Senior Architect, Data Center Development

Architect – Data Center Design & Engineering

This is a full-time exempt (40+ hours/week), hybrid role located in Austin, TX;
San Francisco, CA;
New York, NY; or Seattle, WA.

We are seeking an experienced Architect to support the design and development of large-scale, mission-critical data center campuses across a growing portfolio of projects. This role will serve as the owner’s representative for architectural design, overseeing projects from early-stage planning and site development through permitting, construction, and project closeout.

The successful candidate will lead architectural coordination across multiple concurrent developments, manage external design consultants, and ensure design quality, code compliance, operational functionality, and consistency across the portfolio. This position will play a critical role in establishing design standards, developing prototype solutions, and supporting some of the largest data center campus developments in the industry.

• Develop and maintain architectural basis of design documents, prototype drawing packages, master specifications, and reference designs
• Lead campus planning and master planning efforts, including:
  • Building positioning
  • Site setbacks
  • Service access planning
  • Security zoning
  • Campus phasing strategies
• Oversee building envelope design, including:
  • Cladding systems
  • Roofing assemblies
  • Curtain wall systems
  • Louvers
  • Penetration detailing
• Ensure building envelope designs meet durability, performance, and FM Global requirements
• Develop space planning standards and operational layouts supporting mission-critical environments
• Establish standards for:
  • Access control zoning
  • Security tier separation
  • Door and hardware schedules
  • Functional adjacencies
• Coordinate architectural scope with structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection disciplines

• Manage external architects, engineers of record, and design consultants through all project phases
• Review design deliverables from schematic design through issued-for-construction (IFC) documentation
• Establish and maintain owner design standards across multiple projects
• Develop consultant scopes of work and support contract negotiations
• Monitor project schedules, design quality, and deliverable milestones
• Facilitate design coordination efforts among consultants, contractors, and internal stakeholders
• Support RFI responses, submittal reviews, and design clarifications during construction

• Lead permitting and entitlement strategies across multiple jurisdictions
• Coordinate with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) and regulatory agencies
• Support:
  • Building permits
  • Zoning approvals
  • Variances
  • Entitlement processes
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards, including:
  • International Building Code (IBC)
  • International Fire Code (IFC)
  • NFPA 75
  • NFPA 76
  • NFPA 855
  • ADA requirements
  • Applicable state and local building regulations
• Coordinate life safety systems, fire-rated construction, and egress requirements with fire protection engineers and regulatory agencies

• Review contractor submittals, RFIs, mockups, and material samples
• Conduct site visits during key construction milestones to verify quality and design compliance
• Support management of architectural change orders and design revisions
• Participate in commissioning reviews for:
  • Building envelope systems
  • Access control systems
  • Door hardware
  • Fire and smoke separation systems
• Coordinate project closeout activities, punch list management, and as-built documentation reviews
• Capture lessons learned and incorporate improvements into future standards, templates, and reference designs

• Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) or Master of Architecture (M.Arch) from an accredited program
• 7+ years of architectural experience
• Minimum 3 years of experience supporting data center, mission-critical, industrial, or similar complex facility projects
• Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams and external consultants
• Strong knowledge of building envelope systems, life safety design, and building code compliance
• Experience coordinating projects from concept development…