Campus Project Lead

Brunel has partnered with SB Energy to hire a Campus Project Lead to oversee the successful completion, commissioning, startup, and long-term development of SB Energy’s Central Texas Campus. Backed by SoftBank and Ares, SB Energy develops, builds, owns, and operates large-scale power and data center infrastructure projects across the U.S.

In this role, you will serve as the senior on-site leader and primary decision-maker for the approximately 1.2 GW combined-cycle gas turbine power plant currently under construction in Lee County, Texas, while also helping shape the long-term vision for a major energy and digital infrastructure campus.

About SB Energy:

SB Energy is a fast-growing energy and infrastructure company backed by SoftBank and Ares. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, they develop, build, own, and operate large-scale power and data center infrastructure across the United States.

Since launching in 2019, SB Energy has quickly become a leading integrated platform with more than 3 GW in operation and a strong pipeline of future projects nationwide. Their team combines innovation, technical expertise, and execution excellence to deliver reliable, secure, and forward-thinking infrastructure that helps power America’s future.

About the role:

The Campus Project Lead will serve as the senior on-site leader responsible for the successful completion, commissioning, startup, and transition to commercial operation of an approximately 1.2 GW combined-cycle gas turbine power plant currently under construction in Lee County, Texas.

This role will provide leadership across project execution, construction management, commercial management, operations readiness, regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, and long-term campus development. The Campus Project Lead will be accountable for safety, quality, schedule, budget, and overall project performance while leading the Owner’s Team and managing key relationships with EPC contractors, owner’s engineers, OEMs, transmission providers, suppliers, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Beyond delivery of the initial generating asset, the Campus Project Lead will help establish the Central Texas Campus as a premier energy and digital infrastructure platform, leading future development opportunities that may include hyperscale data centers, AI infrastructure, additional generation assets, renewable energy, battery energy storage systems, transmission and water infrastructure, and related industrial development.

Location: On-site – Austin, TX 

Responsibilities:

• Lead the successful completion, commissioning, testing, startup, and transition to commercial operation of the approximately 1.2 GW combined-cycle gas turbine facility.
• Direct the Owner’s Team through construction, commissioning, testing, and commercial operation.
• Maintain accountability for project safety, quality, schedule, budget, risk, and overall project performance.
• Lead executive engagement with EPC contractors, owner’s engineers, OEMs, transmission providers, and major suppliers.
• Drive resolution of critical project risks, change orders, contract negotiations, claims management activities, and major commercial decisions.
• Establish and maintain project governance processes, performance metrics, reporting systems, and executive-level visibility into project execution.
• Lead the transition from construction to operations, including implementation of operations and maintenance strategies, reliability programs, compliance programs, and outage planning.
• Manage annual operating and capital budgets and support long-term strategic and financial planning activities.
• Oversee commercial agreements related to fuel supply, transmission, operations, maintenance, and major service contracts.
• Maintain relationships with ERCOT, PUCT, FERC, environmental agencies, utilities, local governments, and community stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable permits, regulatory requirements, environmental obligations, and reporting requirements.
• Develop and execute the long-term vision and master plan for the Central Texas Campus.
• Evaluate and advance future development opportunities, including hyperscale data centers, AI infrastructure, additional gas-fired generation, reciprocating engine facilities, renewable energy projects, battery energy storage systems, transmission infrastructure, water infrastructure, and related industrial developments.
• Lead customer, developer, utility, and strategic partner engagement associated with future campus development.
• Oversee coordination of permitting, land use, utility planning, infrastructure expansion, and entitlement activities for future phases of development.
• Build and lead a high-performing on-site management team, establishing clear accountability, performance management, and organizational development processes.
• Lead executive transition and knowledge-transfer activities to ensure continuity of operations and project execution.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of experience in power generation, energy infrastructure, industrial facilities, data center infrastructure, or large capital projects.
• Demonstrated leadership responsibility for major capital projects exceeding $500 million in value.
• Proven experience managing EPC contractors and large, multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong commercial, financial, contract negotiation, claims management, and risk management capabilities.
• Experience leading organizations and major projects through construction, commissioning, startup, and transition to commercial operations.
• Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and make high-impact decisions in fast-paced project environments.
• Strong leadership skills with experience building and managing high-performing owner-side or project organizations.
• Preferred experience in combined-cycle power generation and large-scale thermal generation projects.
• Preferred experience within the ERCOT market and familiarity with Texas energy regulatory and stakeholder environments.
• Experience with data center development, large industrial campuses, or integrated energy and infrastructure platforms is highly desirable.
• Experience leading owner organizations through major construction, commissioning, and startup programs is strongly preferred.
• Strong executive communication, commercial judgment, and stakeholder management skills.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: $190,000–$220,000. The stated range is a guideline. Final compensation will be based on experience, skills, location, market benchmarks, and internal equity. Total compensation may include a discretionary annual bonus. Final details will be discussed during the later stages of the hiring process.

At SB Energy, we invest in our people and their families with benefits designed for flexibility, support, and peace of mind. Full-time employees enjoy:

• 100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision (for employees and dependents)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking (with company contributions)
• Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support (with company contributions)
• Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data
• Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans
• Device Purchase Support