Director, Legal - Critical Infrastructure (US)

Nscale; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 210,000 - 340,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Flexible paid time off

Retirement plan participation

Job summary

Nscale is seeking a Director, Legal – Critical Infrastructure (US) to lead end-to-end contracting for US data center campuses. You will negotiate high-stakes EPC, design-build, and supply agreements, manage external counsel, and align positions across regulatory and commercial teams to accelerate project delivery.

Role requires 7+ years in construction/infrastructure law, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to communicate complex risk to senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of construction and infrastructure legal experience in-house or at a top-tier firm.
• Proven track record negotiating major EPC, design-build, professional services, and equipment supply agreements for large-scale projects.
• Fluency in construction risk allocation including pricing, delay remedies, warranties, defects, indemnity, insurance, liability, and dispute provisions.
• Confident first-chair negotiator able to run multiple high-value contracts in parallel to signature.
• Ability to explain complex legal/commercial risk to non-lawyers and senior stakeholders.
• Comfortable collaborating with project finance, power, insurance, and regulatory teams.
• Licensed attorney admitted in at least one US state and in good standing.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiation of owner-contractor, EPC, and design-build agreements for data center campus construction across the US.
• Draft and negotiate design and consultancy agreements with architects, engineers, and consultants, including framework agreements and work orders, ownership of deliverables, and professional liability.
• Negotiate supply, installation, and O&M agreements for on-site power generation and critical equipment, including performance guarantees, warranties, and service levels.
• Support site acquisition, development arrangements, and ground leases, plus power procurement and interconnection in coordination with regulators.
• Maintain and improve Nscale's infrastructure contract templates and playbooks.
• Run counterparty comment rounds and drive consistent house positions across projects, adapting for local law.
• Manage contracts through delivery and closeout, including change orders, cost/schedule claims, payments, retention, and defect correction.
• Coordinate insurance and bonding requirements with the insurance team, and partner with Debt Capital Markets Legal on lender requirements for project-financed sites.
• Manage US outside counsel, including scope, budgets, and quality of advice.
• Partner with construction, procurement, finance, real estate, energy, and operations teams to support rapid project delivery.

Skills

Construction & infra law

Contract negotiation

Risk allocation & dispute resolution

First-chair negotiation

Stakeholder communication

Education

US-qualified attorney (bar admission)

Job description

About Nscale

Nscale is the GPU cloud engineered for AI. We provide cost-effective, high-performance infrastructure for AI start-ups and large enterprise customers. Nscale enables AI-focused companies to achieve superior results by reducing the complexity of AI development. Nscale enables AI-focused companies to achieve superior results by reducing the complexity of AI development. Nscale enables AI-focused companies to achieve superior results by reducing the complexity of AI development. Nscale enables AI-focused companies to achieve superior results by reducing the complexity of AI development.

We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in their work and drives it with excellence and urgency. As an Nscaler, you'll build trust through openness and transparency, where everyone is inspired to do their best work. If you join our team, you'll be contributing to building the technology that powers the future.

About The Role

The Director, Legal – Critical Infrastructure, US is Nscale's dedicated US-based infrastructure counsel, reporting to the VP, Legal – Critical Infrastructure, Procurement, and Design. This is a hands‑on execution role covering the full contracting lifecycle for Nscale's US data center campuses: construction, design and consultancy, major equipment supply and O&M, real estate, and power, from term sheet through delivery and closeout. As Director, you will lead your own matters end‑to‑end, negotiate directly with major counterparties, and apply consistent commercial and legal positions across multiple jurisdictions. You will work closely with local external counsel where jurisdiction‑specific advice is required.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the negotiation of owner‑contractor, EPC, and design‑build agreements for data center campus construction across the US.
• Draft and negotiate design and consultancy agreements with architects, engineers, and specialist consultants, including framework agreement and work order structures, ownership of deliverables, and professional liability.
• Negotiate supply, installation, and O&M agreements for on‑site power generation and critical electrical and mechanical equipment, including performance guarantees, warranties, and service levels.
• Support site acquisition, development arrangements, and ground leases, as well as power procurement, utility, interconnection, and power purchase arrangements in coordination with regulatory and local counsel.
• Maintain and improve Nscale's infrastructure contract templates and playbooks.
• Run counterparty comment rounds and drive consistent house positions across projects, while adapting for local law and market practice.
• Manage contracts through delivery and closeout, including change orders, cost and schedule claims, payment and retention issues, defect correction, and dispute avoidance.
• Coordinate insurance and bonding requirements with the insurance team, and partner with Debt Capital Markets Legal on lender requirements for project‑financed sites.
• Manage US outside counsel, including scope, budgets, and quality of advice.
• Partner closely with construction, procurement, finance, real estate, energy, and operations teams to support project delivery at pace.

About You

• 7+ years of construction and infrastructure legal experience, gained in-house and/or at a top‑tier law firm.
• Strong track record negotiating major construction EPC, design‑build, professional services, and equipment supply agreements for large‑scale, mission‑critical, or industrial projects.
• Fluency in construction risk allocation, including pricing structures, delay remedies, warranties and defects, indemnity, insurance, liability, and dispute‑resolution provisions.
• A confident first‑chair negotiator, able to run multiple high‑value contracts in parallel and drive them to signature.
• Ability to explain complex legal and commercial risk clearly to non‑lawyers and senior stakeholders.
• Comfortable working alongside project finance, power, insurance, and regulatory counterparts.
• Qualified attorney admitted in at least one US state and in good standing.

Nice to have

• Prior experience at a hyperscaler, colocation provider, data center developer, major contractor, or infrastructure investor.
• Energy and power project experience, including equipment supply, O&M, utility and interconnection, or power purchase arrangements.
• Construction claims and dispute resolution experience.

Join Nscale as we build a world‑class AI cloud platform. If you're ready to lead infrastructure contracting for hyperscale data center projects across the US at one of the most ambitious AI infrastructure companies, we'd love to hear from you!

Equal Opportunity

Nscale is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know.

The range below reflects the base salary for the position. Actual compensation may vary based on job‑related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs. Nscale may offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation.

Salary Range: $210,000 USD - $340,000 USD

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