Lead Architect

What you'll do

As Lead Architect, you'll serve as the Design and Code Authority for Giga's data center product line and deployment projects. You'll bridge the gap between our standardized manufacturing intent and the complex web of local regulatory requirements across the United States.

You'll own the architectural life safety strategy—ensuring that every facility we deploy is not only aesthetically distinct and structurally sound, but also fully compliant with IBC, NFPA 101, and local zoning ordinances. This means translating our industrial modular designs into permit-ready packages that satisfy Fire Marshals, Planning Departments, and Building Officials across diverse jurisdictions.

This role combines industrial design pragmatism with regulatory mastery. You'll design building envelopes that optimize for manufacturing efficiency while meeting high-performance thermal and waterproofing requirements. You'll create compelling architectural visualizations that help stakeholders understand our vision. And you'll be the architect who makes modular data centers permittable anywhere in America.

Where you'll work

If based outside of our Houston, Long Beach, Reno, or San Francisco hubs, this role will be based remotely from your home office. You must be willing to travel as needed to our job sites and to one of our hub offices.

Responsibilities

• Design building shells including steel structures, pre-engineered metal buildings (PEMB), and containerized integration, balancing industrial efficiency with high-performance thermal and waterproofing details
• Create site plans that optimize for logistics, security, and future expansion, determining how standard modules fit diverse geographies while managing setbacks, access roads, and utility entry points
• Maintain architectural Revit models, create custom families, manage central files, and ensure perfect coordination with Mechanical and Electrical linked models
• Execute detailed occupant load calculations and egress modeling per IBC Chapter 10 and NFPA 101, defining travel distances, exit widths, and dead-end corridors for complex industrial environments
• Specify fire-rated assemblies (walls, floors, penetrations) to ensure proper fire separation distances and compartmentation
• Guarantee full compliance with ADA and ANSI A117.1 for accessible routes and workspaces across all facilities
• Lead permit submission process
• Manage permit packages to local building departments, serving as primary point of contact for Plan
• Check comments and code interpretation resolution
• Proactively engage with Authorities Having Jurisdiction, Fire Marshals, and Planning Departments to clarify code applicability for novel modular structures
• Produce zoning analyses, site feasibility studies, and conceptual packages for planning commission reviews to support the real estate team
• Produce high-quality 3D renderings, photorealistic perspectives, and architectural walkthroughs for internal stakeholders, investors, and planning boards
• Generate complete architectural drawing sets, life safety plans, code analysis sheets, and AHJ plan check responses

Requirements 

• Registered Architect (RA) license required
• 7+ years of architectural experience with specific focus on industrial, data center, or manufacturing facilities
• Expert-level mastery of Autodesk Revit for BIM modeling and documentation
• Deep working knowledge of IBC (International Building Code), particularly Groups F-1, S-1, and B
• Strong understanding of NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) and egress requirements
• Experience interpreting municipal zoning codes including setbacks, FAR, and height limits
• Proficiency in architectural visualization tools (Enscape, Lumion, or Twinmotion)
• Proven track record managing permit submissions and AHJ coordination
• Strong understanding of fire-rated assemblies and compartmentation strategies
• Experience with accessibility requirements under ADA and ANSI A117.1
• Ability to balance design intent with manufacturing constraints Bachelor's (B.Arch) or Master's (M.Arch) degree in Architecture
• Excellent communication skills for engaging with regulatory officials and cross-functional teams

Bonus points

• NCARB certification Experience with modular construction, prefabrication, or containerized architecture
• Background in mission-critical or data center facilities specifically
• Knowledge of pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) systems
• Experience with design-build or fast-track project delivery
• Familiarity with high-performance building envelopes and thermal optimization
• Track record creating standardized architectural solutions for rapid deployment
• Experience with industrial occupancy classifications and mixed-use interpretations
• Startup or high-growth company experience
• Portfolio demonstrating both technical rigor and visual communication excellence
• Understanding of zoning entitlement processes and planning commission engagement

Benefits

• Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
• Significant equity in a profitable, IPO-bound company
• 401(k) with 4% employer match
• Unlimited PTO
• Parental leave
• FSA/HSA options
• Commuter benefits
• Monthly team on-sites across all offices