Commissioning Engineer job description
A Commissioning Engineer brings a new solar, wind or substation project from finished construction to a tested, energised and handed-over energy asset. The role protects the owner from defects that surface after payment.
Why the role exists
In Indian energy and utilities projects, the construction team finishes civil and electrical work, then the commissioning engineer proves that the plant works as designed. The role reports to the project manager, works with the EPC contractor and the grid utility, and hands over to the operations team.
What the person does
- Prepare commissioning plans and test sequences for each plant section, agreed with the project manager and the EPC contractor before work starts.
- Witness and record pre-commissioning checks on cables, inverters, transformers and protection relays against the approved drawings.
- Coordinate energisation steps with the state utility and the load dispatch centre, and record each approval and switching step in the log.
- Run performance and functional tests on the plant and compare the results with the design and the contract.
- Raise punch lists for defects found, follow up closure with the contractor and re-test the corrected items.
- Check that SCADA, metering and communication links show correct data at the control room before the plant is declared ready.
- Compile test reports, as-built drawings and equipment documents into the handover file for the owner and the operations team.
- Brief the operations and maintenance team on settings, alarms and open items so the plant starts its operating life with a clear record.
Skills and tools
- Reading single line diagrams, protection schemes and equipment datasheets
- Testing of transformers, switchgear, relays and cables with calibrated instruments
- Solar inverter, string and plant controller commissioning
- SCADA and metering checks, including communication with the utility
- Punch list management and contractor follow up
- Clear technical reports and handover files
- Site safety discipline, permits and lock out practice
- Spreadsheet and drawing tools such as Excel and AutoCAD viewer
Education and experience
Preferred, never a bar: equivalent experience counts.
- Diploma or degree in electrical or electronics engineering preferred, or equivalent site experience.
- Experience on at least one solar, wind or substation project from testing to energisation preferred.
- Any licence or authorisation needed to work on live electrical systems depends on the employer and state; confirm with the employer's own adviser.
- Willingness to travel to project sites and work extended hours near energisation dates.
How the work is judged
- Quality and completeness of test records and the handover file the operations team receives.
- Share of defects found at commissioning rather than after handover, as judged by the owner.
- Adherence to the agreed commissioning schedule, with delays explained and recorded.
- Safe conduct on site, including permit and lock out discipline.
- Clarity of coordination with the utility, the contractor and the operations team.
Where the role can lead
- Senior Commissioning Engineer or Commissioning Lead across several projects.
- Project Engineer or Project Manager for utility scale energy projects.
- Plant Head or Asset Manager once operating experience is added.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions in the same order and score them against written anchors, so the decision rests on the work and not the impression.
- Describe a commissioning test where the result did not match the design. How did you trace the cause and who did you involve?
- How do you plan energisation of a new feeder when the utility offers only a short outage window?
- A contractor says a punch list item is minor and asks you to sign off. What do you check before you agree?
- Walk us through how you verify protection relay settings against the approved study before energising.
- What records do you keep during commissioning so a fault found six months later can be traced?
- How do you handle a request from the project manager to energise before all safety checks are closed?
Hiring tips for this role
- Test the candidate on a real single line diagram: ask them to list the checks before energisation, in order, and what they would stop for.
- Ask for sample test reports from past projects, with client details removed, and see whether results and open items are recorded clearly.
- A common mistake is hiring a construction supervisor as a commissioning engineer. Testing and construction supervision are different skills.
- Check how they work with the utility and contractors. Poor coordination delays energisation more than technical gaps.
Questions about hiring a commissioning engineer
It depends on the employer, the state and the type of plant. Some work on live systems may need authorisation. Confirm the position with your own adviser and do not assume a certificate stands in for site experience.
A supervisor watches that work is built as drawn. A commissioning engineer tests that the finished plant behaves as designed, records results and signs off the handover. The two roles check each other.
Often yes. Joining during the last construction phase lets them review drawings, plan tests and spot issues early. Late joiners usually spend the first weeks catching up on records.
GullyHR agrees the job description with you, finds and screens candidates for permanent roles, and supports the offer. We screen for project type, testing experience and site readiness before you meet anyone.
Hiring a commissioning engineer?
GullyHR runs talent acquisition for permanent roles. We agree the job description with you, find and screen candidates against it, and support the offer through to joining. We recruit permanent employees. We do not supply contract or temporary staff.