Commissioning Director, EMEA UK or Norway

Commissioning Director, EMEA UK or Norway Overview

Join Nscale, a pioneering company in GPU cloud infrastructure designed specifically for artificial intelligence applications. We provide high-performance, cost-effective infrastructure solutions that enable AI startups and large enterprises to innovate rapidly while managing costs and environmental impact. Our culture emphasizes relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, encouraging every team member to deliver their best work transparently and with pride. As part of our team, you will contribute to building the technology that shapes the future of AI infrastructure.

About the Role

The position of Commissioning Director for the EMEA region is critical in bridging the gap between capital investment and operational capacity. This role involves owning the final gate before systems are energized and handed over, ensuring that every megawatt of infrastructure meets the highest standards. You will establish and scale a commissioning and operational readiness function from an initial 20MW phase to multi-gigawatt campuses, managing complex technical challenges such as advanced liquid cooling, Arctic operation, high-voltage electrical systems, and integrated testing protocols across multiple countries including Norway, the UK, Finland, and the US.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and enforce the Group Commissioning Execution Standard, including detailed frameworks, testing procedures, evidence collection, defect classification, and turnover documentation. Ensure active application of these standards across all projects.
• Serve as the ultimate approval authority for energization, acceptance, and handover processes, managing these gates under strict schedule and commercial constraints.
• Implement and oversee a unified commissioning management platform that consolidates evidence, defect tracking, and progress reporting for transparency across the portfolio.
• Integrate commissioning activities into project schedules from the outset, providing early warnings if milestones are at risk based on evidence-based assessments.
• Work closely with procurement, legal, and delivery teams to embed acceptance criteria, witness rights, testing obligations, and turnover standards into contractual agreements before project execution.
• Own the standards and methodologies for high-density liquid cooling systems, including factory testing, secondary-loop management, water chemistry, leak detection, and failover procedures during thermal transients.
• Lead electrical commissioning efforts involving high-voltage energization sequencing, protection coordination, and full-load testing, collaborating with utility operators and network authorities.
• Build and develop a highly skilled, internationally mobile technical team, ensuring knowledge transfer and succession planning to avoid dependency on individual experts.
• Oversee operational readiness activities such as completing as-built documentation, populating maintenance systems, ensuring on-site spares, testing operational procedures, and verifying staff competency before capacity acceptance.
• Establish safe working practices for energization and testing across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring compliance with local regulations and inspection regimes without redundant procedures.
• Manage relationships with tenants, lenders, insurers, and certification bodies by providing comprehensive commissioning evidence for due diligence and compliance purposes.

Candidate Profile

• At least 15 years of experience in critical facilities engineering, with a minimum of 8 years leading commissioning at a program or portfolio level, rather than on individual projects.
• Proven responsibility for accepting large-scale data center capacity, with experience on both owner and client sides; contractor-led commissioning experience alone is not sufficient.
• Hands-on leadership of integrated systems testing (Level 5) through to acceptance on at least two hyperscale or AI data center projects exceeding 50MW.
• Deep expertise in high-density liquid cooling systems, including direct-to-chip cooling, CDU testing, water chemistry, and leak detection, with demonstrated ability to learn new technologies quickly.
• Experience with high- and medium-voltage electrical commissioning, including energization sequencing and protection coordination with utility providers.
• Experience in building and managing multidisciplinary teams across borders, time zones, and languages.
• Strong contractual knowledge related to EPC contracts, acceptance procedures, witness rights, warranties, and claims.
• Familiarity with multiple regulatory regimes and the ability to develop unified standards that satisfy diverse jurisdictional requirements.
• A degree in electrical or mechanical engineering or equivalent technical background.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of engaging with technical teams and presenting risks to senior management effectively.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, including to remote Arctic locations during winter seasons.
• Legal right to work in the UK or Norway, or eligibility for visa sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Nordic markets, familiarity with NEK 400, FSE, and DSB regulations, and Scandinavian language skills.
• Experience with tenant acceptance testing for major hyperscale clients.
• Exposure to certification regimes such as Uptime Institute, lender assessments, or insurer assurance processes.
• Hands-on experience with commissioning management tools and Primavera P6.
• Experience with energy storage systems, on-site generation, or heat-reuse projects.
• Chartered or professionally registered engineer (e.g., CEng, PE).
• Experience working in rapidly scaling environments where standards must be developed concurrently with ongoing projects.

Why This Role Matters

This is a foundational role where you will create the standards, tools, team, and operating models that will define how Nscale demonstrates capacity for years to come. You will work on a pipeline of multi-gigawatt projects across four countries, featuring cutting-edge liquid-cooled AI infrastructure at densities that challenge conventional testing and commissioning practices. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence the future of high-performance, sustainable data center operations in a dynamic, fast-moving environment.

What We Offer

• The chance to shape the operational standards of a next-generation AI cloud platform, working on complex infrastructure challenges with significant ownership and impact.
• Engagement with innovative, frontier technology projects involving multi-gigawatt pipelines and advanced liquid cooling systems.
• Participation in a culture that values ownership, innovation, and excellence, with opportunities for career growth and development.
• Relocation support for successful candidates willing to move for the role.

Additional Information

We strongly encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, parents, carers, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. If you require specific accommodations during the application process, please let us know. The responsibilities outlined are not exhaustive and may include additional duties as assigned.

Note: The role requires up to 60â??70% travel, including work in Arctic conditions in Nordic regions during winter. Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK or Norway or be eligible for sponsorship.

Degree Requirement: Not Specified

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