Position Description

Commissioning Coordinator/Start-up Engineer - MTA
ID 363
Location New York City
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Employment Type:
Full time
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
• Experience supporting commissioning or start-up of electrical systems, such as transformers, rectifiers, switchgear, and controls. • Familiarity with MTA C&D standards, NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 70E, ASME, ASTM, and IEEE codes. • Proficiency in reading schematics, one-line diagrams, and control logic drawings. • OSHA 30-hour certification required.
Education Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field (Electrical preferred).
Hourly Rate:

Position Overview
PACO Group (PACO) is seeking a highly organized Commissioning / Start-Up Coordinator to support the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on a Substation Component Replacement Project in the Bronx, New York.  The Commissioning / Start-Up Coordinator will work directly under the direction of the Commissioning Agent, assisting in the planning, documentation, and execution of all testing, commissioning, and system start-up activities for electrical, mechanical, and control systems associated with traction power substations. This position plays a vital role in supporting the verification, certification, and turnover of all systems in accordance with MTA C&D standards, project specifications, and applicable codes (NFPA, NEC, ASME, ASTM, IEEE).  This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented professional with strong technical aptitude, commissioning familiarity, and field coordination experience on major infrastructure or transit power projects.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Commissioning Planning & Coordination
•    Assist the Commissioning Agent (CxA) in planning, coordinating, and tracking all commissioning, start-up, energization, and final acceptance activities.
•    Support the preparation of commissioning plans, testing matrices, and system checklists consistent with MTA C&D requirements.
•    Help organize and track Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), and System Integration Testing (SIT) for traction power, control, and auxiliary systems.
•    Assist in establishing procedures for system acceptance, including required witness points, sign-offs, and documentation deliverables.
•    Participate in readiness reviews, pre-functional and functional testing, and system deficiency tracking prior to energization.
•    Support coordination between MTA Power Division, Con Edison, and the Construction Contractor for testing, cutovers, and energization events.

Testing & Verification
•    Assist in preparing and maintaining test scripts, inspection reports, certification forms for substation components including switchgear, rectifiers, transformers, feeder cables,             protective relays, and SCADA systems.
•    Provide field support to the CxA during FAT, SAT, and field testing to confirm compliance with design intent and contract requirements.
•    Help ensure all commissioning activities are properly witnessed, documented, and logged for final acceptance.
•    Maintain commissioning logs, deficiency lists, and turnover documentation, ensuring all test results are traceable and verified prior to system handover.

Documentation & Quality Assurance
•    Assist in compiling and organizing commissioning procedures, test results, deficiency reports, photos, and meeting records for submission to MTA C&D.
•    Support the CxA and QA team in implementing elements of the Consultant Quality Plan (CQP) to maintain compliance with project quality requirements.
•    Upload, track, and archive all commissioning documentation in Bentley ProjectWise, Unifier, or similar systems.
•    Help conduct quality verifications, cross-checks of test data, and code compliance reviews as part of the system acceptance process.

Safety & Risk Management
•    Support strict adherence to OSHA 29 CFR 1926 and MTA C&D safety policies for energized systems, confined spaces, and arc-flash environments.
•    Assist in implementing Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures during testing, switching, or energization activities.
•    Participate in safety briefings, job hazard analyses, and pre-task meetings to ensure safe commissioning practices.
•    Report field observations or potential safety risks to the CxA and safety management for corrective action.

Coordination & Communication
•    Support communication between the CxA, Resident Engineer, contractors, and MTA C&D stakeholders throughout all commissioning phases.
•    Assist in organizing commissioning meetings; prepare agendas, minutes, and action tracking logs.
•    Provide progress updates on testing and start-up status to the CxA and Resident Engineer.
•    Maintain effective liaison with MTA Power Command Center (PCC) and Con Edison during interface testing and energization operations.

Required Qualifications
•    Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field (Electrical preferred).
•    Minimum five (5) years of experience in commissioning, start-up, or construction QA/QC for complex infrastructure, power, or transit projects.
•    Experience supporting commissioning or start-up of electrical systems, such as transformers, rectifiers, switchgear, and controls.
•    Familiarity with MTA C&D standards, NFPA 70 (NEC), NFPA 70E, ASME, ASTM, and IEEE codes.
•    Proficiency in reading schematics, one-line diagrams, and control logic drawings.
•    OSHA 30-hour certification required.
•    Strong communication and coordination skills, with attention to documentation and compliance.
•    Ability to work safely and efficiently in active construction and energized environments.

Preferred Qualifications
•    Certification as a Commissioning Agent (CxA), Quality Systems Inspector, or equivalent credential.
•    Experience with Bentley ProjectWise, Unifier, or other document management systems.
•    Familiarity with SCADA telemetry, PLCs, relay logic, and protective relay testing.
•    Experience assisting in Factory, Site, and System Integration Testing within substation, industrial, or power system environments.
•    Experience working on MTA, C&D, or similar transit power infrastructure projects is strongly preferred and may be required.

Skills and Competencies
•    Excellent communication, organizational, and analytical skills.
•    Strong technical writing and field reporting capabilities.
•    Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, OneDrive, and MS Teams.
•    Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders.
•    Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
 

Work Environment and Schedule
•    Full-time, on-site role based in the Bronx, NY.
•    Day and night shifts may be required during cutovers, testing, and energization activities.
•    Travel within the New York metropolitan area may be required for meetings, inspections, or coordination with the MTA Power Command Center (PCC).

Compensation    
•    The good-faith salary range for this position is $45-$65 per hour, depending on experience, qualifications and client requirements.
•    Candidates with greater depth of experience or specialized expertise may fall toward the higher end of the range, and exceptional candidates may be considered for                              compensation outside of this range, consistent with client budget and company policy.
 

Benefits Summary
•    401(k) and 401(k) Employer Matching.
•    Health Insurance.
•    Dental Insurance.
•    Group Life Insurance, LTD and AD&D.
•    Paid Time Off.
•    Paid Holidays.
•    Professional Development Assistance.

EEO Diversity Statement
PACO Group, Inc. is committed to furthering opportunities for everyone in the national construction market. The firm periodically reaffirms this commitment through an active affirmative action plan. It provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees without unlawful discrimination regarding race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, religion, military status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or citizenship status. As an equal opportunity employer, we have recruited, hired, promoted, and retained an ethnically and socially diverse professional staff. Our efforts to date have produced a multidisciplinary workforce - a record of diversity that extends to the highest levels of the firm's management.

 

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