MV DC Systems, Technical Lead

Fluidstack; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 208,000 - 263,000; Full time

Job summary

Fluidstack is seeking a senior DC Systems Engineer to architect megawatt-scale MVDC campuses and own the system-level story from grounding to fault behavior. You will lead the DC Systems team and work across engineering groups to ensure robust, safe, and scalable deployments.

You will apply 12+ years of power systems experience, EMT/PSCAD proficiency, and a track record in safety case development to push frontend architectures ahead of evolving standards.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in power systems or power electronics with direct MVDC/HVDC design experience.
• Own the system-level story: architecture, grounding, fault behavior and stability.
• Fluent in EMT simulation (PSCAD/EMTDC) and proven design validation.
• Built defensible safety cases ahead of standards (IEEE 1709, NEC 2026).
• Led small technical teams; deliverables and milestones.
• Knowledge of evidence-based concept evaluation and decision making.
• Bonus: SSCB/DC breaker ecosystem and insulation coordination knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Architect MVDC distribution for gigawatt-scale campuses and defend every choice.
• Own the EMT model and run fault/stability analysis with clear margins.
• Define protection philosophy and safety case with standards gaps.
• Lead the DC Systems team and coordinate with SST and facility electrical teams.
• Drive vendor strategy for SSCBs, DC-rated components and ecosystem gaps.

Skills

MVDC/HVDC design

System-level architecture

EMT simulation

Safety cases

Technical leadership

Critical thinking

DC ecosystem knowledge

Tools

PSCAD/EMTDC

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,

How We Operate

• Be a barrel. Full autonomy. Own things end to end, take on scope without being asked, no permission required to operate outside your core role.
• Insane urgency. We drive everything forward as fast as possible.
• Reason from 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.
• Build something that actually matters. If you're going to spend your time, spend it on something that matters to the world.

The Product Engineering, DC Systems Team

We design the medium-voltage DC distribution systems that will power gigawatt-scale AI campuses, from architecture through safety case, in territory where the standards haven't caught up yet.

Examples Of Key Problems The Team Is Working On

• Choose the MVDC architecture for gigawatt-scale campuses: voltage level, topology, and grounding scheme, each choice defensible on fault behavior and cost.
• Prove that a fully converter-interfaced network holds, using EMT-level fault and stability analysis rather than assumptions carried over from AC systems.
• Clear DC faults with no zero crossing in tens of microseconds, and build the protection philosophy that makes that credible.
• Build a safety case for MVDC distribution ahead of the standards, in the gap between IEEE 1709 and the MVDC provisions arriving in NEC 2026.

Role Scope

• Architect MVDC distribution for gigawatt-scale campuses: pick the voltage level, topology, and grounding scheme, and defend every choice on fault behavior, stability, and cost.
• Own the system EMT model and run the fault and stability analysis program that proves a fully converter-interfaced network holds, with margins you can state and stand behind.
• Set the protection philosophy with the protection engineer and own the safety case where standards haven't caught up, rigorous enough to survive review by an AHJ working from an incomplete code.
• Lead the DC Systems team, define its first deliverables, and hold the technical interfaces to the SST and facility electrical teams so nothing falls between them.
• Drive vendor strategy for SSCBs, converters, and DC-rated components, and know which gaps in the ecosystem the architecture must design around.

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.

• 12+ years in power systems or power electronics, with direct MVDC or HVDC system design experience: shipboard MVDC, HVDC converter stations, or grid-scale converter-dominated networks, designed end to end.
• You own the system-level story: architecture, grounding, fault behavior, and stability of converter-dominated networks, and you can walk a DC fault sequence from initiation to clearing.
• You're fluent in EMT simulation (PSCAD/EMTDC) and have used it to prove designs, not just to check them after the fact.
• You've built defensible safety cases ahead of immature standards, in the territory between IEEE 1709 and the MVDC provisions just arriving in NEC 2026.
• You've led small technical teams and know what their first deliverable should be.
• You know what evidence would make you kill a concept, and you'd say so before anyone spends another dollar on it.
• Bonus: SSCB and DC breaker ecosystem knowledge, depth in DC grounding and insulation coordination, islanded or behind-the-meter system experience, or standards committee participation.

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.

Compensation Range: $208K - $263K