Job Title: Data Center Construction Project Manager
Job Description
We are seeking an experienced and proactive Data Center Construction Project Manager to serve as a key technical resource within large-scale data center facilities. You will join a highly creative, execution-focused team responsible for designing, building, and operating complex data center infrastructure. In this role, you oversee projects across electrical, mechanical, controls, and architectural disciplines, ensuring they align with organizational strategy, commitments, and goals. You identify opportunities for improvement, act on operational data, and develop innovative solutions to address technical and operational challenges in critical environments.
Responsibilities
Lead the overall direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control, and completion of data center projects, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and goals.
Oversee all project disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, controls, and architectural, maintaining a strong technical understanding of each area.
Manage projects that improve electrical, mechanical, fire detection, and building automation systems within operational data center facilities.
Serve as a technical resource for critical data center equipment, providing guidance and decision-making support throughout the project lifecycle.
Review, interpret, and validate engineering documentation, electrical diagrams, and standard operating procedures to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Read and interpret construction specifications and drawings across all domains to support data center construction and project coordination.
Coordinate closely with contractors, operations teams, and engineering partners to drive safe, timely, and high-quality project execution.
Oversee electrical and mechanical scopes of work ranging from thousands to millions in value, ensuring budget adherence and risk management.
Ensure compliance with relevant building codes and regulations, including Life Safety, BOCA, NFPA, NEC, and OSHA requirements.
Monitor project progress, identify risks, make decisions under pressure, and escalate issues appropriately to maintain schedule and quality.
Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement within the project team and among external partners.
Communicate project status, risks, and outcomes clearly and effectively to stakeholders through written reports and verbal updates.
Drive ownership and results orientation across all assigned projects, ensuring visible impact on data center reliability and performance.
Essential Skills
7+ years of project management experience in data centers or comparable critical infrastructure environments.
Strong project management and construction management skills with a focus on execution in operational facilities.
Knowledge of critical data center equipment and supporting infrastructure systems.
Ability to read, interpret, and work with engineering documentation, electrical diagrams, and standard operating procedures.
Knowledge of building codes and regulations, including Life Safety, BOCA, NFPA, NEC, and OSHA.
Experience reading and interpreting construction specifications and drawings for all domains involved in data center construction.
Proven experience in project execution, contractor oversight, and multidisciplinary project coordination.
5+ years of progressive project management experience demonstrating increasing scope and responsibility.
Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective interaction with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools such as Excel, Outlook, and Project (or equivalent).
Ability to make sound decisions under pressure and escalate risks appropriately.
Demonstrated ownership, accountability, and strong results orientation in prior roles.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Bachelor's degree preferred in engineering, construction management, or a related field.
Experience overseeing electrical and/or mechanical scopes ranging in value from thousands to millions.
Experience in managing projects in operational, mission-critical environments where precision, speed, and judgment are essential.
Ability to collaborate effectively with skilled trades, operations teams, and engineering partners.
Strong problem-solving skills and a continuous improvement mindset.
Interest in long-term growth opportunities, including potential conversion from contingent to permanent roles where applicable.
Work Environment
This position is fully on-site at an operational data center facility, working within a fast-paced environment that places a strong emphasis on safety, reliability, and accountability. You will operate in a highly collaborative culture that focuses on execution, partnering daily with contractors, operations staff, and engineering teams. The role follows an early-shift work schedule aligned with construction and field activity, requiring frequent presence in active construction and live data center spaces. You will work with complex electrical, mechanical, fire detection, and building automation systems, using standard office tools such as Microsoft Office alongside engineering and construction documentation. The environment rewards ownership, problem-solving, and visible impact, offering hands-on exposure to large-scale critical infrastructure and opportunities for ongoing learning and development.
This is an on site role on North Virginia, specifically at multiple data centers in Sterling, VA. The hours for this role are typically 6:00am-2:00pm on site.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Sterling, VA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $80.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: - Medical, dental & vision - Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital - 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available - Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) - Short and long-term disability - Health Spending Account (HSA) - Transportation benefits - Employee Assistance Program - Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Sterling,VA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Apr 30, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC-with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.
