Cost Lead

Fluidstack; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive total compensation package

Retirement or pension plan

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Generous PTO policy

Job summary

Fluidstack is hiring a Cost Lead to manage cost across its data center portfolio. You will be responsible for budgeting, developing cost estimates, and ensuring all projects remain on-budget while working closely with project managers and design teams.

The ideal candidate will have experience in data center construction, a strong understanding of the cost stack, and the ability to establish cost management processes. A competitive compensation package and equity options are offered.

Qualifications

• Experience with cost management, quantity surveying, or construction estimating.
• Hands-on experience in data center or mission-critical construction.
• Deep understanding of civil, structural, and MEP costs.

Responsibilities

• Own cost planning across all project phases.
• Develop detailed estimates for various systems.
• Maintain real-time cost forecasts across all active projects.

Skills

Cost management

Quantity surveying

Construction estimating

Data center construction

Change order discipline

Education

Degree in construction management, quantity surveying, or engineering

Tools

Procore

Sage

Job description

About Fluidstack

We exist to make humanity more free. For most of human history, you farmed or you starved. Technology gave people more time for the things they wanted to do, instead of things they had to do. Powerful AI will be the biggest lever for human choice we've ever built - but only if models are aligned with what humanity actually wants. There are groups building AI who don't share these goals. Whoever deploys frontier compute infrastructure fastest will decide whether AI expands human freedom or shrinks it.

We're singularly focused on delivering 10 to 100s of GWs of compute faster than anyone else, rethinking every layer of the stack. We acquire power, design and build data centers, and operate them - with teams spanning hardware and software. Speed and scale are our key differentiators. Come be a part of building civilization‑scale infrastructure for AI.

We hire people who care deeply about this problem space. If that is you, please apply!

About The Role

As Cost Lead, you will own cost management across our data center portfolio — from early‑stage budgeting and estimating through construction and final account. You'll set up process where it doesn't exist, build benchmarks from scratch, and serve as the Cost Lead of our delivery program. You'll work closely with project managers, A/E design teams, GCs, and other Leads to keep every project on‑budget and every decision grounded in credible numbers.

• Own cost planning across all project phases — from concept and pre‑design through construction documents and GMP negotiation
• Develop detailed estimates for civil, structural, MEP, HV/LV power, cooling, fuel systems, and shell construction
• Maintain real‑time cost forecasts across all active projects; track actuals vs. budget and surface variances early
• Own change order review: assess scope validity, commercial accuracy, and contract entitlement before recommending approval
• Prepare executive‑level cost reports across the portfolio — clear, scannable, exception‑based
• Manage contingency tracking and cost risk registers across project phases
• Lead value engineering exercises with design and construction teams to optimise cost without compromising scope or schedule
• Support GC and subcontractor procurement: bid leveling, scope gap analysis, and contract negotiation input
• Advise on contract structure and commercial risk allocation across delivery models
• Build the cost management function from the ground up: tools, templates, workflows, and reporting cadence
• Establish and maintain a unit cost benchmark database covering key DC cost categories — from $/MW to equipment and trade breakdowns
• Contribute to precon planning on new sites, including order‑of‑magnitude estimates to support site selection and investment decisions

Qualifications

• Experience with cost management, quantity surveying, or construction estimating
• Meaningful hands‑on experience on data center or mission‑critical construction — hyperscale, colo, or large‑scale build‑to‑suit
• Owner‑side experience strongly preferred; GC or QS consulting backgrounds considered if DC domain knowledge is deep
• Deep understanding of the DC cost stack: civil, structural, MEP, HV/LV power, cooling (CRAC/CRAH, DLC, immersion), emergency power, and IT fit‑out
• Understands how design decisions — power density, redundancy tier, cooling strategy — translate directly to capital cost
• Comfortable benchmarking at $/MW, $/SF, and $/kW; knows what drives variation between projects
• Strong change order discipline: can assess pricing validity, identify scope gaps, and document entitlement
• Familiar with GMP, lump sum, and cost‑plus contract structures
• Proficient with cost management tooling (Procore, Sage, or equivalent); can build process from scratch
• Degree in construction management, quantity surveying, engineering, or related field
• Builder mindset — comfortable setting up function and process where little exists, and operating with urgency in a fast‑moving program

Salary & Benefits

• Competitive total compensation package (salary + equity).
• Retirement or pension plan, in line with local norms.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous PTO policy, in line with local norms.

The base salary range for this position is $160,000 - $250,000 per year, depending on experience, skills, qualifications, and location. This range represents our good faith estimate of the compensation for this role at the time of posting. Total compensation may also include equity in the form of stock options.

We are committed to pay equity and transparency.

Fluidstack is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and protected veterans’ status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Fluidstack will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to applicable law.