Project Jupiter New Mexico: Contractors, Jobs and Permits

Research checked October 16, 2026.

Project Jupiter is putting construction crews to work in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, but its buildings and power system are moving on different schedules. Clayco and Kiewit New Mexico Co. have helped build the campus. The proposed fuel-cell microgrid still had a pending air-permit application on October 15, and reporting published October 16 said generation construction had not started.[27][25][8]

That distinction matters if you are pricing a subcontract, hiring a crew or deciding whether to travel. An active campus does not mean every connected package has permission to proceed. A projected workforce does not tell you which employer has an opening this week.

For local firms, the project has a vendor-interest form.[19] For workers, its careers page connects to STACK, Oracle and Bloom Energy.[20] We inspected the form and individual technical job postings rather than treating a search result as an offer of work.[21][23]

Start here: bidding firms and workers need different routes

Your goal	Verified starting point	What it does
Introduce a local contracting or service business	Project Jupiter vendor interest	Collects Doña Ana County-area business details for project teams. It is not an open bid or approval to work.[19]
Find an employer application	Project Jupiter careers	Links to STACK, Oracle, Bloom and a construction-careers destination. Each employer controls its applications.[20]
Pursue facilities operations work	STACK Critical Operations Technician, JR00150	Santa Teresa listing with a posted $40–$53 hourly range. This is an operations role, not a construction dispatch call.[21]
Ask about craft referrals	Trade-hall directory below	Provides official regional contacts. Confirm the actual employer, project and current call before traveling.
Check licensing before offering work	New Mexico Construction Industries Division	State licensing and regulatory starting point. The Las Cruces office is (575) 524-6320.[24]

The vendor form asks for business name, contact, phone, email, employee count, years in business and services offered. Its disclaimer expressly says that submission guarantees neither a contract, vendor status nor employment. Small firms can use it to introduce their capabilities, but should not budget around an award that has not been made.[19]

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Project Jupiter at a glance

Project detail	What contractors and workers should know
Location	Santa Teresa, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, on the New Mexico side of the El Paso border region.[1]
Physical development	Four main data-center buildings across a reported 1,400-acre development.[40]
Initial phase	County agreement summary describes an initial 400-acre phase. This is not the same counting scope as the full development.[2]
Construction participants	Clayco and Kiewit New Mexico Co., according to Clayco founder Bob Clark’s September 30 account.[27]
Initial capacity target	Fourth quarter of 2026 in the county agreement summary; not verified achieved.[2]
Initial-phase completion target	Third quarter of 2028, including the microgrid, in the county agreement summary.[2]
Power constraint	October 15 applicant release describes a pending air-permit application. The reported December 7 hearing remains prospective.[25][8]

View Santa Teresa on a regional map. This identifies the community, not an approved construction entrance or delivery route. Obtain the reporting address, gate assignment and truck-access instructions from your employer or package holder before arrival.

Business introductions are not job applications. LOCAL FIRMS: Project vendor-interest form. Introduce services; then confirm the package holder, qualification process and bid documents. CRAFT WORKERS: Ask the relevant hall or construction employer for a current call, exact site, pay and travel terms. OPERATIONS STAFF: Use individual STACK or Oracle applications. Check duties, credentials, shifts and the actual Santa Teresa location. — Choose the route that matches your purpose. Interest registration is not a bid or job offer. View full-size graphic

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What Project Jupiter is, and who does what

Project Jupiter is a data-center campus in Santa Teresa, Doña Ana County, near the Texas and Mexico borders. The county identifies STACK Infrastructure and BorderPlex Digital Assets as its project leaders. OpenAI identifies the Doña Ana County site as part of its Stargate expansion with Oracle.[1][17]

The project combines data-center buildings with a proposed on-site power system. Treat the campus, microgrid, gas supply and public infrastructure commitments as related workstreams, not as one contract with one start date.

Organization	Supported role	Contracting implication
STACK Infrastructure	Data-center infrastructure delivery; its announcement identifies investment from funds managed by Blue Owl Capital.[16]	A developer-side route, not proof that STACK directly holds every trade contract.
BorderPlex Digital Assets	Development partner identified by the county.[1]	Project leadership does not establish a specific subcontract award.
Oracle	Cloud infrastructure participant and project spokesperson; publishes local careers and current project disclosures.[5][20]	Oracle employment is separate from a construction contractor’s hiring or procurement.
OpenAI	Identifies the New Mexico site within Stargate.[17]	The Stargate name is not a bid-submission channel.
Clayco and Kiewit New Mexico Co.	Campus construction participants named by Clayco founder Bob Clark.[27]	Their exact legal contracting arrangement and division of packages need confirmation.
Yucca Growth Infrastructure	Applicant associated with the microgrid air-permit proceeding.[6][25]	Generation permits and contracts must be checked separately from campus buildings.
Bloom Energy	Fuel-cell technology identified in the proposed power design.[25]	Equipment supply, installation and operating employment are different opportunities.

In a September 30 first-person column, Clark said Clayco and Kiewit had placed the final structural beam on the first 855,000-square-foot portion of the campus. That is useful evidence of construction participation. It does not identify every electrical, mechanical, civil or fire-protection subcontractor.[27]

The sources reviewed do not provide a complete package-by-package contractor list. Ask for the legal contracting entity, building or work area, package number and procurement contact before sending pricing or accepting instructions to mobilize.

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Where the work stands: buildings, generation and gas supply

The county’s agreement summary anticipates initial capacity in the fourth quarter of 2026 and completion of the initial 400-acre phase, including the microgrid, in the third quarter of 2028. Those are anticipated milestones, not a certification that either target has been achieved.[2]

Searchlight New Mexico’s account of an October 13 site tour describes campus construction underway while the proposed microgrid awaited an air-quality permit. Its October 16 report says the permit hearing is expected to begin December 7. That reported date may change.[8]

Oracle and Yucca Growth Infrastructure announced another design refinement on October 15. Their release describes a proposed operating cap and says the supplement was submitted to a pending permit application. Although the release’s headline uses the phrase “permitted emissions,” the body does not announce an issued permit.[25]

Before accepting a notice to proceed, check which permitted scope it covers. Permission to grade a site does not establish permission to install generation equipment or begin commissioning. Obtain the permit and written authorization for the specific work you plan to perform.

Workstream	Evidence available on October 16	What to verify before committing resources
Campus buildings	Construction participation and structural milestone reported by Clayco’s founder; October site reporting describes continuing work.[27][8]	Exact building, current drawings, issued permits and authorized package holder.
Fuel-cell microgrid	October 15 applicant release calls the air-permit application pending.[25]	Issued permit, conditions, equipment release and installation authorization.
Gas supply	October 16 reporting describes pipeline routing and federal-review disputes.[8]	Approved route, responsible pipeline entity and the package’s actual notice to proceed.
Commissioning and operations	Employers advertise Santa Teresa facilities roles.[21][23]	Start date, energized-system readiness, shift pattern and whether the position supports construction turnover or permanent operations.

The public NMED case is AQB 26-57(P), Yucca Growth Infrastructure, associated with air-permit application NSR 10833. Use the official docket to check subsequent orders and filings. A filing in that docket is not itself permission to install or operate equipment.[6]

A further permit-process risk to watch

Source New Mexico reported October 14 that Attorney General Raúl Torrez had questioned the authenticity of a substantial share of comments on the air-permit application. His letter requested verification of the record and said reopening public comment should be considered if the records could not be verified. The report also quotes his explicit limitation: the letter does not establish who was responsible for a particular comment or characterize anyone’s intent.[39]

For contractors, this is another reason to follow actual hearing orders rather than assume a permit date. It does not establish a new construction shutdown or a fixed additional delay. Keep any standby and remobilization terms tied to your own contract and authorized work.

Do not apply the campus schedule to every package. BUILDINGS: Clayco founder reports a structural milestone Sept. 30. Confirm your building permit and notice to proceed. MICROGRID: Oracle describes a pending air application Oct. 15. A Dec. 7 hearing is reported, not an issued permit. GAS SUPPLY: Oct. 16 reporting describes routing and review disputes. Verify the pipeline package separately. — Campus, generation and gas-supply work have separate gates. Status checked October 16, 2026; reported hearing date is prospective. View full-size graphic

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Which trades should investigate which scopes

The following is a practical scope map, not a list of currently open packages. It combines documented campus systems and construction activity with the questions a trade contractor should resolve before bidding.[21][25][27]

Trade or service	Scope to investigate	Important boundary
Civil, excavation and underground utilities	Site access, grading, drainage, underground services and remaining civil packages	Determine whether work belongs to the campus, microgrid or a separate utility project.
Concrete, rebar, carpentry and structural steel	Remaining buildings, equipment foundations and structural modifications	A completed structural milestone does not establish that later packages remain available.
Electrical and instrumentation	Distribution, switchgear, controls, testing and equipment connections	Separate building electrical work from generation installation and energization.
Plumbing, pipefitting and mechanical	Closed-loop cooling, pumps, piping, water treatment and mechanical installation	Obtain actual system specifications; promotional water comparisons are not design documents.
Sheet metal and HVAC	Air-handling systems, ductwork, equipment installation and service	Confirm the mechanical package holder and whether hiring is through a hall or directly.
Fire protection and life safety	Sprinkler systems, detection, inspections and turnover documentation	STACK’s operations posting describes these systems, not an available installation contract.
Fiber, low voltage and controls	Cabling, network infrastructure, building monitoring and integrated testing	Verify scope boundaries with electrical and equipment vendors.
Operators, riggers and laborers	Equipment operation, material movement, lifts and construction support	Confirm employer, equipment qualifications and the current work area.
Testing, commissioning and technical training	Functional testing, acceptance records, operating procedures and staff preparation	Operations recruitment can begin before systems are ready for service.
Logistics and local services	Deliveries, consumables, equipment support and site-service proposals	Use the vendor-interest route, then establish an actual buyer and purchase order.

For a small contractor, a precise capability statement is more useful than a general claim that you can handle data centers. Identify your licensed scope, relevant industrial work, crew and supervision capacity, safety record, insurance and the geographic area you can serve. Ask which procurement system the package holder actually uses.

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Direct contractor qualification and bid-discovery routes

Clayco and Kiewit publish their own supplier entry points. These are more useful than sending a capability statement to an unrelated corporate inbox, but neither establishes an open Jupiter package.

Company	Direct route	Prepare before starting
Clayco	Subcontractor and vendor prequalification, including its Preconstruction Contractor Profile Form and public plan room	Clayco requires annual qualification. Its BuildingConnected plan room also requires a profile. Ask which Jupiter package holder controls your scope before pricing.[41]
Kiewit	Supplier registration and profile guide, with instructions for GEP SMART	Prepare company identity, service categories, operating regions, contacts and certificates. Accurate categories help buyers find your firm for sourcing and bidding.[42]

Registration starts the qualification process. An actual bid needs a named buyer, defined scope, drawings, submission instructions and deadline. We did not verify a publicly open Jupiter solicitation with those details.

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Construction supervision lead near Santa Teresa

Kiewit’s Project Superintendent – Building Group, requisition 179357, says its initial project is in the El Paso/Santa Teresa area. The listing seeks electrical, mechanical/electrical/plumbing (MEP), civil and structural superintendents. Responsibilities include supervising craft personnel, coordinating subcontractors, planning staffing and checking safety, quality and schedules.[43]

It asks for at least five years of construction experience, including three years in supervision, and experience overseeing subcontractors as a general contractor. Kiewit describes relocation or per diem/trips-home options for this role. Those terms do not establish benefits for other workers or packages.[43]

Read Kiewit requisition 179357. This is a local construction-management lead, not a verified Jupiter assignment or craft dispatch. Confirm the exact project with the recruiter. Our additional search did not verify an individual craft opening that explicitly names Jupiter.

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Verified Santa Teresa jobs: read the duties before applying

These employer pages were inspected on October 16. A visible application page is a recruiting lead, not confirmation that a position remains unfilled. Neither a job title nor a salary range guarantees an offer.

STACK: Critical Operations Technician, JR00150

The Santa Teresa posting covers day-to-day data-center operations. Duties include mechanical and electrical systems, controls, preventive maintenance, incident response and fire-life-safety monitoring. STACK lists $40–$53 per hour across technician levels I, II and III, with the offered rate tied to qualifications.[21]

The posting requires a high-school diploma or equivalent and three to five years of related mission-critical experience. It describes variable hours, possible on-call work, background screening and less than 5% travel. The displayed application end date is December 31, 2026, but an applicant should recheck the employer page rather than rely on that date alone.[21]

Read the full STACK technician posting and apply.

Oracle: Facilities Operations Technician IV, 333921

Oracle’s posting explicitly places this job onsite in Santa Teresa. It covers electrical, mechanical, cooling and controls systems, with troubleshooting, maintenance, upgrades and commissioning support. The listing requires U.S. citizenship and says visa or work-permit sponsorship is unavailable.[23]

Trade experience, apprenticeship completion or equivalent practical experience is preferred. The page lists a broad U.S. annual hiring range of $91,400–$187,000, with compensation dependent on experience and other factors. This is not a guaranteed Santa Teresa offer or a construction wage schedule.[23]

Read Oracle job 333921 and apply.

STACK: Technical Trainer, JR00334

Experienced tradespeople with training backgrounds should also review STACK’s Santa Teresa Technical Trainer role. It includes hands-on instruction in electrical, mechanical, controls and safety systems, equipment walkdowns and preparation for system handoff.[22]

The posting lists five or more years of relevant training experience, a degree or equivalent hands-on experience, and up to 30% domestic travel. Its displayed compensation range is $109,000–$121,000, with an October 31, 2026 application end date.[22]

Read the full STACK trainer posting and apply.

The project’s careers page also links to Bloom Energy recruitment. Its “Construction Careers” link leads to STACK’s general careers page; it should not be mistaken for a project-specific list of craft vacancies.[20][36]

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Union halls and regional craft contacts

SMART Local 49 says Project Jupiter is putting its members to work.[28] The project’s FAQ names UA 412 and the Carpenters among unions supporting construction.[26] Oracle’s October release quotes Carpenters Local 1319 leadership, but we did not verify a direct Local 1319 referral contact.[5]

Those statements do not establish a current referral call. Other halls below are official regional contacts whose Jupiter assignments were not confirmed in this research. Ask each hall about the exact project, employer, referral rules and current availability.

Trade	Official route	Contact and evidence boundary
Sheet metal	SMART Local 49	(505) 266-5878 ext. 0. The union has published a Jupiter-specific account; its contact page links an out-of-work portal.[28][29]
Plumbing and pipe trades	UA Local 412	Las Cruces satellite: (575) 382-5140. Main hall: (505) 265-1513. Contractor dispatch contact appears on the official page.[30]
Electrical	IBEW Local 611	(800) 287-2545. The Albuquerque office handles referral; confirm the applicable jurisdiction and employer.[31]
Equipment operators	IUOE Local 953	(505) 266-5757. Regional inquiry and membership route, not a verified Jupiter vacancy.[32]
Ironworkers	Ironworkers Local 495	(505) 242-9124. Ask about project-specific calls and requirements.[33]
Laborers	LIUNA Local 16	(505) 265-7933. Regional hall contact; a current Jupiter dispatch was not verified.[34]

Apprenticeship enrollment, union membership and dispatch are different processes. Someone entering a trade should ask about training admission and paid placement separately. A traveler should obtain a current call, not travel solely because a project announcement mentions thousands of jobs.

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Before you bid or leave home

New Mexico’s Construction Industries Division says it requires licensure for those practicing or offering to practice construction contracting. Use CID to confirm the required business classification and any individual trade credentials for your scope. Do not assume that a Texas license or a union card settles New Mexico requirements.[24]

For firms, resolve these items before committing equipment or accepting a start date:

The exact legal buyer, contract tier and person authorized to issue changes.
Building, work area, drawings, exclusions and the boundary between campus and power-system work.
Applicable permits and a written notice to proceed for your package.
Payment timing, retainage, stored-material terms and responsibility for delays.
Bonding, insurance, safety orientation and documentation requirements.
Who bears standby, demobilization and remobilization costs if power or permits delay your scope.

El Paso Matters reported a conditional provision that could allow Oracle to defer some rent payments if power is not delivered on time. That report concerns a tenant-landlord arrangement. It is not evidence that a subcontractor has gone unpaid, and this research did not establish project liens or unpaid trade invoices.[10]

For workers, confirm the employer and job location before arranging lodging. Ask about base pay, overtime rules, expected weekly hours, shift, per diem, travel reimbursement, parking, shuttle access and cancellation terms. The inspected sources do not establish a project-wide per diem or housing guarantee. Obtain those terms from the actual employer or hall.

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What the workforce numbers really mean

Oracle’s October 13 release reports 4,393 workers had contributed more than 3.75 million labor hours, including 1,230 New Mexico residents and 630 Doña Ana County residents. Those are cumulative reported participation figures, not a count of simultaneous openings.[5]

The same release projects 7,000 construction jobs at peak. That is a forecast, not 7,000 jobs available to applicants today. Older county materials use different employment commitments and time frames; they should not be combined into a single vacancy total.[5][2]

Oracle also says its paid, 12-week Catalyst training program will begin in 2027 and require no college degree or prior data-center experience. Treat that as an announced future pathway, not proof that enrollment is currently open.[5]

For more regional project comparisons, see Echelon’s data-center construction reports, including Abilene Stargate and xAI’s Memphis-area buildout. Their employers, permits and application routes are separate from Jupiter’s.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is building Project Jupiter in New Mexico?

The county identifies STACK Infrastructure and BorderPlex Digital Assets as project leaders. Clayco founder Bob Clark identifies Clayco and Kiewit New Mexico Co. as campus builders. The sources reviewed do not establish their complete legal contracting arrangement or every awarded subcontract.[1][27]

How can a contractor pursue Project Jupiter work?

Doña Ana County-area businesses can submit the official vendor-interest form. It collects business and service details but explicitly guarantees neither a contract, vendor status nor employment. Confirm the package holder and qualification process before treating it as a bidding opportunity.[19]

Are there verified Project Jupiter-area jobs for skilled tradespeople?

STACK and Oracle advertise Santa Teresa facilities roles with electrical, mechanical and controls duties. STACK’s technician posting lists $40–$53 per hour across three levels. These are employer recruitment listings for operations, not confirmation of construction dispatch openings.[21][23]

Is Project Jupiter’s power plant approved?

Oracle’s October 15 release describes a supplement to a pending microgrid air-permit application. October 16 reporting says the hearing is expected to begin December 7. Check the NMED docket for subsequent decisions; the cited material does not establish an issued air permit.[25][8][6]

Does the 7,000-job projection mean 7,000 openings now?

No. Oracle projects 7,000 construction jobs at peak. Its separately reported 4,393 workers are cumulative participants. Neither figure is a current vacancy count.[5]

Should workers travel before receiving a confirmed call or offer?

Obtain confirmation from the employer or hall first. Establish the site, start date, credentials, pay, expected hours and travel terms. This research did not verify a project-wide per diem, lodging benefit or guarantee of dispatch.

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Sources and research method

This report combines county project information, developer and employer disclosures, the NMED docket, official trade-hall contacts and dated local reporting. Research was checked October 16, 2026. Employer postings can close, dispatch calls change and permit schedules move.

Project-linked roles are distinguished from regional inquiry routes. Construction participation does not establish a particular contract tier; projected jobs are not vacancies. The scope table is a guide to questions and potential work categories, not a solicitation list. We did not submit applications, register vendors or contact employers on a reader’s behalf.

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