Sr. Regulatory Counsel, Data Center Power & Utilities

SpaceX
Cape Canaveral, FL
On-site

Who this role is best for

Candidates with regulatory experience in energy and utilities, particularly in high-demand facilities, will find this role in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment at SpaceX's data center sites in Cape Canaveral, FL.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a background in federal and state utility commission practices and interconnection processes
    — “Knowledge of state utility commission practice, federal energy regulation, interconnection processes, and utility tariffs”
  • Candidates with a mix of top-tier law firm and in-house experience in energy or infrastructure regulation
    — “8+ years of relevant regulatory experience, ideally a mix of: Top-tier law firm training in energy, utility, or infrastructure regulation In-house experience at a utility, datacenter or technology company, energy developer, or industrial operator”
  • Candidates who have successfully navigated complex regulatory filings and approvals for industrial-scale power infrastructure
    — “Demonstrated experience advising on regulatory strategy and drafting filings, applications, and utility agreements with limited outside-counsel reliance”

Things to consider

  • Onsite presence is mandatory at a designated SpaceX office, with no remote work options
    — “This position requires being onsite at a designated SpaceX office; remote work will not be considered”
  • The role demands frequent travel across different SpaceX locations, with extended hours and weekend work as needed
    — “Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with large-load interconnection projects and regulatory strategy in high-demand facilities
    — “Direct experience obtaining authorization for significant power usage, ideally for datacenters, large industrial loads, or other high-demand facilities”
  • Emphasize your ability to manage accelerated timelines and end-to-end approvals
    — “Ability to drive approvals end to end on accelerated timelines”
  • Showcase expertise in utility service applications and drafting power agreements
    — “Draft and negotiate utility and power agreements that implement approved service, including interconnection, service, and related operational terms”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • obtaining regulatory approvals
  • standardizing playbooks
Typical background
top-tier law firm trainingin-house experience at utility or technology company

Skills & requirements

Required

Regulatory GuidanceLegal StrategyDrafting FilingsUtility AgreementsPermitting And ComplianceRegulatory Developments Tracking

Preferred

Datacenter Power Usage AuthorizationLarge-scale Power Infrastructure

Stack & domain

Legal GuidanceRegulatory MattersPower And Utility ServiceAuthorization To Take And Use Large Amounts Of PowerInterconnectionTariffsUtility ApprovalsLarge-load InterconnectionsRetail And Wholesale Power ArrangementsUtility Service ApplicationsSpecial Contracts Or TariffsEnergy InfrastructureEnvironmentalReal EstateConstruction CounselRegulatory DevelopmentsDrafting FilingsApplicationsUtility AgreementsPermitting And ComplianceFast-paced EnvironmentLegal StrategyRegulatory StrategyDraftingNegotiationCollaborationBriefingAdvisingEnd-to-end ApprovalsAccelerated TimelinesWorking In A Fast-paced EnvironmentMinimal Turnaround TimeLawRegulationUtilitiesEnergyPowerGovernment AgenciesRegulatory Bodies

About the role

Original posting from SpaceX via Greenhouse

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

SR. REGULATORY COUNSEL, DATA CENTER POWER & UTILITIES

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide expert legal guidance on regulatory matters for power and utility service at SpaceXSI datacenter and compute sites, including authorization to take and use large amounts of power, interconnection, tariffs, and related utility approvals

Lead engagement with federal, state, and local regulators, public utility commissions, grid operators, and utilities to obtain the approvals required to power datacenter operations

Advise on large-load interconnections, retail and wholesale power arrangements, utility service applications, and special contracts or tariffs for high-demand sites

Assess regulatory pathways, timelines, and risk for new sites and expansions, including siting, generation, transmission, and behind-the-meter options

Collaborate with internal stakeholders to brief regulators and utility counterparties and to align legal strategy with site development, engineering, and operations

Draft and negotiate utility and power agreements that implement approved service, including interconnection, service, and related operational terms

Support permitting and compliance for energy infrastructure tied to datacenter load, and coordinate with environmental, real estate, and construction counsel where those issues affect power authorization

Track regulatory developments that affect datacenter power use and standardize playbooks so teams can move new sites through approval faster and with less risk

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

JD or foreign equivalent from an ABA-accredited law school

8+ years of legal experience focused on utilities, energy, or power, including work with government agencies, regulatory bodies, or utilities

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Direct experience obtaining authorization for significant power usage, ideally for datacenters, large industrial loads, or other high-demand facilities

Knowledge of state utility commission practice, federal energy regulation, interconnection processes, and utility tariffs

8+ years of relevant regulatory experience, ideally a mix of:

Top-tier law firm training in energy, utility, or infrastructure regulation

In-house experience at a utility, datacenter or technology company, energy developer, or industrial operator

Demonstrated experience advising on regulatory strategy and drafting filings, applications, and utility agreements with limited outside-counsel reliance

Ability to drive approvals end to end on accelerated timelines

Prior exposure to large-scale power infrastructure, mission-critical facilities, or complex generation and interconnection projects

Comfort working where the regulatory pathway for new load is evolving or unsettled

Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal turnaround time

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be admitted to the bar, in good standing, in at least one U.S. state

Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed

Willingness to travel 4 to 6 times a year to different SpaceX offices for a week at a time

This position requires being onsite at a designated SpaceX office; remote work will not be considered

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

Source: SpaceX careers (Greenhouse)

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