Corporate Counsel at Crane Data Centers

Job description

San Francisco Bay Area (open to remote) At Crane, we are redefining digital infrastructure by building future-proof, high-density data centers engineered for flexibility and sustainable, long-term scale. Headquartered in San Francisco with a growing nationwide pipeline—including our 100+ MW campus in the Portland metro market - we partner with major institutional investors to rapidly deliver flexible carrier-neutral capacity. We balance design excellence with environmental stewardship. As we scale our footprint across domestic markets, we are seeking a highly-versatile Corporate Counsel who will serve as the key legal execution lead for both day-to-day general corporate legal functions and our real estate development pipeline. Position Summary This is an impactful, hands-on role reporting to executive leadership. You will wear two primary hats: executing the legal workflows for our real estate acquisition, power and data center infrastructure development, and hyperscale tenant leasing operations, while simultaneously managing Crane’s day-to-day corporate governance, vendor contracts, and routine risk management. The ideal candidate has a strong foundational background in commercial or industrial real estate development or energy infrastructure transactions and is looking to expand their career in-house by taking ownership of a variety of corporate legal functions in a fast-growing, high-tech infrastructure firm. Key Responsibilities 1. Mission-Critical Real Estate & Infrastructure Development • Real Estate Transactions: Manage comprehensive legal process associated with new multi-acre site acquisitions. Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of real estate agreements, including land purchase and sale agreements (PSAs), due diligence documents (including reviewing complex title policies, ALTA surveys, environmental reports, zoning ordinances, etc.), municipal development agreements, and tax abatement agreements. • Hyperscale Customer Agreements & Lease Negotiation: Assist with the customization, structuring, and negotiation of powered shell leases, wholesale colocation agreements, Master Services Agreements (MSAs), and associated Service Level Agreements (SLAs) tailored to sophisticated large enterprise tenants. • Energy Sourcing & Interconnection: Review and track utility interconnection agreements, utility easements and rights-of-way, and power purchase agreements (PPAs) to support Crane’s energy strategy. • Supply Chain, Consulting, & Construction Agreements: Support engineering and preconstruction teams by drafting and negotiating design-bid-build contracts, time and material / not-to-exceed agreements, and long-lead equipment procurement contracts (generators, chillers, and high-density cooling infrastructure). 2. General Corporate Legal Functions • Corporate Governance & Entity Management: Handle the formation, multi-state maintenance, and compliance of corporate entities and project-specific joint-venture LLCs. Prepare standard board resolutions, meeting minutes, and corporate filings. • Commercial Vendor Contracts: Manage the legal intake, review, and negotiation of day-to-day corporate agreements, including non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), technology / SaaS contracts, marketing agreements, and consulting contracts. • Compliance & Risk Management: Monitor compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. Assist in maintaining corporate insurance policies, tracking the corporate compliance calendar, and implementing contract workflow improvements. • Cross-Functional Support: Provide general legal support to all internal stakeholders including procurement, human resources, and finance teams as needed (e.g., routine offer letters, independent contractor agreements, and tracking project financing / loan documentation). Required Qualifications • Education & Licensure: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active, good-standing membership in at least one state bar (California admission a plus). • Experience: 3 to 5 years of dedicated legal practice, with a solid foundational background in complex commercial real estate, energy, or construction transactions. Experience in an AmLaw 200 law firm or a corporate in-house setting is required. • Negotiation Muscle: Proven experience reviewing, redlining, and negotiating commercial contracts, with the ability to advocate effectively for the company's commercial interests with sophisticated counterparties. • Agility & Tech Literacy: Eagerness to act as a legal generalist, learning and managing diverse workstreams outside of real estate. Comfort utilizing contract lifecycle management platforms, contract signature platforms, file management ecosystems, and have strong ability to leverage AI software across all workflows. • Communication Style: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the distinct ability to translate dense legal risks into clear, practical, and actionable business guidance for internal stakeholders. Key Competencies • Execution-Oriented: Highly organized with a strong attention to detail; capable of keeping multiple transactions, title reviews, and corporate records moving forward simultaneously under deadline pressure. • Collaborative Problem Solver: Works effectively with cross-functional teams (development, finance, construction, power strategy) to identify legal issues and suggest practical, commercial solutions. • Thrives in Lean Environments: Comfortable operating autonomously in a fast-paced environment where priorities fluidly shift between a multi-megawatt infrastructure project and routine corporate administrative needs. What We Offer • This is an exciting time to join our growing team where you’ll be part of a supportive and inclusive environment. We offer a competitive compensation package, benefits, and an environment that recognizes and rewards your contributions. • Crane is an equal opportunity employer and committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veterans status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.  • Learn more at cranedc.com/about About Us Headquartered in San Francisco, Crane was founded after recognizing the need for a new, more sustainable approach to developing and operating data centers. As both hyperscale data center developers and former buyers of capacity, our team has a unique perspective on innovation and design. We put our clients first and offer flexible, sustainable, data center capacity when and where they need it most. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Crane is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited referrals. Apply today Fill out the form below, and we will review your submission. If there’s a potential fit, our team will reach out. Thank you! Your submission has been received! Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form. Check out other openings see all VP, Leasing and Business Development Bay Area/San Francisco, CA (will consider remote applicants) In this role, you'll lead client engagement and help define Crane's leasing strategy. Technical Program Manager Portland / Hillsboro, Oregon In this role, you will be responsible for managing Crane’s data center construction and delivery. Critical Operations Manager - Position Filled In this role, you will be responsible for the reliability and safety of our critical infrastructure. Connect Info Sales Partnerships Linkedin Pages Home About Data Centers Sustainability Careers Contact Legal Privacy Policy Cookies Policy © Copyright 2025 Crane Data Centers Inc. 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Requirements

Must-haves

San Francisco Bay Area (open to remote)
Mission-Critical Real Estate & Infrastructure Development
Energy Sourcing & Interconnection: Review and track utility interconnection agreements, utility easements and rights-of-way, and power purchase agreements (PPAs) to support Crane’s energy strategy.
General Corporate Legal Functions
Negotiation Muscle: Proven experience reviewing, redlining, and negotiating commercial contracts, with the ability to advocate effectively for the company's commercial interests with sophisticated counterparties.
Communication Style: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the distinct ability to translate dense legal risks into clear, practical, and actionable business guidance for internal stakeholders.
Key Competencies
Execution-Oriented: Highly organized with a strong attention to detail; capable of keeping multiple transactions, title reviews, and corporate records moving forward simultaneously under deadline pressure.
Collaborative Problem Solver: Works effectively with cross-functional teams (development, finance, construction, power strategy) to identify legal issues and suggest practical, commercial solutions.
Thrives in Lean Environments: Comfortable operating autonomously in a fast-paced environment where priorities fluidly shift between a multi-megawatt infrastructure project and routine corporate administrative needs.

Nice-to-haves

Education & Licensure: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active, good-standing membership in at least one state bar (California admission a plus).

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