About this role
ABOUT THE TEAM
OpenAI’s Legal team plays a crucial role in advancing our mission by tackling novel and consequential legal issues in AI. The commercial infrastructure legal team supports the systems and facilities that make advanced AI possible, including compute, first-party silicon, colocation, and first-party data center development.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We’re seeking a senior commercial infrastructure lawyer to lead legal work across our rapidly growing data center development and colocation portfolio. You will advise on complex, high-value transactions involving new data center sites, power, construction, colocation, and related infrastructure arrangements.
This role is designed for a lawyer who understands how data centers are developed and operated—not a general real estate practitioner. You will work closely with infrastructure, finance, procurement, and operations teams, while coordinating outside counsel where appropriate, to help projects move quickly and responsibly.
San Francisco is preferred, and occasional travel may be required.
IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:
- Lead commercial legal strategy and risk management for data center development and colocation transactions.
- Draft, negotiate, and advise on colocation agreements, construction agreements, power-related arrangements, and other contracts supporting data center development.
- Support first-party projects involving raw land, site and power rights, design and construction, EPC models, third-party build-to-suit structures, and leasebacks.
- Partner cross-functionally with infrastructure, finance, procurement, operations, and other stakeholders on fast-moving, complex projects.
- Manage and collaborate effectively with outside counsel across a high volume of infrastructure matters.
- Develop scalable legal playbooks and contracting approaches for a growing portfolio of data center sites.
YOU MIGHT THRIVE IN THIS ROLE IF YOU HAVE:
- 12+ years of legal experience, primarily in commercial legal roles.
- Deep, hands-on experience drafting, negotiating, and advising on colocation and data center agreements.
- Experience with one or more of the following: first-party data center builds, construction and EPC agreements, power arrangements, raw-land development, build-to-suit projects, or leasebacks.
- A track record leading sophisticated, high-value commercial infrastructure transactions.
- Experience at a hyperscaler, cloud or compute provider, data center developer, major colocation company, or law firm practice focused on comparable commercial infrastructure matters.
- A mix of in-house and top-tier law firm experience.
- Excellent judgment and the ability to operate autonomously in a highly technical, fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication skills and an ability to translate complex legal issues into practical, business-aligned guidance.
- A JD and license or qualification to practice in California.
About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI resear