Preconstruction Manager
Leads pre-construction planning, budgeting, and vendor selection for data center build projects
0+ years
Stable
Key Responsibilities
- Develop comprehensive pre-construction project plans and technical specifications for hyperscale data center infrastructure
- Conduct detailed site feasibility assessments, including power grid capacity, cooling infrastructure, and network connectivity requirements
- Manage RFP processes for major equipment vendors and construction partners, ensuring technical compliance and cost optimization
- Coordinate complex technical design reviews with engineering teams, architects, and mechanical/electrical systems specialists
- Build and validate detailed project budgets with >95% accuracy, accounting for specialized data center construction complexities
- Perform risk analysis and mitigation planning for critical path construction elements unique to high-density computing environments
- Lead cross-functional alignment between IT, facilities, and construction teams during pre-construction planning phases
Skills & Expertise
Required Skills
- Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)
- Building Management Systems (BMS)
- Electrical Power Management Systems (EPMS)
- Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) design
- Cooling infrastructure design
- Load calculation and power distribution planning
- High-density computing environment design
- Structural engineering principles for data center construction
Preferred Skills
- CDCP (Certified Data Center Professional) certification
- Professional Engineering (PE) license
- OSHA safety certifications
- AutoCAD and Revit expertise
- ServiceNow and Maximo asset management platforms
A Day in the Life
What a typical workday looks like
My day begins at 7:15 AM, reviewing the latest BuildSmart preconstruction dashboard and checking overnight RFI submissions from our electrical and mechanical design teams. By 8:30, I've prioritized our current hyperscale data center project in Phoenix, focusing on resolving critical path challenges with the foundation subcontractor and reviewing steel fabrication timelines that could impact our Q3 delivery commitment. Mid-morning is dedicated to vendor coordination, starting with a detailed Zoom call with our primary MEP engineering firm to discuss potential modifications to cooling infrastructure design. I spend the next hour updating our Procore project management system, inputting vendor quotes and tracking budget variances for the mechanical systems. Multiple emails and Slack messages require immediate attention, particularly a potential supply chain delay for specialized data center-grade transformers. During lunch, I lead a cross-functional team meeting with our construction managers, discussing the critical integration points between electrical, mechanical, and structural teams for our upcoming build. We review 3D modeling updates in Autodesk Revit, analyzing potential interference zones and refining our construction sequencing strategy. The collaborative session helps align our teams and mitigate potential execution risks. The afternoon involves deep-dive analysis of our preliminary cost models, using specialized construction estimation software to model various scenarios for our client. I'm investigating alternative cooling technologies that could reduce our overall power consumption by 12-15%, running complex calculations and comparing potential vendor solutions. This strategic work requires precise technical modeling and financial projections. As the day winds down, I prepare a comprehensive shift handover report in our project management system, documenting all open items, potential risks, and next-day priorities. I brief the night preconstruction team on critical path items, ensuring seamless continuity. By 5 PM, I've logged detailed notes about vendor communications, design modifications, and budget tracking, setting the stage for tomorrow's strategic planning.