Architectural SME - AI Data Centers

Jacobs; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 191,000 - 263,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Senior Architectural SME for Data Centers (Advanced Manufacturing) to lead architectural delivery on mission-critical facilities, including AI-enabled hyperscale data centers. You will guide design across multi-discipline teams, ensure code compliance, and advance modularization and sustainability strategies.

The role targets senior architects with extensive data center experience, offering engagement with top clients and opportunities to influence standards and solutions

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Architecture required.
• Licensed Architect (RA) with active credentials.
• 20+ years architectural experience, 15+ in mission-critical or data center environments.
• Expertise in site planning, building envelope systems, modular construction, and BIM coordination.
• Strong knowledge of building codes, accessibility standards, and sustainability frameworks.
• Proven ability to apply technical innovation to solve complex client challenges.

Responsibilities

• Technical Leadership & Design Excellence: act as senior architectural authority across programs, shape upfront planning with hyperscale clients, drive innovation in modularization, envelope systems, and integrated building systems.
• Strategic & Client Impact: represent Jacobs’ design expertise in client engagements and strategic pursuits, support business development and delivery teams to shape high-value data center programs.
• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: mentor architects, contribute to thought leadership, support Jacobs’ presence in professional organizations.
• Program Support & Delivery: manage design reviews, quality assurance, and construction administration across multiple projects, balancing priorities with technical rigor.

Skills

Architectural leadership

BIM coordination

Code compliance

Client engagement

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture

Licensed Architect (RA)

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

This job opportunity is available at ANY location in the United States. Ideally, selected candidates will be near a JACOBS U.S. based office, but we intend to hire the 'best' candidates.

Senior Architectural SME – Data Centers (Advanced Manufacturing)

Jacobs is trusted in designing and deliver some of the world’s most complex mission critical facilities. As a leader in advanced manufacturing and hyperscale data center design, we partner with global technology and colocation clients to shape next generation, AI-enabled data centers where resiliency, scalability, sustainability, and precision are essential.

Required Background

Direct AI, Hyperscale, or Colocation data center design experience is strongly preferred. Candidates should possess experience leading the architectural delivery of mission-critical facilities and coordinating highly complex MEP, telecommunications, security, and operational infrastructure requirements.

This position is intended for senior architects with direct experience delivering AI, Hyperscale, Colocation data centers, semiconductor facilities, or comparable mission-critical industrial projects. Architectural experience limited to commercial buildings, mixed-use developments, residential, hospitality, healthcare, education, government, retail, or other conventional building types will generally not be considered equivalent to the mission-critical facility experience required for this role. Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated data center project experience supporting hyperscale cloud, colocation, or advanced technology clients.

Technical Leadership & Design Excellence

You will serve as a senior architectural authority across multiple programs, guiding design quality and consistency while advancing Jacobs’ architectural standards for mission critical facilities. This includes shaping upfront planning strategies with hyperscale clients, leading site and building design, and driving innovation in modularization, envelope systems, sustainability, and integrated building systems. You will ensure code compliance, constructability, and coordination across architectural, structural, and MEP disciplines.

Strategic & Client Impact

As a visible technical leader, you will represent Jacobs’ design expertise in client engagements, industry forums, and strategic pursuits. Partnering closely with business development and delivery teams, you will help win and shape complex, high value data center programs through technical insight, design leadership, and clear articulation of value.

Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing

This role plays a critical part in developing Jacobs’ architectural talent. You will mentor architects across the data center practice, contribute to internal and external thought leadership, and support Jacobs’ presence within professional and industry organizations.

Program Support & Delivery

Balancing strategy with hands on involvement, you will support design reviews, quality assurance, and construction administration across multiple concurrent projects. The role requires the ability to manage parallel priorities while maintaining technical rigor in fast paced, schedule driven environments.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Qualifications
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture
• Licensed Architect (RA)
• 20+ years of architectural experience, including 15+ years in mission critical or data center environments
• Expertise in site planning, building envelope systems, modular construction, and BIM coordination
• Strong knowledge of building codes, accessibility standards, and sustainability frameworks
• Proven ability to apply technical innovation to solve complex client challenges

Preferred Experience

• Hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise data center programs
• LEED, WELL, or other sustainability certifications
• High security and high resiliency facility design
• Construction phase technical support and vendor coordination

Work Environment

This role is primarily office-based with travel to project sites and client locations as needed (up to 25%). Occasional on call support may be required for critical design or client engagements.

At Jacobs, we design more than facilities-we build careers and long-term impact. You’ll be supported by deep market expertise and collaborative leadership while helping deliver the infrastructure quietly powering the future of technology.

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to invest in you, and in the things you care about. Your health. Your well-being. Your security. Your future. Employees have access to medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance, a 401(k) plan, and the ability to purchase company stock at a discount. Eligible employees may also enroll in a deferred compensation plan or the Executive Deferral Plan. Jacobs has an unlimited U.S. Personalized Paid Time Off (PPTO) policy for full-time salaried/exempt employees, seven paid holidays, and caregiver leave. And certain roles may be eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, performance discretionary bonus, and stock.

The base salary range for this position is $191,300.00 to $263,000.00. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Job posted on August 14, 2026. This position will be open for at least 3 days.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.