Data Center Design Architect

Fluidstack•Austin, TX

About The Position

As an Architect on the Data Center Design team, you will drive the development of next-generation data center facilities by merging deep expertise in building codes, fire and life safety, and 3D design with Fluidstack's obsession for speed and performance. You will own the architectural scope across our portfolio — ensuring that every facility we bring online is safe, compliant, optimized for density, and ready to support the most demanding AI compute workloads on the planet. This is not a conventional architectural role. You will work alongside mechanical, electrical, structural, and controls engineers to shape facilities that are pushing the boundaries of what data centers can be. You will translate complex design requirements into executable plans, manage external AEC vendors, and serve as the primary escalation point for site-specific localization challenges across our US portfolio. You are a visionary who optimizes for efficiency and never stops seeking improvements — from code compliance to space utilization to material flow. You generate ideas, communicate them clearly to senior stakeholders, and drive implementation alongside construction and facilities teams.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Architecture or equivalent discipline
5+ years of experience on industrial or data center projects within an AEC environment.
Proficiency with Bluebeam, Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, and Autodesk Construction Cloud for design coordination, life safety review, and architectural documentation.
Strong working knowledge of building codes, fire and life safety requirements, and data center construction standards.
Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent design workstreams across internal and external teams, with excellent time management under shifting priorities and international deadlines.
Clear, confident communicator — able to present technical design decisions to senior leadership and drive alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Architecture, Civil, Structural, or Chartered Engineering.
3+ years as a Licensed Architect with NCARB certification and demonstrated ownership of multi-phased data center or mission-critical projects.
Experience managing external AEC vendors specifically for hyperscale or high-density data center design programs.
Working knowledge of Python and Dynamo for design automation within Revit workflows.
Exposure to AI infrastructure facilities, GPU compute density requirements, or rapidly scaled data center build programs.
NCARB certification (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) or equivalent licensure.

Responsibilities

Lead architectural design development for new data center builds and retrofits across Fluidstack's global portfolio, from conceptual design through construction documentation and site handover.
Collaborate with cross-functional engineering, security, and construction teams to integrate architectural scope into broader system designs — ensuring building code compliance, fire/life safety, and operational performance at every stage.
Rationalise requirements with internal operations and engineering teams to define and continuously improve Fluidstack's next-generation data center design standards.
Conduct internal and external design reviews validating code compliance, space planning, people and material circulation, headcount modeling, and alignment with Fluidstack's canonical design standards.
Review construction-level drawings and specifications from internal teams and external AEC vendors, ensuring alignment with architectural program standards and Fluidstack's basis of design.
Serve as the primary escalation point for site localization — applying engineering judgement to adapt standard designs to meet specific local codes, site constraints, and operational feedback.
Manage external Architecture and Engineering vendors across design phases, ensuring quality, schedule adherence, and alignment with Fluidstack requirements.
Use Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, and Autodesk Construction Cloud to produce, coordinate, and review design documentation; leverage Python and Dynamo scripting to automate repetitive design tasks and improve team velocity.
Summarize technical architectural concepts into clear communications for senior leadership, construction partners, and global stakeholders across digital mediums.