CAREER DEVELOPMENT: apprentice to
commissioning Manager
Daragh Falvey | Executive Summary
Commissioning Manager | Mercury | Data Centre Specialist,
Milan, Italy.
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Professional Summary
I am a 35-year-old professional from Dublin, Ireland, living in Milan, Italy, and working in the construction industry. I have 15 years of experience in the construction field. My expertise lies primarily in the data centre sector, particularly in commissioning hyperscale data centres. I am a dedicated professional specialising in commissioning management, with extensive experience across industrial, commercial, life sciences, and data center projects. Currently, I serve as the Commissioning Manager for a major hyperscale data centre project in Milan, working with a blue-chip client to ensure successful project milestones and seamless handover.
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I qualified as an electrician with merit in 2016 and later graduated with a Level 7 BEng in Industrial Engineering from Limerick Institute of Technology. I also hold a Level 8 NFQ in Project Management from the Institute of Project Management, and I am pursuing an MSc in Project Management at University College Dublin (UCD). My qualifications and diverse project experience have honed my adaptability, leadership, and communication skills.
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Core Competencies
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Technical Expertise in MEP.
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Commissioning Planning & Scheduling.
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Daily Coordination of Construction Activities.
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Daily Coordination of Commissioning Activities.
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Quality Assurance & Compliance.
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Problem Solving & Decision Making.
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Safety Management.
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Client & Stakeholder Engagement.
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Reporting & Issue Management closeout.
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Resource Allocation & Management.
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Strong Leadership.
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Project Management.
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Professional Experience
Since 2022, I have been the Commissioning Manager for a hyperscale data center in Milan, Italy. I have led commissioning activities for a large-scale data center project and ensured the successful delivery of milestones. I collaborate with clients and contractors to facilitate communication and alignment on project goals, and I develop and implement commissioning strategies to meet both technical and client requirements.
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From 2019 to 2022, I worked as a Commissioning Engineer for a hyperscale data center in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where I conducted commissioning activities across electrical and mechanical systems. I worked closely with cross-functional teams to streamline commissioning processes and meet critical deadlines.
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Between 2013 and 2019, I progressed from an apprentice electrician to a qualified electrician at Mercury Engineering in Dublin, Ireland. I qualified with merit in 2016 and worked on various projects, contributing to industrial, commercial, and data center construction.
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Education
I am a qualified Electrician by trade and started off with Mercury in 2013 as a second-year apprentice and qualified as an Electrician in 2016 with Merit. In 2017, once I qualified as an Electrician, I was selected as part of a scholarship program within Mercury to complete a degree-based apprenticeship, the first of its kind in Ireland. The L7 Beng degree-based apprenticeship program allowed me to work and study simultaneously; I studied at the Limerick Institute of Technology and completed my studies in 2019, receiving an L7 Beng in Industrial Engineering. In 2024, I completed a leadership course with the Ingenium Leadership Program, 2024 which led me to pursue a diploma in Project Management, which I completed with the Institute of Project Management [IPM]; I received a higher grade certificate, ultimately achieving a Level 8 NF. In 2024, I have decided to pursue my Project Management career further, I am now currently pursuing an MSc in Project Management at University College Dublin.
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Throughout all my studies, the company I work with, Mercury, has supported me, making the journey more seamless. Mercury offers a range of learning support services that allow employees to gain additional educational assistance. They are a true believer in supporting their workforce's educational assistance.
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Personal Interests
I am passionate about sports and fitness. During my childhood, I was a keen footballer and golfer; as the years went on and my knees gave way, golf prevailed. I also enjoy going to the gym, and have recently taken up running. I'm currently in training to run the Lake Garda Marathon in April 2025. These activities keep me physically fit and help me maintain a disciplined and focused approach in my professional life. I enjoy travelling and outdoor activities in my downtime, including hiking, snowboarding, and spending days at the beach or lakeside. My goal is to become fluent in Italian and complete the Lake Garda Marathon in by 2025.
​Executive Summary
Daragh Falvey
LinkedIn QR Code
Education & Affiliations
Malahide Community School
September 2001 - June 2008
Completed the leaving certificate.
Dublin Institute of Technology
September 2011 - June 2015
Electrical Apprenticeship Level 6 Advanced Diploma [Merit]
Limerick Institute of Technology
September 2017 - June 2019
L7 BEng Industrial Engineering
[2.1]
IPM Institute of Project Management
L6 Project Management
[Higher Grade]
March 2024 - July 2024
Technical University Dublin
March 2024 - July 2024
L8 NFQ Project Management
[Higher Grade]
University College Dublin
September 2024 - July 2026
MCs Project Management
[In progress]
Professional Career
MIL0102 Data Centre - Confidential
Milan, Italy | Commissioning Manager, General Contractor | 9.6 MW | €160M
Overview
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From 2021 until now, Daragh has played a key role in overseeing and coordinating MEP commissioning activities for a Data Centre Ballard Design hyper-scale data center project.
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Managed coordination for a complex infrastructure involving Electrical, Mechanical, BMS, and EPMS services, covering 6,207.80 m², including 2 COLO, 4 data halls, and 5 electrical rooms.
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Oversaw the commissioning of over 500 forecast tags, supporting the data centre's capacity of 9.6 MW.
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Successfully contributed to achieving key project milestones, surpassing 1 million LTI (Lost Time Incident) hours without safety incidents.
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Coordinated daily critical operations, liaising with subcontractors and vendors and ensuring smooth communication with the client to deliver project objectives effectively.
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Key Roles & Responsibilities
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Safety Management & coordination.
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Daily/Weekly Commissioning Management Reporting.
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Daily/Weekly Collaborative Planning & coordination.
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Integration Planning.
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Risk Planning, identification & Reporting.
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Critical Path identification and scheduling.
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Client Interfacing.
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Vendor & subcontractor Management.
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Issue identification & close-out management.
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L0-L3 Cx commissioning Coordination.
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L4-L5 Support.
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Project Handover.
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AMS08-09 Data Centre - Confidential
Amsterdam, NL | Project Commissioning Engineer, General Contractor | 36.8 MW | €400M
Overview ​
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From 2018 until 2021, Daragh assisted with constructing a large-scale data centre in Dublin, including 20 data halls, 10 COLOs, and 20 electrical rooms.
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Managed the commissioning process for key infrastructure components, ensuring alignment with project requirements and timelines.
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Coordinated between multiple stakeholders, including contractors, vendors, and client representatives, to deliver a seamless expansion process.
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Contributed to achieving a project capacity of 36 MW, successfully completing over 1,200 commissioning tags.
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Promoted a safety-first culture, helping the team achieve 4,000,000 LTI-free hours during the project duration.
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Key Roles & Responsibilities​
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Safety coordination RAMS, SPAs & Permits.
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Support daily/weekly Collaborative Planning & coordination.
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Support Integration Planning.
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Risk Planning, identification & Reporting.
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Vendor & subcontractor Management.
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Issue identification & close-out management.
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L0-L3 Cx Coordination support.
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CMop & DCat Management.
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Project Handover.
CLN Data Centre - Confidential
Co Meath, Ireland | Project Engineer/Electrician, Sub-contractor | 108 MW | €500M
Overview ​
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From 2016 until 2018, Daragh worked as an Electrician on the CLN project, where he eventually transitioned into an Engineering position after completing an L7 Beng.016
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Contributed to a hyperscale data centre project involving two buildings (CLN1/02/03), which included two administrative areas, 10 COLOs, and 40 data halls, covering a total area of 14,864 m².
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Supported the facility, which provided a substantial capacity of 108 MW, with over 2,000 commissioning tags completed.
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Played an instrumental role in the successful delivery of this large-scale project, ensuring effective coordination and commissioning of critical infrastructure.
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Key Roles & Responsibilities​
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Safety coordination RAMS, SPAs & Permits.
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Drawing Review & Takeoffs.
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Redlining of drawings.
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RFI submissions.
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Technical submittal review & submittal.
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Conatainment installation.
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Electrical First fixings.
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Electrical Second fixing.
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Electrical Testing.
Leadership and Personality Type
Daragh Falvey Leadership Type - 'The Big 5' Test
In accordance with the 'The Big 5' personality type test, My leadership style is characterised by a transformational approach, driven by a high level of openness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability.
I am an innovative visionary who embraces change, encourages creative problem-solving, and strives for continuous improvement. As a reliable and goal-oriented leader, I ensure that projects are completed to high standards while fostering strong relationships through effective communication and empathy.
My ability to remain composed under pressure helps me guide teams through challenging situations, resulting in successful project outcomes. I am committed to creating an inclusive and supportive work environment and motivating my team to achieve shared goals.
Daragh Falvey Personality Test - 16 Personality Test
As an ESTJ personality type, often known as 'The Executive,' my leadership style is characterised by organisation, efficiency, and a strong sense of duty. I excel at managing people and resources and driving projects forward with a focus on planning, structure, and execution. I am goal-oriented, results-driven, and committed to ensuring tasks are completed on time and to high standards. My approach is both directive and supportive, as I value my team's contributions while maintaining accountability and productivity. This combination of clear communication, practical decision-making, and an emphasis on efficiency makes me an effective leader, especially in structured and high-pressure environments.
My style is characterised by a transformational approach driven by high openness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability. I am an innovative visionary who embraces change, encourages creative problem-solving, and strives for continuous improvement. As a reliable and goal-oriented leader, I ensure that projects are completed to high standards while fostering strong relationships through effective communication and empathy.
My ability to remain composed under pressure helps me guide teams through challenging situations, resulting in successful project outcomes. I am committed to creating an inclusive and supportive work environment and motivating my team to achieve shared goals.
Daragh Falvey Emotional Intelegence Test - NHS
My leadership style is also characterised by strong emotional intelligence. I demonstrate high self-awareness, allowing me to lead authentically and assess situations effectively. My ability to manage emotions under pressure ensures stability and reliability in challenging environments. I am intrinsically motivated, continuously striving for personal and professional improvement, which helps inspire those around me.
Empathy is central to my approach, enabling me to proactively build strong team dynamics and address concerns. My social skills allow me to engage effectively with stakeholders, fostering productive relationships and ensuring project alignment.
These emotional intelligence traits make me an emotionally intelligent leader, capable of guiding teams through complex situations and delivering successful outcomes
My Hobbies & Interests
Staying active is a core part of my life. I’m passionate about the gym, running, and perfecting my swing on the golf course. When I’m not enjoying these routines, I love venturing into the great outdoors, whether it’s hiking through scenic trails around Ireland or spending time in the Italian Alps. Exploring different sports, like snowboarding and waterskiing, adds an element of excitement and adventure to my love for nature. These activities keep me energised and provide an incredible sense of balance, allowing me to push my limits, recharge, and then ready to work again with a refreshed mindset.
I enjoy challenging myself academically and consistently trying to better myself for future career betterment. Feel free to connect via my LinkedIn in account via QR code within the picture section.
Recommendations
I have worked with Daragh since 2019 in the Hyperscale Datacentre sector. Daragh is very good at managing complex MEP systems in Data Centre construction, demonstrating strong technical and management skills. He leads projects effectively, collaborating well with contractors, engineers, and clients, even under pressure. Daragh has shown a strong ability in guiding project stakeholders through challenging periods.
Daragh has continuously pursued educational improvement with Mercury over the past few years, setting a good example for others to follow.
With his well-rounded skill set, Daragh is a valuable asset to any construction team.
James Carmody
Group Commissioning Support Manager, Mercury