Senior Counsel, Data Center & Infrastructure

Mission: Own critical legal work supporting the development, leasing, and operation of Groq’s data centers and infrastructure. You will partner across Legal, Data Center Sourcing, Operations, Procurement, and other teams to move complex infrastructure projects from diligence through lease negotiation and bring-up, strengthen repeatable processes, and help the business make informed decisions with speed and discipline. Location: This role will be based in one of our three hiring hubs: the Dallas, San Francisco, or New York City area. The person hired for this role must be based in one of these three areas. You’ll have the flexibility to work remotely while we establish our local Groq office, with the expectation that this role will transition to onsite once the office opens. Responsibilities & Opportunities In This Role: Lead negotiation of data center leasing, colocation services, GPU procurement, and related infrastructure agreements from negotiation through execution.Partner with cross-functional stakeholders on site diligence, including site control, energy and utility matters, land use and zoning considerations, and other issues affecting data center development and operations.Support direct procurement and supply chain transactions, including GPU and compute infrastructure purchasing, and related critical services agreements. Advise data center ops and management teams on day-to-day issues affecting data center operations and Own and improve templates, playbooks, and contracting processes.Partner with outside counsel on specialized matters, setting clear expectations and driving accountability for timely, high-quality deliverables.Step into active transactions and negotiations quickly, identify key risks and decision points, and help teams move matters toward resolution.Develop a strong understanding of Groq’s infrastructure strategy and translate legal considerations into clear, actionable guidance for business partners. Ideal Candidates Have/are: A J.D. and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar. 5-10 years of experience advising on data center and infrastructure agreements.Strong commercial judgment and the ability to distinguish material risk from issues that should not slow execution.Comfortable owning complex matters independently, with judgment of when to escalate matters. Able to build and execute in fast-moving environmentsClear and concise in written and verbal communication, with the ability to make complex legal issues understandable and actionable.Interested in building durable legal and operational infrastructure that can scale with the business. Responsibilities & Opportunities In This Role: Lead legal support for data center leasing, colocation services, and related infrastructure agreements from negotiation through execution.Partner with cross-functional stakeholders on site diligence, including site control, energy and utility matters, land use and zoning considerations, and other issues affecting data center development.Support direct procurement and supply chain transactions, including agreements involving computing infrastructure, original equipment manufacturers, and other critical suppliers.Serve as a practical legal partner to teams operating and scaling Groq’s data center infrastructure, providing day-to-day commercial and operational counsel outside of employment matters.Own and improve templates, playbooks, and contracting processes to increase consistency, accelerate negotiations, and enable the business to execute efficiently.Coordinate with outside counsel on specialized matters, setting clear expectations and driving accountability for timely, high-quality deliverables.Partner across Legal, Operations, Procurement, and other stakeholders to clarify ownership, improve handoffs, and build a more integrated end-to-end process for site diligence and contracting.Step into active transactions and negotiations quickly, identify key risks and decision points, and help teams move matters toward resolution.Develop a strong understanding of Groq’s infrastructure strategy and translate legal considerations into clear, actionable guidance for business partners.Help shape scalable legal processes as Groq’s infrastructure footprint and operational complexity grow. Ideal Candidates Have/are: A J.D. and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.Meaningful experience advising on sophisticated commercial transactions involving data centers, infrastructure, real estate, energy, technology, or similarly complex operational environments.Experience negotiating data center leases, colocation agreements, real estate or site-control arrangements, procurement agreements, or other infrastructure-related commercial contracts.Able to understand interconnected legal and business issues across site diligence, contracting, procurement, and operations and drive them toward practical outcomes.Strong commercial judgment and the ability to distinguish material risk from issues that should not slow execution.Comfortable owning complex matters independently while collaborating closely with business partners, subject-matter experts, and outside counsel.Skilled at managing outside counsel and holding external partners accountable for scope, quality, timing, and deliverables.Able to build structure in fast-moving environments, including improving templates, processes, and cross-functional ways of working.Clear and concise in written and verbal communication, with the ability to make complex legal issues understandable and actionable.Collaborative, accountable, and comfortable operating with urgency while maintaining sound judgment.Interested in helping build durable legal and operational infrastructure that can scale with the business. Compensation Groq is committed to providing competitive compensation through our Total Cash philosophy, which incorporates potential bonus value directly into base pay. The total cash salary range for this position, which is inclusive of the potential bonus value, is $285,200-$385,800, with individual placement determined by your geographic location, experience, skills, and alignment with internal compensation standards. This range is specific to candidates located in the United States. Compensation for international candidates will vary based on local market dynamics. Beyond cash compensation, Groq also offers a Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program and a robust suite of employee benefits.