Campus Project Lead Data Center Projects Austin, TX

Do you want to work with high caliber professionals in a dynamic and growing company? Are you entrepreneurial, hard‑working, and collegial? Join us at SB Energy, a leading company backed by SoftBank and Ares pairing cutting‑edge innovation with best‑in‑class execution. Our Mission is to provide reliable, affordable energy at scale to support America’s growing energy demands.

Headquartered in Redwood City, CA, SB Energy develops, builds, owns & operates some of the largest and most technically advanced energy and data center infrastructure projects in the United States. Since launching in 2019, the company has rapidly grown into a top‑tier integrated platform with over 3 gigawatts (GW) in operation and a multi‑GW pipeline of energy and data center infrastructure nationwide. SB Energy also utilizes its strong culture of innovation to identify and incorporate new technology into our projects, including our AI‑based digital platform, to deliver energy infrastructure that is local, reliable, and matched to load. We are building the energy and technology future—today.

Come join us in accelerating the energy transition to cleaner, more sustainable sources of power!

Basic Function

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

The Project Lead will provide leadership across project execution, construction management, commercial management, operations readiness, regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, and long‑term campus development. The role is accountable for establishing the central Texas Campus as a premier energy and digital infrastructure platform while ensuring safe, reliable, and successful delivery of the initial generating asset.

This position will serve as the primary decision‑maker and leader for both the active power plant construction project and future campus development opportunities, including data centers, additional generation assets, renewable energy projects, battery energy storage systems, transmission infrastructure, and related industrial development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the successful completion, commissioning, and startup of the 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, 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 commercial decisions.
• Establish governance processes, performance metrics, and reporting systems for project execution.
• Lead transition from construction to operations and oversee implementation of operations and maintenance strategies, reliability programs, compliance programs, and outage planning.
• Manage annual operating and capital budgets and support long‑term strategic 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 permits, regulatory requirements, and reporting obligations.
• 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 activities 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 and establish 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 related discipline.
• 15+ years of experience in power generation, energy infrastructure, industrial facilities, data center infrastructure, or large capital projects.
• Demonstrated leadership responsibility for projects exceeding $500 million in capital value.
• Experience managing EPC contractors and large multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong commercial, financial, contract negotiation, and risk management capabilities.
• Experience leading organizations through construction, commissioning, and operational startup.
• Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and make decisions in a fast‑paced project environment.
• Preferred experience in combined‑cycle power generation, ERCOT market experience, data enter development, large industrial campuses or infrastructure platforms
• Preferred experience in leading owner organizations through major construction and startup programs

Location:

On-site, Austin, TX (Elgin, TX) or Portsmouth, OH

Base Pay - $190,000 - $220,000

The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailor each offer based on your unique skills, experience, location, and market benchmarks—while ensuring internal parity across our teams. In addition to competitive base pay, total compensation may include a discretionary annual bonus and a market leading comprehensive health and wellness benefits package. 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)
• Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup Benefits
• Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data
• Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans
• Device Purchase Support

At SB Energy, the success of our projects is driven by a desire to see our projects benefit as many people as possible. We work to serve local communities through volunteering, fundraising, and much more. For example, we’re proud to support access and opportunity in engineering and clean energy through impactful mentorship programs and workforce training. When you join SB Energy, you can become a part of these efforts, collaborating with team members who share a vision of building a better future now!

SB Energy is built on a foundation of collaboration and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.