Data Center Development Project Manager

BlueKobalt Infrastructure; Paris; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

BlueKobalt Infrastructure is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead the development of data center projects in France, based in Paris with frequent travel. You will own projects from site identification to ready-to-build, coordinating internal teams and external partners.

We require 5–15 years of relevant experience, a Bac+5 level, fluent French and professional English, and a proven ability to navigate grid connection, permitting, and local stakeholder relationships to deliver end-to-end

Qualifications

• 5–15 years in developing digital infrastructure or industrial real estate.
• Strong local network with experience engaging officials.
• Experience with grid connection, permitting, and zoning procedures in France.

Responsibilities

• Identify and qualify data center project opportunities in France.
• Lead grid connection and land negotiations through signature.
• Oversee design studies and permitting with cross-functional teams.
• Coordinate with external partners and manage project schedules and budgets.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Budgeting

Regulatory understanding

Coordination

Travel willingness

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree (Bac+5) in engineering or business

Job description

Behind every AI, there's a data center. And behind our data centers, there could be you.

At BlueKobalt, we develop and manage the digital infrastructure that will host tomorrow's AI and high-performance computing (HPC). We're looking for top project managers to develop our data centers in France: you'll own your projects, from site identification all the way to ready-to-build.

• Location: Paris, with frequent travel
• Reports to: Chief Development Officer
• Experience: 5 to 15 years
• Languages: fluent French, professional English
• Start date: as soon as possible

Who we are

BlueKobalt Infrastructure was founded in 2026 by an experienced team. We develop, build and operate digital infrastructure for AI (inference and training) and high-performance computing, with sites from 50 to 300 MW.

Our founders have developed major energy infrastructure projects across Europe and internationally. Today, they are moving into a fast-growing sector: data centers built for AI.

Our mindset: here, we are entrepreneurial, creative, enthusiastic, solution-oriented, supportive, ambitious and future-focused. We use AI every day, and we will soon be a leading AI data center operator.

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, you will grow our portfolio of data center projects in France. You will orchestrate all the internal and external players working on your projects and lead them from start to finish.

Prospect and qualify

• Prospect target areas: grid connection capacity, available land, local political support.
• Lead and manage a network of external prospectors: search areas and criteria, objectives, performance tracking.
• Qualify opportunities using a multi-criteria analysis grid (energy, grid, land, water, zoning, connectivity…).

Secure grid connection and land

• Work with our Grid Specialist on grid connection requests (RTE, Enedis) and, where possible, on renewable energy supply.
• Lead land and grid connection negotiations through to signature, drawing on internal and external resources.

Steer technical design and permitting

• Oversee environmental, electrical, hydraulic, geotechnical and cooling studies.
• Make design trade-offs (density, cooling, redundancy…) with our Design Specialist and the sales team.
• Lead zoning and permitting procedures: compliance with the local zoning plan (and its amendment if needed), building permit, environmental authorization.
• Structure and track schedules, study budgets and resources.
• Maintain the risk register, identify roadblocks (grid connection, zoning, environment…) and roll out action plans.
• Coordinate engineering firms, architects, land experts, legal advisors, suppliers and future EPC contractors: specifications, tenders, quality monitoring.
• Prepare and present internal approval files (technical summary, budget, schedule, risks).
• Contribute, with the CFO, to investment and financing files.

Rally stakeholders around your projects

• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, local authorities, economic development agencies, developers and government services.
• Engage with local residents, run steering committees and report to management and investors.
• Take part in pre-sales discussions with clients, bringing the project's technical and timeline perspective.

Education

• Master's degree (Bac+5): engineer (electrical / energy, civil, mechanical / HVAC) with business experience, or business school graduate with technical experience.

Experience

• 5 to 15 years in developing digital infrastructure, industrial real estate or renewable energy projects, with sites actually permitted and secured to your credit.
• A real local network: you know how to open an elected official's door and keep the relationship going over time.
• You master grid connection procedures and the relationship with RTE, land securing, and French zoning and permitting procedures.
• Infrastructure project development, from site qualification to building permit.
• Understanding of data center design, energy management and cooling, including high density and liquid cooling for AI.
• Grid connection (HV / MV) and how grid operators work.
• French regulatory framework: zoning, environment (impact assessment, ICPE classified facilities) and recent changes (simplification law of 26 May 2026, waste heat recovery).
• Project management (planning, budget tracking, dashboards) and preparation of investment files.
• Managing external service providers based on objectives and KPIs.
• Data center construction methods, technical standards and safety requirements.
• Professional English. Another European language is a plus.
• Comfortable with digital tools and AI.

Your personality

• You bring cross-functional teams together without formal authority: you lead by influence.
• You communicate clearly and know how to run a steering committee.
• Rigor, organization, results orientation, autonomy and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• You enjoy fieldwork and travel doesn't scare you.
• Team spirit, openness, creativity and determination to see things through.
• You know grid operators well (RTE, Enedis).
• You understand what hyperscalers expect.
• You have already delivered projects end to end.
• You thrive in a growing company.
• You want to automate, test AI tools, and work faster and smarter.

Why join us?

• A key role: you contribute directly to critical infrastructure for AI and data.
• Autonomy: responsibility, efficiency, short decision-making channels. Your choices have an immediate impact.
• A competitive compensation package.

Our hiring process, step by step

• An HR interview, by video or in person
• A technical interview with the team
• A possible case study and an interview with the founders
• A reference check, then an offer

BlueKobalt is committed to equal opportunities: all our positions are open, with equal skills, regardless of origin, gender, age, family situation, disability or beliefs.