JD or foreign equivalent from an ABA-accredited law school
8+ years of legal experience in utilities, energy, or power
Direct experience with significant power usage authorization, preferably for datacenters
Knowledge of state utility commission practices and federal energy regulations
Experience drafting regulatory filings and utility agreements with minimal outside counsel reliance
Ability to navigate evolving regulatory pathways for new loads
Comfortable in fast-paced environments with tight deadlines
Responsibilities
Provide legal guidance on regulatory matters for power and utility services at SpaceX datacenters
Lead engagement with regulators and utility commissions to secure necessary approvals
Advise on interconnections and power arrangements for high-demand sites
Assess regulatory pathways and risks for new site developments
Collaborate with internal teams to align legal strategies with operational needs
Draft and negotiate utility agreements for approved services
Support permitting and compliance for energy infrastructure related to datacenter loads
Track regulatory developments to streamline approval processes
Benefits
Opportunity to work at the forefront of energy regulation in a cutting-edge industry
Engagement with federal, state, and local regulatory bodies
Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams
Potential for professional growth in a fast-paced, innovative company
Travel opportunities to various SpaceX locations for project coordination
Full Job Description
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. a7 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. a7 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
About SpaceX
SpaceX is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk. The company designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. SpaceX has developed the Falcon 1, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Dragon spacecraft. The company was founded with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX has achieved several milestones in spaceflight, including the first privately-funded liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit, the first privately-funded company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station, and the first privately-funded company to send a human-rated spacecraft to orbit.
