Senior Counsel, Data Center & Infrastructure

Groq, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 285,000 - 386,000; Full time

Job summary

Groq, Inc. is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel for data center leasing and infrastructure agreements in the United States.

You will negotiate data center leases, GPU procurement contracts, and related services, partnering with legal, data center sourcing, operations, and procurement teams to move deals through diligence to execution. You will own templates, playbooks, and contracting processes, advise data center ops on day-to-day issues, and collaborate with outside counsel to deliver timely,

Qualifications

• A J.D. and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• 5-10 years of experience advising on data center and infrastructure agreements.
• Strong commercial judgment and the ability to distinguish material risk from issues that should not slow execution.
• Able to build and execute in fast-moving environments with clear written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiation of data center leasing, colocation services, GPU procurement, and related infrastructure agreements from negotiation through execution.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders on site diligence, including site control, energy and utility matters, land use and zoning considerations.
• Support direct procurement and supply chain transactions, including GPU and compute infrastructure purchasing, and related critical services agreements.
• Advise data center operations and management teams on day-to-day issues affecting data center operations.
• Own and improve templates, playbooks, and contracting processes.
• Partner with outside counsel on specialized matters, setting clear expectations and driving accountability for timely, high-quality deliverables.
• Step into active transactions and negotiations quickly, identify key risks and decision points, and help teams move matters toward resolution.
• Develop a strong understanding of Groq's infrastructure strategy and translate legal considerations into clear, actionable guidance for business partners.

Skills

Data center contracts

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

US Bar admission

Education

J.D. / Juris Doctor

Job description

Mission

Own critical legal work supporting the development, leasing, and operation of Groq's data centers and infrastructure. You will partner across Legal, Data Center Sourcing, Operations, Procurement, and other teams to move complex infrastructure projects from diligence through lease negotiation and bring-up, strengthen repeatable processes, and help the business make informed decisions with speed and discipline.

Location

This role will be based in one of our three hiring hubs: the Dallas, San Francisco, or New York City area. The person hired for this role must be based in one of these three areas. You'll have the flexibility to work remotely while we establish our local Groq office, with the expectation that this role will transition to onsite once the office opens.

Responsibilities & opportunities in this role

• Lead negotiation of data center leasing, colocation services, GPU procurement, and related infrastructure agreements from negotiation through execution.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders on site diligence, including site control, energy and utility matters, land use and zoning considerations, and other issues affecting data center development and operations.
• Support direct procurement and supply chain transactions, including GPU and compute infrastructure purchasing, and related critical services agreements.
• Advise data center ops and management teams on day-to-day issues affecting data center operations and
• Own and improve templates, playbooks, and contracting processes.
• Partner with outside counsel on specialized matters, setting clear expectations and driving accountability for timely, high-quality deliverables.
• Step into active transactions and negotiations quickly, identify key risks and decision points, and help teams move matters toward resolution.
• Develop a strong understanding of Groq's infrastructure strategy and translate legal considerations into clear, actionable guidance for business partners.

Ideal candidates have/are

• A J.D. and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• 5-10 years of experience advising on data center and infrastructure agreements.
• Strong commercial judgment and the ability to distinguish material risk from issues that should not slow execution.
• Comfortable owning complex matters independently, with judgment of when to escape matters.
• Able to build and execute in fast-moving environments
• Clear and concise in written and verbal communication, with the ability to make complex legal issues understandable and actionable.
• Interested in building durable legal and operational infrastructure that can scale with the business.

Why Join Us

• Purposeful Hiring: You're not here by accident, and neither is anyone else. Every teammate is handpicked with intention because who we build with matters.
• Builders Wanted: You're not just riding the rocket ship, you're building it. Your work directly shapes the trajectory of our company.
• Mission-Driven Work: We're here to make a real impact. Our mission fuels everything we do.
• Tackling Hard Problems: If easy isn't your thing, you're in the right place. We solve some of the most complex and exciting challenges in our space.
• Excellence Is The Standard: High performance isn't just encouraged, it's the baseline. And it's contagious.

Compensation

Groq is committed to providing competitive compensation through our Total Cash philosophy, which incorporates potential bonus value directly into base pay. The total cash salary range for this position, which is inclusive of the potential bonus value, is $285,200-$385,800, with individual placement determined by your geographic location, experience, skills, and alignment with internal compensation standards. This range is specific to candidates located in the United States. Compensation for international candidates will vary based on local market dynamics. Beyond cash compensation, Groq also offers a Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program and a robust suite of employee benefits.