Director, Data Center Counsel

Cerebras; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

Cerebras Systems is seeking a Director, Data Center Counsel to lead all legal aspects of data center acquisitions and digital infrastructure projects. You will own end-to-end deals, negotiate complex terms, and shape Cerebras’ governance strategy within a fast-growing AI hardware ecosystem.

The role requires at least 10 years in data center transactions and a J.D., with strong cross-functional collaboration to minimize risk. Equity and bonus opportunities accompany the compensation package.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of direct experience with or at data center providers, neo-clouds, and/or hyperscalers on infrastructure transactions.
• Demonstrated track record of quarterbacking sophisticated, high-complexity and cross-functional transactions.
• Deep familiarity with compute and digital infrastructure, including negotiating terms related to compute infrastructure and data center operations.
• Experience with real estate and/or physical infrastructure transactions, including negotiating colocation and build-to-suit leases.
• Due diligence, regulatory issues and dispute resolution experience.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end legal strategy and execution for Cerebras’ data center acquisitions and other digital infrastructure transactions.
• Own long-term legal relationships with data center operators/lessors, financing sources, and off-takers.
• Provide strategic advice on Cerebras’ corporate structure and governance to minimize risk.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to manage interdependencies and risk.

Skills

Data centers

Cross-functional leadership

Contract negotiation

Due diligence

Regulatory compliance

Real estate infra

J.D. required

Education

J.D.

Job description

Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, 56 times larger than GPUs. This architecture allows Cerebras to deliver industry-leading training and inference speeds; over 10 times faster than GPU-based hyperscale cloud inference services.

This order of magnitude increase in speed is transforming the user experience of AI applications, unlocking real-time iteration and increasing intelligence via additional agentic computation.

Cerebras works with the leading model labs, global enterprises, and cutting-edge AI-native startups. OpenAI recently announced a multi-year partnership with Cerebras, to deploy 750 megawatts of scale, transforming key workloads with ultra high-speed inference.

As Director, Data Center Counsel at Cerebras, you will support our Global Data Centers team to enable our ambitious data center acquisition and development plans. You will own deals throughout their lifecycle, provide legal advice on all matters relating to data centers and digital infrastructure, negotiate Cerebras’ most important and highest value contracts, and drive forward with urgency one of our most important strategic initiatives.

We are rapidly expanding our Global Data Centers team, and thus will consider candidates at multiple levels of seniority.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end legal strategy and execution for Cerebras’ data center acquisitions and other digital infrastructure transactions, including structuring deals with financing components.
• Own the long term legal relationship with data center operators/lessors, financing sources, and off-takers.
• Provider strategic advice on Cerebras’ corporate structure and governance to minimize risk.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to manage interdependencies and risk.

Skills & Qualifications

• At least 10 years of direct experience with or at data center providers, neo-clouds, and/or hyperscalers on infrastructure transactions.
• Demonstrated track record of quarterbacking sophisticated, high-complexity and cross-functional transactions.
• Deep familiarity with compute and digital infrastructure, including fluency and ability to negotiate technical terms related to compute infrastructure, hardware specifications, data center operations, and power and utilities requirements.
• Experience with real estate and/or physical infrastructure transactions, including negotiating colocation agreements, powered-shell and build-to-suit leases, capacity reservation/development agreements, connectivity agreements, and related agreements.
• Experience with due diligence, regulatory issues and dispute resolution relating to such transactions.
• Strong ability to quickly learn other practice areas, and agility and desire to work in a fast-paced environment where the scope of work is constantly changing.
• Can-do attitude and strong work ethic; no task is beneath you and no problem is unsolvable.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) and bar admission required.
• A mix of leading law firm and in-house experience preferred.

The compensation range for this position will depend on the candidate’s level of experience, and will include a bonus and significant equity.

Why Join Cerebras

People who are serious about software make their own hardware. At Cerebras, we have built a breakthrough architecture that is unlocking new opportunities for the AI industry. With dozens of model releases and rapid growth, we’ve reached an inflection point in our business. Members of our team tell us there are five main reasons they joined Cerebras:

• Build a breakthrough AI platform beyond the constraints of the GPU.
• Publish and open source their cutting-edge AI research.
• Work on one of the fastest AI supercomputers in the world.
• Enjoy job stability with startup vitality.
• Our simple, non-corporate work culture that respects individual beliefs.

Find out more about what it's like to work at Cerebras here!

Cerebras Systems is committed to creating an equal and diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We believe inclusive teams build better products and companies. We try every day to build a work environment that empowers people to do their best work through continuous learning, growth and support of those around them.