Project Manager II

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025!

Daikin Applied is seeking a Data Center Project Manager to plan, direct, and coordinate the activities of designated data center projects — including complex mechanical, HVAC, and controls construction for mission-critical facilities — ensuring project goals and objectives are accomplished within the prescribed time frame, budget, and quality/reliability parameters required for mission-critical facilities. This role performs the following duties, either personally or through peers, subordinate supervisors, and field staff. It offers the opportunity to support Daikin Applied's substantial growth in the data center vertical.

Location: This position is a hybrid role located in Houston, TX.

What You Will Do

• Project Management Leadership: Directs all phases of data center projects, from initial planning through final warranty, maintenance, and transition to the service team, ensuring seamless coordination between stakeholders and adherence to project timelines and budgets.

• Leads pre-commissioning, start-up, integrated systems testing (IST), and Level 5 commissioning activities for critical cooling equipment, coordinating closely with third-party commissioning agents to meet the facility's Uptime Institute Tier and owner acceptance requirements.

• Planning and Coordination: Plans and analyzes assigned HVAC/mechanical construction projects for new mission-critical data center facilities — establishing schedules, budgets, and project parameters, and setting procedures to accomplish project objectives, including complex contracting with general contractors, owners, and subcontractors.

• Reviews project scope, drawings, and specifications to determine time frame, funding limitations, procedures, staffing requirements, and allotment of resources across mechanical construction phases (equipment set, start-up, and commissioning).

• Regulatory Compliance and Safety Oversight: Ensures projects comply with all regulatory requirements and safety standards, collaborating with governmental agencies and safety managers to maintain a safe working environment; enforces jobsite safety programs and OSHA compliance for work around energized equipment, at height, and in confined spaces.

• Proposal Development and Reporting: Prepares comprehensive proposals detailing project scope, milestones, and billing schedules; reviews status reports prepared by project personnel, modifies schedules or plans as required, and delivers regular progress reports to management and clients to maintain transparency, manage expectations, and maintain accuracy of forecasted cost at completion.

• Stakeholder Management and Customer Relations: Establishes and maintains strong, professional relationships with customers, contractors, and internal teams; interfaces constantly to maintain accurate status reports, project reviews, and cutover/turnover planning, resolving issues promptly to uphold customer satisfaction. Obtains timely customer sign-off, including as-built documentation, O&M manuals, and warranty turnover packages.

• Continuous Improvement and Quality Assurance: Implements risk analysis and mitigation strategies, reviews project status reports, and adjusts plans as needed to optimize project efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Responsible for the successful, on-time, on-budget completion of the project and its transition to the service process.

What’s in it for you:

• The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growth.

• The support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives, and ideas to achieve our best.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field; equivalent combinations of education, technical training, and directly relevant work experience will be considered.

• 5+ years progressive project management experience in commercial or industrial HVAC/mechanical construction.

• 2+ years dedicated experience managing mission-critical data center construction and/or commissioning (new-build, colocation, or hyperscale).

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience working with Data Center Solutions.

• Proficient knowledge of HVAC designs, applications, and energy-saving solutions.

• Project Management Certification such as PMP, PMI, or Six Sigma.

• Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier Standards and third-party commissioning requirements for data center facilities.

• Experience with building automation/BAS systems as they relate to mission-critical cooling infrastructure.

• BMB certificate.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of mission-critical HVAC systems, including chillers, cooling towers, CRAC/CRAH units, air handling units, chilled water piping, and economization systems.

• Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, specifications, and one-line diagrams for large-scale data center construction.

• Understanding of the commissioning (Cx) process, including start-up, functional performance testing, and integrated systems testing (IST) for redundant cooling infrastructure.

• Proficiency with construction scheduling and project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Procore, IFS, Smartsheet, or similar).

• Strong working knowledge of OSHA safety regulations and jobsite safety programs applicable to active, mission-critical construction sites.

• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, cost forecasting, change order management, and billing.

• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to manage subcontractors, field crews, and customer relationships in a fast-paced construction environment.

Benefits: Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance.

• 401K retirement plan with employer contributions matching 100% of the first 3% of employee contributions and 50% on the next 2% of employee contributions.

• Company provided life insurance + optional employee paid voluntary life insurance, dependent life coverage and voluntary accident coverage.

• Short term and long-term disability.

• 88 hours company paid holidays.

• 120 hours of paid time off for new employees. Vacation accrues on a monthly basis, unless applicable federal, state and local law requires a faster accrual.

• Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local law.

• Paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service.

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

The typical hourly pay rate for this position ranges from 90,000K - 153,300K. The range displayed represents a pay range for all positions in the job grades which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

If you're looking for an engaging career with growth opportunities in a supportive environment, you'll love a career at Daikin Applied!