Main Responsibilities Of A Senior Commissioning Engineer At Sindoni Consulting

In order to answer this question accurately, I need to provide some context about what commissioning is and what my company does. When a building is being constructed, there are two primary phases: the design phase and the construction phase.

The design phase involves the owner determining the building's intended use and appearance. A team of engineering professionals and architects then works together to design the building from top to bottom. Following that is the construction phase, where the physical building is erected, starting with pouring concrete and assembling steel.

This process applies to new construction, but it's similar even if you're renovating an existing building. You start with an idea and then move into the actual construction. We operate within the construction field as an engineering consulting firm.

Our specific role as commissioning engineers is to be part of the process from start to finish. We begin early in the design phase. We validate that the owner is receiving what they paid for.

We often work on healthcare projects. Large healthcare clients might specify needs for operating rooms or patient capacity. We validate the designs to ensure all selected equipment and design choices support the owner's mission.

During the construction phase, commissioning is defined as the systematic testing of all equipment to ensure it functions as designed. It's an interesting nexus between design and construction, and we are involved in both.

I enjoy this work because it provides a sense of accomplishment in seeing a project from start to finish. We also get to work with innovative systems. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are constantly evolving, so we get to be on the cutting edge of technology, see it installed, and help troubleshoot any issues.

There's a problem-solving aspect I love, but also a sense of pride in knowing we're directly responsible for ensuring the building functions as it should. From a day-to-day perspective, my work is a mix of office and field activities.

As my career has progressed, I've taken on more projects. This has shifted my focus from primarily being in the field to being more in the office, as it's difficult to attend meetings or take calls while actively working on equipment. However, I still value and make time for field work whenever possible.

As responsibilities increase and one moves up in a company, it becomes harder to balance both office and field tasks. For anyone interested in commissioning, expect it to be very field-heavy in the beginning.

You'll likely spend many days waking up early, driving to job sites, performing field walk-downs, inspecting equipment and installation, and tracking construction progress. The most crucial skill is the ability to document your findings.

You must clearly and effectively communicate what you observe, how things are working, and the project's progress. We have a saying: "You might be the most brilliant engineer, but it doesn't matter if you can't write it down."

A significant part of my job involves effectively communicating our team's findings to the owner, design team, and construction team. We act as a central link between these groups to navigate the project from start to finish. This ensures the owner gets what they paid for and that the building's occupants are safe, comfortable, and healthy.