Director, Legal - Critical Infrastructure
Nscale · New York City, San Francisco
About Nscale
Nscale is taking on the hyperscalers by building a vertically integrated GenAI cloud platform. We own the data centres, software, and applications that power today's AI stack using sustainable technology solutions. We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in their work and drives it with excellence and urgency. As an Nscaler, you'll build trust through openness and transparency, where everyone is inspired to do their best work. Collaboration is key, and we work together swiftly and respectfully, embracing adaptability and resilience in all we do.
About the Role
The Director, Legal – Critical Infrastructure, US is Nscale's dedicated US-based infrastructure counsel, reporting to the VP, Legal – Critical Infrastructure, Procurement, and Design. This is a hands-on execution role covering the full contracting lifecycle for Nscale's US data center campuses: construction, design and consultancy, major equipment supply and O&M, real estate, and power, from term sheet through delivery and closeout.
As Director, you will lead your own matters end-to-end, negotiate directly with major counterparties, and apply consistent commercial and legal positions across multiple jurisdictions. You will work closely with local external counsel where jurisdiction-specific advice is required.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead the negotiation of owner-contractor, EPC, and design-build agreements for data center campus construction across the US.
- Draft and negotiate design and consultancy agreements with architects, engineers, and specialist consultants, including framework agreement and work order structures, ownership of deliverables, and professional liability.
- Negotiate supply, installation, and O&M agreements for on-site power generation and critical electrical and mechanical equipment, including performance guarantees, warranties, and service levels.
- Support site acquisition, development arrangements, and ground leases, as well as power procurement, utility, interconnection, and power purchase arrangements in coordination with regulatory and local counsel.
- Maintain and improve Nscale's infrastructure contract templates and playbooks.
- Run counterparty comment rounds and drive consistent house positions across projects, while adapting for local law and market practice.
- Manage contracts through delivery and closeout, including change orders, cost and schedule claims, payment and retention issues, defect correction, and dispute avoidance.
- Coordinate insurance and bonding requirements with the insurance team, and partner with Debt Capital Markets Legal on lender requirements for project-financed sites.
- Manage US outside counsel, including scope, budgets, and quality of advice.
- Partner closely with construction, procurement, finance, real estate, energy, and operations teams to support project delivery at pace.
About You
- 7+ years of construction and infrastructure legal experience, gained in-house and/or at a top-tier law firm.
- Strong track record negotiating major construction EPC, design-build, professional services, and equipment supply agreements for large-scale, mission-critical, or industrial projects.
- Fluency in construction risk allocation, including pricing structures, delay remedies, warranties and defects, indemnity, insurance, liability, and dispute-resolution provisions.
- A confident first-chair negotiator, able to run multiple high-value contracts in parallel and drive them to signature.
- Ability to explain complex legal and commercial risk clearly to non-lawyers and senior stakeholders.
- Comfortable working alongside project finance, power, insurance, and regulatory counterparts.
- Qualified attorney admitted in at least one US state and in good standing.
Nice to have
- Prior experience at a hyperscaler, colocation provider, data center developer, major contractor, or infrastructure investor.
- Energy and power project experience, including equipment supply, O&M, utility and interconnection, or power purchase arrangements.
- Construction claims and dispute resolution experience.
Join Nscale as we build a world-class AI cloud platform. If you're ready to lead infrastructure contracting for hyperscale data center projects across the US at one of the most ambitious AI infrastructure companies, we'd love to hear from you!
Equal Opportunity
Nscale is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know.