Sr. Architect

Prime Data Centers; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k matching

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Job summary

Prime Data Centers seeks an experienced Sr. Architect to own architectural scope for hyperscale and purpose-built data centers across U.S. and Europe.

You will lead design, shell, life safety, and space planning from concept through construction support, coordinating with Design & Engineering, Construction, and Operations. The role is hands-on and technical, requiring deep knowledge of IBC, NFPA, and entitlement processes, with strong communication to non-technical stakeholders and a focus on

Qualifications

• 8+ years of architectural experience in mission-critical or large-scale facilities.
• Licensed Architect (RA) strongly preferred; NCARB certification a plus.
• Strong knowledge of IBC, NFPA, ADA, and code compliance across multiple U.S. jurisdictions.
• Experience with entitlement, permitting, and AHJ coordination in new markets.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction; strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Have deep architectural experience in data centers, industrial, or comparable facilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design and review for building shell, life safety, and space planning across hyperscale and purpose-built projects.
• Research and apply jurisdiction-specific code and entitlement requirements for new and existing markets.
• Resolve technically ambiguous architectural problems and coordination with MEP/Fire Protection.
• Balance speed, risk, cost, and quality in architectural decisions; flag when a design trades one for another.
• Define, apply, and evolve architectural design standards and prototype layouts for repeatable deployments.
• Coordinate with Design, Structural, Civil, MEP Engineering, Construction, and Operations on coordination and approvals.

Skills

Architectural design

Code compliance

Stakeholder communication

Independent worker

Data center experience

Education

RA license

NCARB certification

Tools

IBC/NFPA knowledge

Entitlement & permitting

Job description

Prime Data Centers develops, acquires, and operates data centers for some of the world's largest enterprises. A private firm owned by a group controlling $6 billion in assets, with a 15-year tenure in technology and real estate development, Prime provides customers with ownership options and dynamic leasing models, defining a true corporate partnership.

"Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship"

About the role

Prime Data Centers is a private developer, owner, and long-term operator of hyperscale and purpose-built data centers across top-tier U.S. and European markets. We build the infrastructure that powers AI, high-performance computing, and digital transformation for the world's leading hyperscalers and Neoclouds.

What you'll do

• The Sr. Architect is a technical individual contributor within the Civil/Structural/Architectural (CSA) Engineering discipline in Design & Engineering (D&E) at Prime Data Centers. This role owns architectural scope across PDC's hyperscale and purpose-built data center projects — building shell, life safety, code compliance, and space planning — from concept through construction support, across multiple U.S. and European markets with different codes, jurisdictions, and AHJ requirements.
• This is a hands-on technical role, not a people-management position. It exists because architectural decisions on hyperscale campuses — code compliance, life safety, jurisdictional entitlement — carry real schedule, permitting, and liability exposure in markets PDC hasn't built in before.

TECHNICAL EXECUTION & OWNERSHIP

• Lead architectural design and review for building shell, life safety, and space planning across hyperscale and purpose-built projects
• Research and apply jurisdiction-specific code and entitlement requirements for new and existing markets, domestic and international
• Resolve technically ambiguous architectural problems: unusual AHJ requirements, life safety coordination with MEP/Fire Protection, space planning conflicts
• Balance speed, risk, cost, and quality in architectural decisions; flag when a design choice trades one for another

STANDARDS & TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

• Define, apply, and evolve PDC's architectural design standards and prototype layouts for repeatable campus deployment
• Identify opportunities for standardization and reuse across projects to reduce engineering effort and design cycle time
• Reduce technical debt and late-stage architectural surprises — code, permitting, life safety — through sound judgment early in design

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION

• Partner with Design, Structural, Civil, MEP Engineering, Construction, and Operations on architectural coordination
• Support site selection and due diligence with zoning, entitlement, and code-risk assessment for candidate sites and markets
• Communicate code and design tradeoffs clearly to non-technical stakeholders — schedule, cost, and permitting risk, not just code citations
• Support third-party architectural consultant management: scoping, review, and quality control of deliverables

Qualifications

• 8+ years of architectural experience, including mission-critical, industrial, or large-scale technical facility design
• Licensed Architect (RA) strongly preferred; NCARB certification a plus
• Strong knowledge of IBC, NFPA, ADA, and code compliance across multiple U.S. jurisdictions
• Experience with entitlement, permitting, and AHJ coordination in new markets
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction; strong written and verbal communication skills
• Have deep architectural experience in data centers, industrial, mission-critical, or comparable large-scale technical facilities
• Are comfortable owning large, complex architectural scopes independently with minimal oversight
• Have navigated code compliance and entitlement across multiple U.S. jurisdictions (international experience a plus)
• Communicate technical and code tradeoffs clearly and pragmatically to non-architects
• Take pride in design that is buildable, permittable, and repeatable — not just aesthetically resolved
• Competitive salary rangeand performance bonus program
• 401k fully vested upon enrollment, up to a 4% employer match
• 100% employee premiums paid by employer for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability
• Paid Time Off + Sick time

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

Prime is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, color, age, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, protected veteran or military status, disability status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.