Pre-Construction Manager

About Fluidstack

At Fluidstack, we’re building the infrastructure for abundant intelligence. We partner with top AI labs, governments, and enterprises - including Mistral, Poolside, Black Forest Labs, Meta, and more - to unlock compute at the speed of light.

We’re working with urgency to make AGI a reality. As such, our team is highly motivated and committed to delivering world-class infrastructure. We treat our customers’ outcomes as our own, taking pride in the systems we build and the trust we earn. If you’re motivated by purpose, obsessed with excellence, and ready to work very hard to accelerate the future of intelligence, join us in building what's next.

About the Role

As a Pre-Construction Manager at FluidStack, you will lead pre-construction activities for large-scale GPU data center projects as we scale from 600MW to multi-GW capacity across the US. You'll serve as the critical link between Real Estate, Design Engineering, Procurement, and Construction teams, ensuring designs are constructible, cost-effective, and ready for rapid deployment.

You'll focus on high-density AI infrastructure requiring advanced power distribution (100+ kW per rack) and liquid cooling systems. Working closely with the Director of Data Center Construction and cross-functional teams, you'll drive constructability standards, develop budgets and schedules, manage contractor procurement, and ensure seamless handoffs to construction execution—all while supporting FluidStack's aggressive expansion timeline and billions in annual infrastructure investment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead pre-construction planning from site selection through design development for data center projects, providing cost, schedule, and constructability guidance at each milestone and acting as primary liaison between Real Estate, Design Engineering, Procurement, and Construction teams

• Conduct detailed constructability reviews of electrical, mechanical, structural, and civil designs with particular focus on high-density power distribution, liquid cooling infrastructure, and utility interconnections; identify and resolve complex constructability issues and cost/schedule risks

• Perform site evaluations including electrical capacity, utilities access, civil/structural requirements, and build phasing assessments for potential locations; determine site-specific requirements that impact schedule, cost, delivery, and integration with surrounding infrastructure

• Develop construction scope packages and RFPs for general contractors; manage GC pre-construction services including bid reviews, schedule development, labor pricing analysis, and subcontractor evaluations; conduct negotiations with landlords, developers, and contractors; coordinate with Contracts, Legal, and Commercial teams on contract terms, risk allocation, and business requirements

• Execute financial analysis of construction costs at multiple project milestones (conceptual through GMP); support bi-annual budget updates and validate cost estimates against market conditions and historical data

• Create comprehensive handoff packages for Construction Managers including budgets, schedules, design documentation, contractor agreements, and site information; capture and apply lessons learned to drive continuous improvement across FluidStack's design standards and delivery processes

• Conduct comprehensive site due diligence including geotechnical evaluation for foundation system implications, utility availability assessments (power, water, fiber) against project timelines, zoning/permitting pathway reviews, environmental conditions analysis, and construction logistics planning (site access, laydown areas, staging); coordinate findings with Real Estate and Design teams to inform site selection decisions and project budgets

• Partner with Contracts, Legal, and Commercial teams to inform and validate contract terms including rent commencement triggers, force majeure provisions, landlord/tenant obligations, milestone payment structures, end user requirements (liquidated damages, technical specifications, change order frameworks), and scope gap elimination; ensure construction realities are reflected in commercial agreements and risk allocation

Basic Qualifications:

• 7+ years of construction management experience on large, complex projects involving large-scale MEP systems, with 3+ years focused on pre-construction or design phase management for mission-critical facilities (data centers, industrial facilities, or comparable infrastructure) valued at $50M+

• Deep knowledge of critical facility MEP systems including electrical distribution, backup power, HVAC, fire protection, and building management systems; proven ability to read and provide constructability feedback on construction drawings and specifications across all disciplines

• Experience developing construction budgets, schedules, and scopes of work; conducting cost analysis and value engineering; understanding of construction delivery methods (design-bid-build, design-build, CM-at-risk) and contract structures

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills; ability to translate technical requirements into clear guidance for design teams, contractors, and non-technical audiences and manage multiple projects simultaneously in fast-paced environments

• Proficiency in MS Excel, MS Project or Primavera P6, and construction cost estimating tools

• Willingness to travel 25-40% to project sites across the US and Europe

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with data center construction, particularly hyperscale or AI infrastructure with high-density power requirements (50+ kW per rack), liquid cooling systems, or advanced power distribution architectures

• Knowledge of utility interconnection processes, high-voltage electrical infrastructure, power purchase agreements, NEC, NFPA, IBC, ASHRAE, and OSHA requirements for critical facilities

• Experience working in fast-paced, high-growth startup or scale-up environments with aggressive timelines and evolving requirements; managing pre-construction for projects in multiple jurisdictions or international locations

• Professional certifications such as CCM (Certified Construction Manager), PMP, or PE license

• Experience with renewable energy integration, microgrid systems, or other sustainable infrastructure solutions

• Strong network of relationships with data center contractors, MEP subcontractors, and equipment suppliers

Salary & Benefits

• Competitive total compensation package (salary + equity).

• Retirement or pension plan, in line with local norms.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous PTO policy, in line with local norms.

The base salary range for this position is $160,000-$250,000 per year, depending on experience, skills, qualifications, and location. This range represents our good faith estimate of the compensation for this role at the time of posting. Total compensation may also include equity in the form of stock options.

We are committed to pay equity and transparency.

Fluidstack is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability and protected veterans’ status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Fluidstack will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to applicable law.

You will receive a confirmation email once your application has successfully been accepted. If there is an error with your submission and you did not receive a confirmation email, please email careers@fluidstack.io with your resume/CV, the role you've applied for, and the date you submitted your application-- someone from our recruiting team will be in touch.