{"id":2057246,"url":"https://alion.io/job/nscale-director-pipeline-engineering","title":"Director, Pipeline Engineering","company":{"id":48155,"name":"Nscale","domain":"nscale.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/nscale","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":92,"open_postings":22,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.136,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":69,"computed_at":"2026-10-12T06:55:09Z"}},"role":"Leadership","role_family":"Leadership","seniority":"head","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Houston, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":170000,"max":290000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":290000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":15,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-07T23:35:20Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-07","last_verified_at":"2026-10-12T15:25:36Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":4,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":4},"description":"About Nscale\nAt Nscale, we are building the infrastructure for the AI revolution. Nscale is developing cutting-edge, sovereign generative AI solutions powered by a new generation of high-performance, sustainable data centers and GPUs built specifically for AI workloads.\nThe rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented global demand for compute and GPU infrastructure. Positioned at the heart of this transformation, Nscale is delivering the platforms that will enable the next decade of innovation.\nWorking closely with the world's most advanced AI technology providers, including Microsoft and NVIDIA, Nscale integrates next-generation compute hardware and Next GPU clusters across both partner and self-delivered facilities. This is a unique opportunity to join Nscale's journey, play a pivotal role in delivering transformative AI infrastructure, and help shape a company designed to scale rapidly across North America, Europe, and beyond.\nAbout the Role\nWe are hiring a Director, Pipeline Engineering to own the engineering of the natural gas transmission pipelines that fuel Nscale's generation campuses, from upstream interconnect to plant fence.\nNscale's Power and Energy group develops behind-the-meter generation colocated with our data center campuses: large reciprocating engine fleets served by dedicated, large-diameter gas transmission pipelines moving hundreds of millions of cubic feet per day. These are not ordinary laterals. The pipeline is also the storage: line pack is the operating inventory that buffers nominations against engine demand, pressure is governed by that inventory balance, and the design of overpressure protection, regulation, and system controls determines whether gigawatts of compute stay online. Much of this work is closer to process engineering than to conventional pipeline design, and this role owns it.\nThis is a senior, hands-on technical leadership role built for someone who runs independently, with full delegated ownership of the pipeline scope. You will establish the design basis for our pipelines and demonstrate how it ties to our downstream commitments (engine demand, swing, and availability), drive the engineering through hydraulic design, controls philosophy, and construction, and technically manage the third-party engineering firms and pipeline construction contractors doing the work. Lines are in delivery today and new lines will follow, so the role owns both the systems being built now and the reference engineering for what comes next.\nYou will sit within the Power and Energy technology organization, working alongside the generation engineering and commissioning teams that depend on the gas you deliver. You will be the owner's technical authority on the pipeline scope, directing the work of consultants and contractors rather than simply accepting it, and resolving the design questions where standard midstream practice does not account for a single customer whose demand can swing with AI workloads. As the accountable leader for pipeline engineering at Nscale, you will set the design basis, establish the standards, and represent Nscale's position with EPC partners, upstream operators, and executives, and you will be expected to do so from day one.\nLocation: Houston, TX (remote considered within the US, with regular site and vendor travel)\nWhat You'll Be Doing\nPipeline system engineering and design basis\nOwn the design basis for Nscale's gas transmission pipelines: hydraulic design, MAOP and pressure regime, line pack and inventory strategy, routing and sizing philosophy, and expansion provisions for future lines.\nPerform and direct steady-state and transient hydraulic modeling of the pipeline systems, and own the models as living engineering assets that answer real operating questions: inventory swing, survival time on line pack, ramp response, and curtailment scenarios.\nDemonstrate explicitly how the pipeline design basis supports downstream commitments: engine fleet demand and turndown, campus availability requirements, and the nominations-versus-consumption balance that governs system pressure.\nEvaluate gas storage and supply resilience options, including line pack utilization, interconnect diversity, and cross-connection strategies between lines, with clear analysis of the risk each option carries.\nProcess and controls engineering\nOwn the overpressure protection philosophy across the pipeline systems: regulation, monitor, slam-shut, and relief selection, justified against reliability requirements, industry practice, and regulatory obligations rather than habit.\nDefine the control philosophy at interconnects, letdown stations, and plant interfaces: pressure versus flow control, control interactions with upstream operators' facilities, and the measurement and SCADA provisions needed to run the system on inventory.\nApply process safety discipline to the pipeline scope: lead and support HAZOPs and design reviews, own the closure of actions, and carry management of change through design and construction.\nEngineer the interface into the plant fuel gas systems, coordinating conditioning, letdown, and protection philosophies so pipeline and plant behave as one system.\nRegulatory compliance and integrity\nOwn compliance of the pipeline designs with 49 CFR Part 192 and the applicable ASME B31 codes, including the code boundaries between jurisdictional pipeline and plant piping.\nEstablish material, welding, and construction specifications, class location and MAOP documentation, and the records discipline that a traceable, verifiable, and complete basis requires.\nLay the foundation for integrity management: baseline assessment planning, pigging and inspection provisions, and mainline valve philosophy, including remote actuation and its treatment in availability analysis.\nSupport commissioning and first gas: purge and pack planning, energization of the measurement and control systems, and readiness reviews in partnership with the commissioning and startup organization.\nThird-party technical management\nTechnically manage the engineering consultants supporting the pipeline scope: set the design basis they work to, review and challenge their deliverables, and integrate their output into a coherent whole.\nDirect pipeline construction contractors on technical matters: specification compliance, field queries, deviation dispositions, and as-built reconciliation.\nOwn the technical interface with upstream pipeline operators and interconnect counterparties: metering station design, control coordination, nominations behavior, and the operating agreements' technical exhibits.\nHold third parties to disciplined engineering, testing, and documentation, and know when their standard answer is not good enough for this application.\nOwn the scope, schedule, and budget of third-party pipeline engineering: define consultant scopes of work, review and recommend change orders and addenda, and hold firms accountable to their commitments.\nStandards and cross-functional leadership\nDevelop Nscale's engineering standards, specifications, and reference designs for gas pipelines, so each new line builds on the last instead of starting over.\nCoordinate with generation engineering on fuel gas requirements, with permitting and land teams on routing and regulatory strategy, and with commercial teams on gas supply and transportation arrangements.\nBuild and lead the internal pipeline engineering function, directing specialist consultants today and hiring and developing a team as the portfolio scales.\nCommunicate complex pipeline and process issues clearly to project leadership and executives, with honest assessments of risk and readiness, and represent Nscale's pipeline scope in design basis alignment with EPC partners, upstream operators, and customers.\nAbout You\n15+ years of natural gas pipeline engineering experience across design, construction, and operations, with significant time in a lead or owner's engineer role on transmission systems, including senior accountability for the outcome of major transmission projects.\nDeep hydraulic engineering capability, including transient modeling of gas transmission systems, and the judgment to translate model results into design and operating decisions.\nStrong process engineering instincts: comfort with inventory-based system behavior, regulation and overpressure protection design, control philosophy development, and process safety methods such as HAZOP.\nWorking fluency with 49 CFR Part 192 and ASME B31.8, including MAOP determination, class location, and the code interfaces with plant piping under B31.1 or B31.3.\nHands-on experience with measurement and regulation stations, interconnects with major interstate pipelines, and the commercial mechanics of nominations and transportation that drive system behavior.\nExperience taking pipeline scopes through construction, hydrotest, and first gas on major projects, and comfort in the field when systems misbehave.\nProven ability to direct engineering consultants and construction contractors, and to make technically defensible decisions under schedule pressure.\nDemonstrated ability to own a scope independently and be delegated to with confidence: establishing the basis, setting the pace, and escalating with solutions rather than problems.\nProven ability to build standards, processes, and teams in a fast-scaling environment, including hiring and developing engineers.\nIndustry standing (code committee participation, technical society leadership, or equivalent) is a plus.\nBachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Civil Engineering or a related field; PE license preferred.\nWilling and able to travel to project sites, vendor facilities, and construction spreads regularly (typically 25%, higher during construction and commissioning campaigns).\nWhat We Can Offer You\nAt Nscale, you'll find a collaborative, supportive, and innovative environment where your contributions spark real impact. We're building something extraordinary, and our people are driving it.\nHighly competitive US compensation package (base + bonus + equity), with performance reviews every 12 months\nComprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage\n401(k) retirement plan with company match\nGenerous PTO plus US federal holidays\nA career-defining opportunity to be an early member of one of the fastest growing AI infrastructure companies in the world\nA human-first approach: We treat you as humans first. Our flexible workplace trusts Nscalers to deliver, giving you the autonomy needed to get the job done.\nEqual Opportunities Statement\nAt Nscale, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. We believe that a variety of perspectives enriches our work environment, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. If there's anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.\nThe responsibilities outlined in this job description are not exhaustive and are intended to provide a general overview of the position. The employee may be required to perform additional duties, tasks, and responsibilities as assigned by management, consistent with the skills and qualifications required for the role.\nFor information on how Nscale handles candidate personal data, please see our Employee & Candidate Privacy Notice.\nThe 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.\nSalary Ran...","description_format":"text","description_chars":12229,"description_truncated":true,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":15,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Flexible schedule","Parental leave","Retirement plans"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Data Centers & Colocation","AI Compute & Inference"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-08T00:22:31Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 10","filings_12m":10,"filings_prev_12m":0,"green_card_filings_12m":0,"median_offered_wage_usd":198500,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-03T21:08:04+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":4,"expected_fill_days":69,"reasons":["conf:3","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-12T06:55:09Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":290000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/nscale-director-pipeline-engineering","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/nscale-director-pipeline-engineering.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-12T18:15:41Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":29447,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-13T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":48155},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=48155"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fnscale-director-pipeline-engineering"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fnscale-director-pipeline-engineering"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fnscale-director-pipeline-engineering"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/nscale-director-pipeline-engineering\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fnscale-director-pipeline-engineering"}]}