Director, Data Center CSA Engineering

Careers at Keel

Keel Infrastructure is a publicly traded energy and digital infrastructure company that develops and owns data centers and power assets across North America.

At Keel, you’re not just joining a company, you’re helping build the infrastructure behind the future of compute.

Why Keel

We’re at the intersection of energy and technology, two industries transforming in real time.

The work is complex. The pace is fast. The impact is real.

You’ll be part of a team that values:

Ownership — we take responsibility and follow through

Collaboration — we work across teams, functions, and borders

Curiosity — we ask questions and keep learning

Endurance — we build for the long term

What It Feels Like to Work Here

Fast-moving, high-growth, and hands-on

Smart, driven people solving real challenges together

Work that directly supports AI and next-generation infrastructure

Room to grow, stretch, and take on more

What We Offer

Competitive salary, bonus and equity opportunities

Comprehensive health and wellness benefits

Retirement savings with company contribution

Employee referral program

Interested? This is a great opportunity to work for a young and dynamic company!

We are currently looking for a Director, Data Center CSA Engineering to join our team!

Purpose of the Role

The Director of Civil, Structural & Architectural (CSA) Engineering is a senior leadership role responsible for establishing and owning the company's design standards across civil, structural, and architectural disciplines for all data center development. This individual serves as the internal technical authority on site development, building structure, envelope design, and architectural programming — ensuring that every facility is developed on schedule, within budget, and to the highest standards of constructability, durability, and operational functionality.

The Director of CSA partners closely with mechanical and electrical engineering, development, construction management, and operations teams to drive coordinated design decisions from site selection through certificate of occupancy, and sets the frameworks that govern how our portfolio is planned, designed, and delivered at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Standards

Develop and own the company's CSA design standards, basis-of-design documentation, and technical specifications governing civil, structural, and architectural scope across all new development.

Establish criteria for site grading and drainage, foundation systems, structural framing, building envelope, roofing, and architectural finish standards appropriate for mission-critical facilities.

Define prototype building programs and standard floor plan configurations that optimize construction efficiency, operational flexibility, and future scalability.

Lead evaluation and standardization of structural systems (steel, precast, tilt-up, hybrid) and envelope assemblies to drive repeatable, cost-effective delivery.

Define KPIs and portfolio analytics for executive leadership and the Board.

Ensure alignment between construction, finance, engineering, procurement, and operations functions.

Project Execution

Provide CSA engineering leadership across all project phases — from site feasibility, conceptual planning, and schematic design through design development, construction documents, permitting, and construction administration.

Review and approve civil, structural, and architectural design packages from external engineers of record (EORs) and architects of record (AORs), ensuring compliance with company standards, building codes, and jurisdictional requirements.

Manage geotechnical investigation scopes and translate soils reports into foundation and civil design criteria.

Lead value engineering for CSA scopes, balancing first cost, lifecycle durability, schedule, and constructability.

Support RFP development, bid evaluation, and contractor/vendor selection for civil, structural, and architectural scopes.

Site Development & Entitlements Support

Partner with the development and entitlements teams to assess site suitability from a civil and structural standpoint — including grading constraints, floodplain exposure, seismic zone classification, utility corridors, and stormwater management requirements.

Guide due diligence efforts for land acquisition, including review of ALTA surveys, geotechnical reports, environmental Phase I/II studies, and zoning and permitting risk assessments.

Coordinate with civil engineers and landscape architects on master site planning, yard layout, security perimeter design, and infrastructure routing.

Team & Stakeholder Management

Build, mentor, and lead an internal CSA engineering team as the company's development pipeline grows.

Manage relationships with external architects, civil and structural engineers of record, geotechnical consultants, and specialty subcontractors.

Collaborate with construction management to resolve RFIs, review submittals, and maintain design intent through construction.

Present CSA design strategies, prototype concepts, and capital investment recommendations to executive leadership and investment committees.

Innovation & Technology Roadmap

Identify opportunities to reduce cost and schedule through design standardization, prefabrication, and modular construction approaches.

Benchmark company building designs against industry peers and best practices; incorporate lessons learned across the portfolio.

Evaluate emerging structural systems, envelope technologies, and sustainable design strategies (LEED, green roofs, rainwater harvesting) where applicable.

Maintain awareness of evolving building codes, seismic design standards, energy codes, and zoning requirements across key development markets.

Requirements

Experience & Background

12+ years of progressive experience in civil, structural, or architectural engineering, with a minimum of 5 years focused on data center, industrial, or large-scale mission-critical facility development.

Demonstrated experience leading mechanical design on hyperscale, colocation, or enterprise data center projects (50MW+ preferred).

Experience as a technical owner or discipline lead, not just a contributor, on large capital projects.

Prior experience managing or mentoring engineering staff and external consultants.

Familiarity with development in multiple geographies, including jurisdictions with complex entitlement, seismic, or environmental requirements.

Technical Knowledge

Deep knowledge of civil site design including grading, stormwater management, utility infrastructure, and site logistics planning for large industrial or data center campuses.

Strong understanding of structural systems common to data center construction: steel moment frames, braced frames, precast concrete, tilt-up concrete, and hybrid systems.

Proficiency in building envelope design including metal panel systems, insulated precast, roofing assemblies, and blast/ballistic considerations where required.

Working knowledge of IBC, ACI, AISC, ASCE 7, and applicable local building codes; experience with seismic design categories C through F preferred.

Familiarity with NFPA 70/75/76 as it relates to structural and architectural design interface with fire protection and electrical systems.

Experience reading and coordinating across full design sets including MEP, fire protection, and low-voltage systems.

Leadership & Competencies

Ability to synthesize civil, structural, and architectural considerations into cohesive design recommendations for executive and non-technical audiences.

Strong project management instincts with the ability to track deliverables across multiple projects and design consultants simultaneously.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills; experience authoring design standards, basis-of-design documents,