Director, Legal - Energy (US)

nscaleoperationsukltd; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Nscale seeks a Director, Legal - Energy (US) to lead energy procurement for our US data centre campuses. This hands-on role negotiates PPAs, interconnections, and energy storage agreements across multiple US jurisdictions, coordinating with real estate, construction and operations teams.

You will steer complex contracts, manage outside counsel, and stay ahead of regulatory developments affecting grid access and power supply for mission-critical infrastructure.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of legal experience in energy, power, infrastructure or major projects, in-house and/or at a top-tier law firm.
• Strong track record negotiating complex energy and power arrangements (PPA, interconnection, energy supply, etc.).
• Experience supporting large-scale, mission-critical infrastructure projects across multiple US jurisdictions.
• Fluency in energy and infrastructure risk allocation (pricing, capacity, warranties, insurance, dispute resolution).

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiation of power procurement, utility supply, interconnection and transmission service arrangements for US data centre campuses.
• Draft and negotiate PPAs, energy supply agreements and related certificates or procurement structures.
• Negotiate on-site and behind-the-meter generation, energy storage, microgrids and critical power infra.
• Support interconnection programs, capacity reservation and network upgrades; manage risk and delay provisions.
• Advise on pricing, commitments, curtailment, force majeure, credit support and termination rights.
• Collaborate with real estate, construction, procurement, finance and operations to align power procurement with campus development.
• Assist site acquisition by assessing power availability and energy-related contractual risks.
• Maintain and update energy procurement templates and contracting positions for local law and market practice.
• Run counterparty rounds and drive consistent positions across projects, balancing speed and bankability.
• Coordinate energy insurance, guarantees and bonding with insurance team and lender requirements.

Skills

Energy law experience

Contract negotiation

Cross-jurisdictional work

Stakeholder communication

In-house / top firm

First-chair negotiation

US regulatory knowledge

Education

Licensed attorney in the US

Job description

About Nscale

Nscale is taking on the hyperscalers by building a vertically integrated GenAI cloud platform. We own the data centres, software, and applications that power today's AI stack using sustainable technology solutions. 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. Collaboration is key, and we work together swiftly and respectfully, embracing adaptability and resilience in all we do.

About the role

The Director, Legal - Energy (US) is Nscale's dedicated US‑based counsel for energy and power procurement across the US, reporting to the VP, Legal - Infrastructure (US). This is a hands‑on execution role supporting the development and operation of Nscale's US data centre campuses.

What you'll be doing

• Lead the negotiation of power procurement, utility supply, interconnection and transmission service arrangements for Nscale data centre campuses across the US.
• Draft and negotiate power purchase agreements, sleeved and corporate PPAs, energy supply agreements, renewable‑energy arrangements and related certificates or attribute procurement structures.
• Negotiate development, supply, installation and O&M agreements for on‑site and behind‑the‑meter generation, energy storage, microgrids and critical power infrastructure.
• Support the delivery of interconnection and energization programs, including capacity reservation, interconnection facilities and network upgrades, milestone, security and delay‑risk arrangements.
• Advise on the legal and commercial allocation of energy and power risk, including pricing, volume commitments, curtailment, imbalance, change in law, force majeure, credit support and termination rights.
• Partner with real estate, construction, procurement, finance and operations teams to align power procurement with campus development schedules and operational requirements.
• Support site acquisition and development workstreams by assessing power availability, utility constraints and energy‑related contractual risks.
• Maintain and improve Nscale's energy and power procurement templates, playbooks and contracting positions, adapting them for local law and market practice.
• Run counterparty comment rounds and drive consistent house positions across projects, while balancing speed, bankability and commercial outcomes.
• Coordinate energy‑related insurance, guarantees 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.
• Monitor and advise on regulatory developments relevant to energy procurement, grid access, renewable‑energy claims and data centre power supply.

What you need

• 7+ years of legal experience in energy, power, infrastructure or major projects, gained in‑house and/or at a top‑tier law firm.
• Strong track record negotiating complex energy and power arrangements, including utility, interconnection, energy supply, PPA, generation, equipment supply and O&M agreements.
• Experience supporting large‑scale, mission‑critical, industrial, infrastructure or energy‑intensive projects.
• Experience working across multiple US jurisdictions and managing local counsel effectively.
• Fluency in energy and infrastructure risk allocation, including pricing structures, capacity and volume commitments, delay remedies, credit support, performance guarantees, warranties, insurance, liability caps 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.
• Comfort working alongside real estate, construction, project finance, insurance, regulatory and technical counterparts.
• Qualified attorney admitted in at least one US state or the District of Columbia in good standing.

Nice to haves

• Prior experience at a hyperscaler, colocation provider, data centre developer, energy developer, utility, major contractor or infrastructure investor.
• Experience with corporate, sleeved or utility‑scale PPAs and renewable‑energy procurement.
• Expe