Principal Program Manager - Onsite Data Center Deployment

Job description

**About the Role** We're looking for a **Doer**—someone who lives and breathes the site. This role sits at the center of our GPU cluster deployments... **What You'll Do** **Onsite Delivery & Execution** - Own cluster bootstrapping, cabling, and fit-out execution from initial deployment through production readiness. - Use LLDs as the reference point to verify that onsite work is being executed according to plan. - Maintain complete visibility into onsite blockers and proactively remove them. - Be regularly present during construction and onsite throughout active deployment phases. - Build trusted relationships with vendors, contractors, and engineering teams. **Technical Leadership** - Bring credible technical judgment to design and readiness reviews. - Anticipate recurring technical issues across sites and drive preventative solutions. - Facilitate technical trade-off decisions across engineering, operations, and customers. - Resolve moderately complex technical challenges independently. **Program & Risk Management** - Proactively identify program-level risks before they impact delivery. - Manage schedules, dependencies, and risks across multiple concurrent deployments. - Drive systemic improvements across programs. - Create scalable operating mechanisms for consistent execution. **Stakeholder & Executive Communication** - Serve as the trusted leader when deployments encounter challenges. - Navigate customer escalations and vendor performance issues. - Translate technical complexity into executive-ready updates. - Provide concise reporting on risks, decisions, and milestones. **Process Improvement & Team Development** - Improve deployment processes, tools, and operational practices. - Balance standardization with program-specific needs. - Mentor and develop TPMs and onsite talent. - Build organizational capability by growing others. **Who Thrives in This Role** - **Doers.** You lead from the floor, not from a dashboard. - **Trusted leaders.** You earn confidence through competence and execution. - **Calm under pressure.** You bring clarity when deployments go off track. - **People builders.** You enjoy developing others. - **Systems thinkers.** You recognize patterns across multiple deployments and drive continuous improvement. **Requirements** - Proven experience as an onsite Technical Program Manager, Deployment Lead, or similar role supporting data center construction, GPU cluster deployments, or large-scale infrastructure delivery. - Hands-on experience interpreting and applying Low-Level Designs (LLDs) to verify onsite implementation. - Demonstrated success managing multiple complex deployments simultaneously. - Strong technical credibility and readiness review experience. - Experience managing third-party vendors and driving accountability. - Excellent executive communication skills. - Willingness and ability to travel extensively and remain onsite for extended periods during active deployment phases. **Location**: Onsite at active construction/deployment sites (multiple regions) **Travel**: Mandatory — frequent site visits during construction; extended onsite presence during active deployment phases The range below reflects the base salary for the position. Actual compensation may vary based on job-related factors such as skill set, experience, education, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonus, equity, and/or commission programs. Nscale may offer a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, parental leave, and retirement plan participation. Salary Range $220,000—$273,000 USD *For information on how Nscale handles candidate personal data, please see our Employee & Candidate Privacy Notice: [Here.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QK5Yg04WHD9K9IAtJgQWubJZC9oLvatK/view?usp=sharing)*