Senior Director, Development

Crusoe Energy Systems LLC; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 250,000 - 305,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation and equity packages

Comprehensive health, dental & vision insurance

401(k) Retirement plan with company match

Job summary

Crusoe Energy Systems LLC is seeking a Senior Director, Development to lead the execution of multi-billion dollar AI data center projects. This role requires strategic oversight of the entire development lifecycle, focusing on transforming raw land and power into operational excellence.

Ideal candidates will possess over 15 years of experience in large-scale real estate development, excelling in risk mitigation, stakeholder diplomacy, and operational rigor. In-office work in Dallas, TX is mandatory for this position.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership in large-scale real estate development.
• Experience delivering projects in industrial, life sciences, or energy infrastructure.
• Strong fluency in construction law and project finance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic execution of multi-billion dollar AI campuses.
• Drive the full development stack and manage complex stakeholder relationships.
• Anticipate and mitigate risks in project development.

Skills

Leadership in real estate development

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Construction expertise

Education

15+ years in large-scale development

MBA or equivalent advanced degree

Job description

Crusoe is on a mission to accelerate the abundance of energy and intelligence. As the only vertically integrated AI infrastructure company built from the ground up, we own and operate each layer of the stack — from electrons to tokens — to power the world’s most ambitious AI workloads. When you join Crusoe, you join a team that is building the future, faster.

We’re in the midst of the greatest industrial revolution of our time. The demand for AI compute is boundless, and power is a bottleneck. We’re solving that — with an energy-first approach that makes AI infrastructure better for the world and faster for the people innovating with AI.

We’re looking for problem‑solving, opportunity‑finding teammates with a sense of urgency, who believe in the scale of our ambition and thrive on a path not fully paved — people who want to grow their careers alongside a team of experts across energy, manufacturing, data center construction, and cloud services.

If you want to do the most meaningful work of your career, help our customers and partners advance their AI strategies, and be part of a high‑performing team that believes in each other, come build with us at Crusoe.

About This Role

Crusoe is seeking a Senior Director, Development to serve as the strategic architect and executive lead for our flagship AI data center campuses. These are not just buildings; they are multi‑billion dollar infrastructure assets that represent the frontier of AI compute.

In this high‑impact leadership role, you will own the end‑to‑end development lifecycle for our largest capital investments. You are responsible for transforming raw land and power into operational excellence, navigating the complexities of large‑scale industrial development, and mitigating executive‑level risk. You will lead a multidisciplinary ecosystem of internal experts and external partners to deliver the physical engine of Crusoe’s growth.

Location: This role is required to be in‑office 5 days per week in our Dallas, TX office.

What You’ll Be Working On

• Executive Project Ownership: Lead the strategic execution of multi‑billion dollar AI campuses, serving as the ultimate point of accountability for delivery, budget, and quality.

• Strategic Lifecycle Management: Drive the full development stack—from site selection and entitlement strategy to complex municipal negotiations and final commissioning.

• High‑Stakes Stakeholder Diplomacy: Act as the primary face of Crusoe to government officials, utility executives, and community leaders to secure critical entitlements and infrastructure.

• Advanced Risk Orchestration: Anticipate macroeconomic, regulatory, and technical bottlenecks before they manifest, implementing sophisticated mitigation strategies to keep "speed-to-market" as a competitive advantage.

• Team: Collaborate with a world‑class team of construction managers, engineers, and consultants, fostering a culture of high‑performance and "pathfinding" in uncharted development territory.

• Financial & Contractual Stewardship: Oversee complex EPC contracts and master project budgets, ensuring fiscal discipline across massive capital outlays.

What You’ll Bring to the Team

• Experience: 15+ years of progressive leadership in large‑scale real estate development, with a track record of delivering projects in industrial, life sciences, or energy infrastructure.

• Strategic Acumen: Deep expertise in navigating the "Pre‑Construction Gauntlet"—entitlements, environmental CEQA/NEPA processes, and complex utility interconnects.

• Executive Presence: Proven ability to influence at the C‑suite and Board level, as well as with external public‑sector stakeholders.

• Operational Rigor: A mastery of master scheduling and a "bias for action" that allows you to thrive in a fast‑paced, vertically integrated environment.

• Technical Depth: Strong fluency in construction law, sophisticated project finance structures, and the engineering requirements of high‑density infrastructure.

• Location: Based in or willing to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Bonus Points

• Direct experience in the Data Center or Renewable Energy sectors.

• An entrepreneurial background or experience scaling infrastructure in a high‑growth startup environment.

• Advanced degree (MBA, MS in Real Estate Development, or JD).

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation and equity packages

• Restricted Stock Units

• Paid time off, paid holidays & leave of absence programs

• Comprehensive health, dental & vision insurance

• Employer contributions to HSA account

• Paid parental leave

• Paid life insurance, short‑term and long‑term disability

• Professional development & tuition reimbursement

• Mental health & wellness support

• Commuter benefits (parking & transit)

• Cell phone stipend

• 401(k) Retirement plan with company match up to 4% of salary

• Volunteer time off

• Global travel insurance & emergency assistance

• Daily meals allowance

• Additional perks & programs specific to location

Compensation Range

Compensation will be paid in the range of up to $250,000 -$305,000 + Bonus. Restricted Stock Units are included in all offers. Compensation to be determined by the applicants knowledge, education, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Crusoe is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, citizenship, marital status, sex/gender, sexual preference/ orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, national origin, or any other status protected by law or regulation.