Construction Engineer: Power Infrastructure

About xAI

xAI’s mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. We operate with a flat organizational structure. All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company’s mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important. All engineers are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.

About the Role

As a Power Generation Construction Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in designing and constructing natural gas power plants to deliver high-reliability power for our cutting-edge AI infrastructure. You will lead construction projects from inception to completion, ensuring they meet technical specifications, safety standards, and project timelines. This role is critical to building the initial power plant in Memphis and will involve leading the construction of subsequent plants at future xAI sites. If you thrive in fast-paced, high-stakes environments and are passionate about building mission-critical infrastructure, join us to power the future of AI.

Responsibilities

• Construction Project Execution: Lead the construction of natural gas power plants, overseeing all phases from site preparation to final commissioning, ensuring adherence to design specifications, budgets, and schedules.

• Design and Constructability: Review and refine designs, ensuring constructability, safety, and compliance with industry standards (e.g., ASME, IEEE, EPA regulations).

• Contractor and Vendor Coordination: Manage contractors, suppliers, and vendors to ensure timely delivery of materials, equipment installation, and quality workmanship. Oversee procurement and logistics for construction-related activities.

• Site Management: Supervise on-site construction activities, ensuring safe work practices, adherence to schedules, and resolution of field issues in real time.

• Completions, Commissioning, and Turnover: Support the commissioning and testing of power generation systems, ensuring seamless handover to operational teams. Validate system performance against design requirements.

• Risk Management and Problem Solving: Identify and mitigate construction risks, troubleshoot issues, and implement corrective actions to maintain project momentum.

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders (e.g., contractors, regulatory bodies) to align on project goals and ensure smooth execution.

• Future Plant Development: Leverage experience from the Memphis project to lead the construction of additional power plants at future xAI sites, applying lessons learned to improve efficiency and scalability.

• Documentation and Reporting: Maintain accurate project documentation, including progress reports, cost tracking, and compliance records. Provide clear updates to leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field. 5+ years of experience in construction engineering, with a focus on industrial or power generation projects (e.g., natural gas plants, turbines, or similar infrastructure).

• Construction Expertise: Proven track record in managing large-scale construction projects, with expertise in site management, equipment installation, and constructability reviews.

• Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with power generation systems, including turbines, control systems, and power distribution, as well as relevant industry standards and regulations.

• Project Management Skills: Strong ability to manage schedules, budgets, and resources. Experience with risk assessment, change management, and problem-solving in dynamic construction environments.

• Collaboration and Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to coordinate with contractors, vendors, and internal teams. Ability to clearly articulate technical and project updates.

• Analytical & Organizational Skills: Highly detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solving abilities to manage complex construction workflows.

• Travel & Physical Requirements: Flexibility to travel up to 50% to field sites, including potential future xAI locations, as needed for construction oversight. Ability to work in active construction environments, adhering to safety protocols.

• Safety & Compliance: Must pass background check; role is safety-sensitive with participation in drug and alcohol program required.

Preferred Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in construction engineering, particularly on power generation or oil & gas projects valued at >$100MM.

• Experience with major turbine manufacturers (e.g., GE, Siemens) or combined cycle power systems.

• Familiarity with datacenter power infrastructure or high-reliability energy systems supporting mission-critical operations.

• Professional certifications such as PE (Professional Engineer), PMP (Project Management Professional), or CCM (Certified Construction Manager).

• Prior experience scaling construction processes across multiple sites or in high-tech, aerospace, or large-scale infrastructure projects.

• Knowledge of emerging energy technologies, such as energy storage or grid integration, to support future xAI projects.

xAI is an equal opportunity employer.

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