Sr. Architect

About Prime Data Centers

Prime Data Centers develops, acquires, and operates data centers for some of the world's largest enterprises. A private firm owned by a group controlling $6 billion in assets, with a 15-year tenure in technology and real estate development, Prime provides customers with ownership options and dynamic leasing models, defining a true corporate partnership.

"Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship"

About the role

Prime Data Centers is a private developer, owner, and long-term operator of hyperscale and purpose-built data centers across top-tier U.S. and European markets. We build the infrastructure that powers AI, high-performance computing, and digital transformation for the world's leading hyperscalers and Neoclouds.

What you'll do

The Sr. Architect is a technical individual contributor within the Civil/Structural/Architectural (CSA) Engineering discipline in Design & Engineering (D&E) at Prime Data Centers. This role owns architectural scope across PDC's hyperscale and purpose-built data center projects — building shell, life safety, code compliance, and space planning — from concept through construction support, across multiple U.S. and European markets with different codes, jurisdictions, and AHJ requirements.
This is a hands-on technical role, not a people-management position. It exists because architectural decisions on hyperscale campuses — code compliance, life safety, jurisdictional entitlement — carry real schedule, permitting, and liability exposure in markets PDC hasn't built in before.

TECHNICAL EXECUTION & OWNERSHIP

Lead architectural design and review for building shell, life safety, and space planning across hyperscale and purpose-built projects
Research and apply jurisdiction-specific code and entitlement requirements for new and existing markets, domestic and international
Resolve technically ambiguous architectural problems: unusual AHJ requirements, life safety coordination with MEP/Fire Protection, space planning conflicts
Balance speed, risk, cost, and quality in architectural decisions; flag when a design choice trades one for another

STANDARDS & TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

Define, apply, and evolve PDC's architectural design standards and prototype layouts for repeatable campus deployment
Identify opportunities for standardization and reuse across projects to reduce engineering effort and design cycle time
Reduce technical debt and late-stage architectural surprises — code, permitting, life safety — through sound judgment early in design

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION

Partner with Design, Structural, Civil, MEP Engineering, Construction, and Operations on architectural coordination
Support site selection and due diligence with zoning, entitlement, and code-risk assessment for candidate sites and markets
Communicate code and design tradeoffs clearly to non-technical stakeholders — schedule, cost, and permitting risk, not just code citations
Support third-party architectural consultant management: scoping, review, and quality control of deliverables

Qualifications

8+ years of architectural experience, including mission-critical, industrial, or large-scale technical facility design
Licensed Architect (RA) strongly preferred; NCARB certification a plus
Strong knowledge of IBC, NFPA, ADA, and code compliance across multiple U.S. jurisdictions
Experience with entitlement, permitting, and AHJ coordination in new markets
Ability to work independently with minimal direction; strong written and verbal communication skills
Have deep architectural experience in data centers, industrial, mission-critical, or comparable large-scale technical facilities
Are comfortable owning large, complex architectural scopes independently with minimal oversight
Have navigated code compliance and entitlement across multiple U.S. jurisdictions (international experience a plus)
Communicate technical and code tradeoffs clearly and pragmatically to non-architects
Take pride in design that is buildable, permittable, and repeatable — not just aesthetically resolved

Benefits

Competitive salary range and performance bonus program
401k fully vested upon enrollment, up to a 4% employer match
100% employee premiums paid by employer for medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability
Paid Time Off + Sick time

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

Prime is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants are considered for employment without attention to race, color, age, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, protected veteran or military status, disability status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.

#LI-Hybrid

The pay range for this role is:

150,000 - 190,000 USD per year(Denver)