy, security frameworks, environmental compliance, and EHS programs — you’ll lead with precision, urgency, and purpose.

If you're a disciplined, servant leader who thrives in fast-paced, high-stakes infrastructure environments — and you’re inspired by the opportunity to shape the future state of a world-class HPCC — we want to meet you.

Highlights of What You’ll Own: Act as the Owner’s embedded technical leader, ensuring quality, consistency, and integrity throughout construction and commissioning.

Define and implement a complete Operational Readiness Framework including SOPs, EOPs, and MOPs tailored to the HPCC environment.

Develop and launch a full suite of maintenance, staffing, and training programs to support Day 1 operations and long-term resiliency.

Oversee integration of critical facility technologies and platforms (BMS, DCIM, CMMS, EPMS, SCADA, etc.) in alignment with enterprise needs.

Enforce Tier 4 perimeter security standards and physical access controls in collaboration with Owner security and compliance stakeholders.

Lead EH&S governance, including policy creation, training, compliance, and risk mitigation strategies.

Drive hyper-care and steady-state readiness, ensuring seamless operational transition with no disruption to service continuity.

Key Responsibilities: Project Leadership and Oversight: Provide on-site technical leadership during construction, commissioning, and transition to operations.

Develop and publish a comprehensive operations process and procedures framework (Owners Operators Manual) Establish the site’s reference library documenting all critical systems and standards.

Define and implement operational, maintenance and physical security standards.

Evaluate and oversee integration of mission critical facility software operating systems.

Design the 24 x 7 staffing model to support continuous critical operations post- commissioning.

Scope of Work: Lead the site team to operational readiness compliance standards Deliver comprehensive library of site-specific processes, procedures, standards and best-practices tailored to HPCC operations.

EOPs – Emergency Operations Procedures.

SOPs – Standard Operating Procedures.

MOPs – Method of Procedures.

Programs aligned to industry best-practices and site-specific needs.

Facility Management: Develop site-specific preventative, reliability-centered and predictive maintenance strategies to maximize site resiliency Oversee the loading of asset information, critical equipment specifications and operating principles into the facility software operating system.

Continuously oversee and maintain the facility operating system software, and digital twin as the system of record and single point of truth for site operations.

Create comprehensive corrective and emergency management protocols Staffing and Workforce Development: Architect staffing models, shift schedules and job description roles and responsibilities for the site’s maintenance, operations, engineering and physical security teams.

Ensure total team participation and completion of DCCA Program – Data Center Certified Associate Develop the site-specific Qualification Card Program to validate teams, operational readiness status.

Drive teams towards continuous learning and professional development, through on-going training and learning opportunities.

In collaboration with owner and Owner’s Partners, build a high-performance, highly disciplined and well-prepared site team for 24 / 7 / 365 operations.

Oversee development and implementation of onboarding and workforce development program.

Physical Security and Compliance: Create site-specific physical security Post Orders to compliment Owner’s Physical Security Standards protocol for the site.

Implement Owner defined access control and incident management for normal operations state.

Oversight of end-to-end Asset Management Operational protocols (i.e., Shipping, Receiving and Secure Storage) Conduct risk assessments and ensure regulatory compliance.

Oversight of physical security partners as necessary.

Infrastructure Monitoring, Telemetry and Digital Twin: Collaborate with team members on the establishment of a digital twin concept as part of the overall critical facility management and compliance program.

Evaluate, vet, recommend, and oversee integration of the facility software operating system.

Subject Matter Expert (SME) with site’s controls and telemetry systems - BMS, BAS, CMMS, DCIM, EPMS, SCADA, Fire/Life Safety Systems Environmental, Health and Safety (EH&S): Develop and document EH&S Program protocols, transition plans, and escalation paths Conduct risk assessments and ensure environmental compliance Transition to Operations: In collaboration with commissioning manager, develop and oversee transition plan from “build” state to “run” state Provide regular post-commissioning operations updates for “hyper-care” period following commissioning.

Support configuration, commissioning, and documentation of system integrations Stakeholder Communication and Reporting: Develop and maintain strong relationships with all project stakeholders, including owners, contractors, local authorities, and regulatory agencies.

Provide regular updates and presentations on project status, including risks, progress, and financial performance.

Ensure all documentation, reports, and project records are maintained and updated accurately.

QUALITY Champions a zero-downtime, 24 / 7 / 365 operational mindset in mission-critical environments.

Delivers operational excellence through rigorous adherence to preventative and predictive maintenance programs.

Leads with a safety-first culture, ensuring compliance with all EH&S, NFPA, OSHA, EPA, and TIA-942 standards.

Fosters continuous improvement through root cause analysis and actionable corrective plans.

Maintains a culture of accountability, professionalism, and high reliability among multidisciplinary teams.

Implements best-in-class engineering practices to optimize performance, energy, efficiency, and asset lifecycle.

Ensures complete and accurate documentation of SOPs, MOPs, EOPs, and change management procedures.

Builds and maintains strong vendor and contractor performance through structured oversight and SLA enforcement.

Oversee seamless commissioning -to-operations transition for new and retrofitted systems.

Demonstrates data-driven decision-making using KPIs, risk assessments, and system performance metrics Additional Job Dynamics to Expect: Operates in a high-availability, mission-critical environment where uptime is non-negotiable Leads and responds during off-hours, emergencies, and incident escalations as a key decision-maker Regularly collaborates with design, construction, commissioning, and IT stakeholders during facility lifecycle phases.

Navigates a blend of strategic planning and hands-on field oversight to ensure operational readiness Must manage evolving operational demand across legacy infrastructure, brownfield upgrades, and new builds.

Balances long-term engineering strategies with real-time incident response and risk mitigation.

Interfaces directly with clients, auditors, vendors, and executive leadership to report on system health and performance.

Maintains constant situational awareness of mechanical, electrical, controls, and life safety systems.

Works within an environment, subject to regulatory audits, compliance inspections, and third-party certifications Basic Requirements: A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Construction Management, Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial), Architecture, Facilities Management Or closely related technical field; Professional certification (e.g., PMP, LEED AP, etc.) is a plus.

10+ years of progressive experience in mission-critical data center operations, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing large-scale teams and critical infrastructure systems.

Proven expertise in electrical (UPS, switchgear, generators), mechanical (HVAC, chillers, cooling towers), and controls systems (BMS/EPMS/SCADA) within Tier III or Tier IV High Performance Compute environments.

Demonstrated experience overseeing preventative and predictive maintenance programs, including vendor and contractor management.

Strong knowledge of TIA-942 Standards, NFPA, ASHRAE, OSHA, EPA, and relevant building codes and regulations.

Experience supporting or integrating with commissioning, QA/QC, and facility acceptance testing (FAT/SAT) for new builds or brownfield redevelopment upgrades.

Skilled in incident response, RCA, and emergency operating procedures (EOPs) in high-availability environments.

Proficiency in maintenance management systems - advanced CMMS, Digital Twin Simulation, Benchmarking, Asset Management, work order platforms, and reporting tools such as Smartsheet, FM Systems, Maximo and MCIM.

Excellent communication skills with ability to interface across executive leadership, engineering teams, IT stakeholders, and third-party vendors.

Preferred Requirements: Degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Business Administration, or related field.

PMP, PE, CFM, Uptime Accredited Tier Designer, Certified TIA-942 Design Consultant, or equivalent professional certifications.

Direct experience managing hyperscale, HPC, AI-enabled, or Tier IV data center environments.

Demonstrated success leading brownfield redevelopment, facility retrofits, or complex infrastructure transitions.

Knowledge of or experience with liquid cooling technologies, CDUs, or emerging AI/data center cooling systems.

Familiarity with LEAN, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.

Strong command of ITIL, ISO 27001, SOC 2, NIST, or TIA-942 compliance frameworks Experience establishing and managing enterprise-level CMMS systems, work order workflows, and performance reporting dashboards.

Prior responsibility for multi-site or global facility portfolios and associated team structures.

Proven track record in mentoring technical leaders, building operational training programs, and fostering high-performance team culture.

Verifiable, proven, Experience supporting construction-to-operations (C2O) transitions, IST, and final commissioning deliverables.

Location: Greenville / Spartanburg Region of South Carolina Required / On-Site) Travel Expectations: Less than 10% domestic, on-demand travel with overnight stay may be necessary and expected in this role.

Physical Requirements: Ability to lift and carry heavy equipment, up to 40lbs.

Ability to climb ladders and multiple flights of stairs to access elevated equipment Ability to stand for long periods of time in various work environments Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, and reach for equipment related tasks Basic physical fitness to respond quickly to emergency situations and navigate areas quickly Ability to move quickly and efficiently withing various work environments to troubleshoot issues or respond to emergencies.

Good hand-eye coordination and dexterity for working with small components and connectors Clear vision, with or without correction, to perform tasks requiring attention to detail and precision while wearing safety glasses Ability to differentiate between color-coded warning signs, labels, and cables Ability to work in environments with a wide variety temperature inside a facility Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions, including extreme temperatures, rain, or snow Capability to work in environments with elevated noise levels while wearing hearing protection Possession of a valid driver’s license for work-related travel, as required If you are a motivated and results-driven individual with a passion for data center services and a knack for building strong client relationships, we want to hear from you.

Salute is an equal opportunity employer committed to celebrating diversity, creating an inclusive environment for all employees, and providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants; if you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact our Human Resources department at for more information.

Full-time