{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"a5b4fa4aa5133ad1334b9d18","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/a5b4fa4aa5133ad1334b9d18","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/a5b4fa4aa5133ad1334b9d18","title":"Cost Lead","description":"Austin, TX\nFull Time\n\nAbout Fluidstack\nAt Fluidstack, we build the compute, data centers, and power that will fuel artificial superintelligence. We supply GWs of compute capabilities to the world’s biggest AI Labs at industry-defining speeds.\nOur team is small, fast, and obsessed with quality. We own outcomes end-to-end, challenge assumptions, and treat our customers' problems as our own. No task is beneath anyone here.\nThere are a few thousand people who will shape the trajectory of superintelligence. Come and be one of them.\nAbout the Role\nAs Cost Lead, you will own cost management across our data center portfolio — from early-stage budgeting and estimating through construction and final account. You'll set up process where it doesn't exist, build benchmarks from scratch, and serve as the Cost Lead of our delivery program. You'll work closely with project managers, A/E design teams, GCs, and other Leads to keep every project on-budget and every decision grounded in credible numbers.\nOwn cost planning across all project phases — from concept and pre-design through construction documents and GMP negotiation\nDevelop detailed estimates for civil, structural, MEP, HV/LV power, cooling, fuel systems, and shell construction\nMaintain real-time cost forecasts across all active projects; track actuals vs. budget and surface variances early\nOwn change order review: assess scope validity, commercial accuracy, and contract entitlement before recommending approval\nPrepare executive-level cost reports across the portfolio — clear, scannable, exception-based\nManage contingency tracking and cost risk registers across project phases\nLead value engineering exercises with design and construction teams to optimise cost without compromising scope or schedule\nSupport GC and subcontractor procurement: bid leveling, scope gap analysis, and contract negotiation input\nAdvise on contract structure and commercial risk allocation across delivery models\nBuild the cost management function from the ground up: tools, templates, workflows, and reporting cadence\nEstablish and maintain a unit cost benchmark database covering key DC cost categories — from $/MW to equipment and trade breakdowns\nContribute to precon planning on new sites, including order-of-magnitude estimates to support site selection and investment decisions\nQualifications:\nExperience with cost management, quantity surveying, or construction estimating\nMeaningful hands-on experience on data center or mission-critical construction — hyperscale, colo, or large-scale build-to-suit\nOwner-side experience strongly preferred; GC or QS consulting backgrounds considered if DC domain knowledge is deep\nDeep understanding of the DC cost stack: civil, structural, MEP, HV/LV power, cooling (CRAC/CRAH, DLC, immersion), emergency power, and IT fit-out\nUnderstands how design decisions — power density, redundancy tier, cooling strategy — translate directly to capital cost\nComfortable benchmarking at $/MW, $/SF, and $/kW; knows what drives variation between projects\nStrong change order discipline: can assess pricing validity, identify scope gaps, and document entitlement\nFamiliar with GMP, lump sum, and cost-plus contract structures\nProficient with cost management tooling (Procore, Sage, or equivalent); can build process from scratch\nDegree in construction management, quantity surveying, engineering, or related field\nBuilder mindset — comfortable setting up function and process where little exists, and operating with urgency in a fast-moving program\nSalary & Benefits\nCompetitive total compensation package (salary + equity).\nRetirement or pension plan, in line with local norms.\nHealth, dental, and vision insurance.\nGenerous PTO policy, in line with local norms.\nThe 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.\nWe are committed to pay equity and transparency.\nWe are committed to pay equity and transparency.\nFluidstack 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.\nYou 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.","company":"FluidStack","rawCompany":"fluidstack","city":"Austin","state":"TX","isRemote":false,"isActive":true,"createdAt":"2026-04-12T18:52:54.068Z","occupations":[{"code":"11-9021.00","title":"Construction Managers","slug":"construction-managers"},{"code":"13-1051.00","title":"Cost Estimators","slug":"cost-estimators"},{"code":"11-9041.00","title":"Architectural and Engineering Managers","slug":"architectural-and-engineering-managers"}],"industries":[{"code":"541512","title":"Computer Systems Design Services","slug":"computer-systems-design-services"},{"code":"518210","title":"Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services","slug":"computing-infrastructure-providers-data-processing-web-hosting-and-related-services"},{"code":"237990","title":"Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction","slug":"other-heavy-and-civil-engineering-construction"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Cost Lead","description":"Austin, TX\nFull Time\n\nAbout Fluidstack\nAt Fluidstack, we build the compute, data centers, and power that will fuel artificial superintelligence. We supply GWs of compute capabilities to the world’s biggest AI Labs at industry-defining speeds.\nOur team is small, fast, and obsessed with quality. We own outcomes end-to-end, challenge assumptions, and treat our customers' problems as our own. No task is beneath anyone here.\nThere are a few thousand people who will shape the trajectory of superintelligence. Come and be one of them.\nAbout the Role\nAs Cost Lead, you will own cost management across our data center portfolio — from early-stage budgeting and estimating through construction and final account. You'll set up process where it doesn't exist, build benchmarks from scratch, and serve as the Cost Lead of our delivery program. You'll work closely with project managers, A/E design teams, GCs, and other Leads to keep every project on-budget and every decision grounded in credible numbers.\nOwn cost planning across all project phases — from concept and pre-design through construction documents and GMP negotiation\nDevelop detailed estimates for civil, structural, MEP, HV/LV power, cooling, fuel systems, and shell construction\nMaintain real-time cost forecasts across all active projects; track actuals vs. budget and surface variances early\nOwn change order review: assess scope validity, commercial accuracy, and contract entitlement before recommending approval\nPrepare executive-level cost reports across the portfolio — clear, scannable, exception-based\nManage contingency tracking and cost risk registers across project phases\nLead value engineering exercises with design and construction teams to optimise cost without compromising scope or schedule\nSupport GC and subcontractor procurement: bid leveling, scope gap analysis, and contract negotiation input\nAdvise on contract structure and commercial risk allocation across delivery models\nBuild the cost management function from the ground up: tools, templates, workflows, and reporting cadence\nEstablish and maintain a unit cost benchmark database covering key DC cost categories — from $/MW to equipment and trade breakdowns\nContribute to precon planning on new sites, including order-of-magnitude estimates to support site selection and investment decisions\nQualifications:\nExperience with cost management, quantity surveying, or construction estimating\nMeaningful hands-on experience on data center or mission-critical construction — hyperscale, colo, or large-scale build-to-suit\nOwner-side experience strongly preferred; GC or QS consulting backgrounds considered if DC domain knowledge is deep\nDeep understanding of the DC cost stack: civil, structural, MEP, HV/LV power, cooling (CRAC/CRAH, DLC, immersion), emergency power, and IT fit-out\nUnderstands how design decisions — power density, redundancy tier, cooling strategy — translate directly to capital cost\nComfortable benchmarking at $/MW, $/SF, and $/kW; knows what drives variation between projects\nStrong change order discipline: can assess pricing validity, identify scope gaps, and document entitlement\nFamiliar with GMP, lump sum, and cost-plus contract structures\nProficient with cost management tooling (Procore, Sage, or equivalent); can build process from scratch\nDegree in construction management, quantity surveying, engineering, or related field\nBuilder mindset — comfortable setting up function and process where little exists, and operating with urgency in a fast-moving program\nSalary & Benefits\nCompetitive total compensation package (salary + equity).\nRetirement or pension plan, in line with local norms.\nHealth, dental, and vision insurance.\nGenerous PTO policy, in line with local norms.\nThe 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.\nWe are committed to pay equity and transparency.\nWe are committed to pay equity and transparency.\nFluidstack 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.\nYou 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.","datePosted":"2026-04-12T18:52:54.068Z","dateModified":"2026-04-12T18:52:54.068Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"FluidStack","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Austin","addressRegion":"TX","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"a5b4fa4aa5133ad1334b9d18"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/a5b4fa4aa5133ad1334b9d18"}}