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Manager, R&D

CrusoeDenver, CO - USDigital Infrastructure Group (DIG)
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Salary
$140K - $170K USD
Job type
Full-time
Posted
25 Sept 2026
Status
Open · checked 7d ago

About this role

Crusoe is seeking a Manager, R&D based in Denver, Colorado to serve as the operational and people leadership backbone for its growing research and development division. This full-time hybrid position is tailored for a professional with a strong background in technical program management and people leadership who thrives in high-growth environments.

Role Overview

Crusoe operates as a vertically integrated artificial intelligence infrastructure company, designing and deploying modular power and compute architecture. The Manager, R&D acts as a player-coach, owning hiring, career development, and performance management for the team while directly contributing to program management during the early scaling phase. The department focuses on evaluating emerging technologies, collaborating with startups and research institutions, defining future data center architectures, and delivering validated solutions from pilot scale to hyperscale deployment.

Key Responsibilities

Recruit, onboard, and manage R&D team members across technology evaluation, program management, and related functions while fostering an inclusive team culture.
Translate organizational growth plans into a phased hiring roadmap, defining role profiles and interview processes.
Manage R&D programs directly during early growth, including technology evaluations, external partnerships, and feasibility pilots, before transitioning execution to dedicated program managers.
Establish and improve operational processes such as intake workflows, project tracking, resource allocation, and governance structures.
Coordinate between R&D and engineering teams to ensure planning sessions and regular touchpoints deliver value to infrastructure deployments.
Partner with the head of R&D to provide input on organizational design, resource prioritization, and day-to-day team management.
Support relationship management with technology vendors, startups, and research partners to bring new technologies into the evaluation pipeline.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of direct people management experience, including hiring, performance management, and career development of technical individual contributors.
Minimum of 5 years of technical program or project management experience within infrastructure, manufacturing, data center, or related engineering environments.
Technical background sufficient to engage credibly with and mentor engineers across data center infrastructure, power systems, cooling, and compute domains.
Demonstrated experience building or scaling new teams, functions, or organizational capabilities from an early stage while operating in ambiguity.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the executive presence to represent the organization to leaders and external partners.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related discipline.

Nice to Have

Experience working in a data center, infrastructure, or energy company.
Background in R&D organizations, advanced engineering groups, innovation teams, or technical consulting practices.
Track record of managing hybrid teams combining program management and technical evaluation functions.
Experience partnering with recruiting to build technical hiring pipelines in competitive markets.
Familiarity with AI infrastructure, high-performance computing, or hyperscale data center environments.
Advanced degree in a relevant field.

Skills and Tools

People leadership and team scaling
Technical program and project management
Operational process development and governance
Vendor and external partner engagement
Cross-functional engineering coordination

Salary and Benefits

The compensation range is $140,000 to $170,000 plus a bonus, with Restricted Stock Units included in offers. Comprehensive benefits include competitive health, dental, and vision insurance, employer HSA contributions, paid time off, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, professional development and tuition reimbursement, mental health and wellness support, commuter benefits, a cell phone stipend, a 401(k) retirement plan with a company match up to 4%, volunteer time off, global travel insurance, and daily meals allowances.

About the Company

Crusoe builds vertically integrated AI infrastructure from the ground up to power ambitious AI workloads with an energy-first approach. The company focuses on solving power bottlenecks and making AI infrastructure better for the world.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application directly through the official Crusoe careers page.

Questions candidates ask

Where is this job located?

This position is located in Denver, CO, United States.

What is the salary range for this role?

The compensation range is paid up to $140,000 to $170,000 plus a bonus, along with Restricted Stock Units.

How many years of experience are required?

The role requires 5+ years of direct people management experience and 5+ years of technical program or project management experience.

What type of education is needed?

A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related discipline is required, while an advanced degree is considered a plus.

Is this a remote position?

No, this is not a remote position and is based out of Denver, CO.

Ready to apply?

The application is on the official Crusoe careers page.

Apply on company site