Estimator, Modular R&D

Fluidstack; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Fluidstack is hiring a cost-focused engineer in Austin to design, develop, and own the cost model for modular data centers. You will produce estimates at each design release, price trade-offs, and challenge vendor quotes with the supply chain to ensure accurate, competitive numbers.

You will work closely with design engineers to ensure the estimate is right for the scope and schedule, including early-stage R&D costs and offsite manufacturing considerations.

Qualifications

• You've personally estimated mechanical, electrical, or modular construction costs including takeoffs and unit pricing.
• You've built cost models other teams can run independently and they held up under scrutiny.
• You've reconciled estimates with actuals and updated assumptions accordingly.
• You've priced design options to provide quick, usable numbers during critical design decisions.

Responsibilities

• Build and own the cost model for the modular data center product across all scopes.
• Produce design-release estimates so costs are known before build commitments.
• Price design alternatives quickly to inform cooling, electrical, and site decisions.
• Interrogate vendor quotes line-by-line with supply chain to build should-cost models.
• Reconcile estimates against actuals after each build to improve future estimates.

Skills

Cost modeling

Estimating

Vendor pricing

Modular data centers

MEP estimation

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

Tools

CostX

Excel

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!

How We Operate

• Extreme ownership. Full autonomy. Own things end to end often taking on scope outside your core role without being asked to get things done.

• Velocity. We drive everything forward as fast as possible.

• First principles. Challenge every assumption. Zero analogy thinking, no egos, the best idea wins.

• Love of the game. The frontier of AI is the most interesting problem of our time. We put in long hours at high intensity to push the frontier forward.

The Data Center Design Team

Examples of key problems the team is working on

• Lead the design, development, and execution of 10s to 100s of GWs of data centers this decade.

• Drive the next generation of liquid cooling and electrical distribution systems.

• Develop and scale first‑of‑a‑kind modular data centers.

• Influence behind‑the‑meter designs and planning for multi‑GW campuses.

Role Scope

• Build and own the cost model for the modular data center product, covering every assembly across structural, mechanical, electrical, and controls scopes.

• Produce estimates at every design release so the program always knows what the product costs before it commits to build.

• Price design alternatives in days, giving engineers cost facts on trade‑offs like cooling configuration, electrical distribution, and skid versus site‑built scope.

• Interrogate vendor quotes line by line with supply chain, and build should‑cost models for the equipment categories that dominate unit cost.

• Reconcile estimates against actuals after each build and fold the variance back into the model, so the next estimate is tighter than the last.

What We're Looking For

• The below is a starting point. We always make space for exceptional people, so if you don't fit this role exactly, tell us where you would.

• You've personally estimated mechanical, electrical, or modular construction scopes: takeoffs, unit pricing, vendor pricing, and a final number you stood behind when the project was won or lost.

• You've built cost models other people could run without you in the room, and they held up.

• You've reconciled estimate versus actual and changed your assumptions when the data said you were wrong.

• You've priced options for engineers in the middle of a design decision, delivering a usable number in hours when the decision couldn't wait.

• You know where estimates fail (scope gaps, labor productivity, escalation, freight) and you've caught those failures before they priced a bid.

• You've worked directly with design engineers early in product development, where drawings are incomplete and the estimate still has to be right about what matters.

• Bonus: Data center or mission‑critical estimating. Modular or offsite manufacturing cost experience. NECA or MCAA labor units. Estimating platforms beyond spreadsheets. Early‑stage R&D or product cost work.

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.

You will receive a confirmation email once your application has successfully been accepted. If there is an error with your submission and you did not receive a confirmation email, please email [e-mail] with your resume/CV, the role you’ve applied for and the date you submitted your application-- someone from our recruiting team will be in touch.