Geotechnical Engineer

Fluidstack; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Job summary

Fluidstack in San Francisco seeks a senior Geotechnical Engineer to own the geotechnical workstream across multi-site development. You will translate subsurface data into foundation and earthwork parameters, coordinating with structural, civil, and environmental teams to keep schedules on track.

The role emphasizes deep foundation design, site characterization, and risk screening for complex data centers. PE or GE license is a bonus; multi-state experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Extensive geotechnical leadership experience on large-scale site development projects.
• Ability to translate subsurface data into design parameters for foundations and earthwork.
• Experience coordinating with multiple disciplines (structural, civil, environmental) to maintain project schedule.

Responsibilities

• Own the geotechnical workstream across multi-site development portfolios.
• Direct subsurface investigation programs and manage external consultants from RFP to final report.
• Interpret subsurface data to assign foundation systems and ground improvement strategies.
• Coordinate earthwork and grading strategies with Civil and Environmental teams.
• Screen sites for geotechnical fatal flaws during due diligence and site selection.

Skills

Geotechnical engineering

Foundation design

Site development

Subsurface interpretation

Education

PE or GE license

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 are 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 50GW+ 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

• Own the geotechnical workstream across a multi‑site, multi‑state development portfolio, from early site screening through foundation design and construction support.
• Scope and direct subsurface investigation programs: write geotechnical RFPs, manage boring and CPT campaigns and lab testing, and drive external geotechnical consultants from scope through final report.
• Interpret subsurface data into design parameters and assign foundation systems, working directly with Structural on bearing capacity, settlement, expansive and collapsible soils, liquefaction, seismic site class, shallow versus deep foundations, and ground improvement (rigid inclusions, piles, surcharge or preload).
• Set site earthwork and grading strategy with Civil: cut and fill balance, deep‑fill and differential‑settlement risk to pads, MV duct banks, substations, and roads, and the call between regrade, preload, and ground improvement.
• Run geotechnical fatal‑flaw screening during site selection and due diligence, catching karst, mine subsidence, abandoned oil and gas wells, uncontrolled fill, high groundwater, and expansive clay before they reach signing or schedule.
• Coordinate with Environmental on groundwater, contamination, and Phase II findings that drive subsurface and foundation decisions, and manage geotechnical deliverables to protect IFC and construction dates.

What We’re Looking For

• You’ve owned geotechnical engineering on large‑scale site development, scoping boring programs and turning subsurface data into foundation design parameters.
• You’ve made the foundation and ground‑improvement call on difficult sites: deep fill, expansive clay, high groundwater, liquefaction, choosing among shallow foundations, piles, rigid inclusions, and surcharge.
• You’ve directed external geotechnical consultants and labs from RFP through final report, and caught errors before they reached design or construction.
• You’ve screened sites for geotechnical fatal flaws during due diligence and either killed or saved a site on the data.
• You read a geotechnical report well enough to assign design actions and challenge a consultant’s recommendations rather than rubber‑stamp them.
• You work shoulder to shoulder with structural, civil, and environmental engineers and translate subsurface conditions into grading, drainage, and foundation decisions without stalling the schedule.
• Bonus: PE or GE license, or active pursuit. Data center, industrial, or heavy‑civil site development. Deep foundation and ground‑improvement design. Seismic site response. Multi‑state experience.

Compensation

$200,000 – $250,000 per year, depending on experience, skills, qualifications, and location. Offers equity in the form of stock options. We are committed to pay equity and transparency. Compensation Range: $200K – $250K.

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, protected veterans’ status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Fluidstack will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to applicable law.