Head of SPARC Integration

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) is the surest path to limitless, clean fusion energy. Our mission is to enable world-wide clean energy for everyone, creating a sustainable environment for current and future generations. We have created a credible path to an operating fusion power plant in 15 years which leverages our novel collaboration with MIT and funding from strategic and financial investors who share our vision. This begins by developing a new class of high-field superconducting magnets that will enable the SPARC tokamak to demonstrate net energy from fusion for the first time. To execute this plan, we are now looking to add talented people to the team who are mission-driven and treat people well, improve our team by adding diverse perspectives and new ways of solving problems, have demonstrated exceptional results through a range of different pursuits, and have skillsets and experience that relate to this role.As CFS builds the SPARC tokamak over the next four years, we’ll also be building a core competency within the company of integrating, installing, commissioning, operating and maintaining fusion technology that can reliably deliver mission goals for the company and performance for consumers. We are looking for an experienced leader to build this core competency and lead our SPARC Integration Team of about 50 talented team members who represent a diverse range of experience and technical background. This leader will be instrumental to our successful demonstration of net fusion energy in 2025 and subsequent deployment of ARC powerplants throughout the world.

This team member will:

• Ensure that system-level activities remain on the path to delivering the plasma and the tokamak performance we plan for
• Lead a multi-functional team that includes Systems Engineering & Design Integration, Installation & Commissioning, Instrumentation & Control, Tokamak Operations, and Physics
• Proactively identify conflicts and interfacing challenges between different systems and teams and facilitate their resolution, balancing performance, cost and risk
• Identify areas where future tokamak systems can be decoupled and made more modular and more easily maintained
• Build a culture with strong version control and change management while continually reducing documentation and bureaucracy
• Contribute to strong safety culture
• Build a core competency in plasma physics driven design and tokamak operations to deliver fusion devices optimized for power production.
• Have supervisory reports from the Head of Systems Engineering & Design Integration, Head of Installation & Commissioning, Head of Tokamak Operations, Head of Instrumentation & Control, and the Head of Physics

The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements:

• A Bachelors level education in engineering or physics
• Demonstrated track record in problem solving while bringing a complex commercial product, aerospace vehicle or research facility from design through to market/operations
• Participation in product design, mission execution or facility operations in >$100M projects
• Experience leading integrated design activities where optimization helped to save cost or avoid schedule delays
• Demonstrated track record of contributing to teams completing first-of-a-kind or novel engineering design, especially where industry standards or conventions do not yet exist
• Helped to deliver products, vehicles or facilities while working under a formal program for quality assurance and quality control
• Combined direct and indirect line management of a team of at least 25 people

Additional experience and/or qualifications:

• Development of work planning and control needed to transition a concept from design to production, fabrication, assembly or construction
• Has completed assembly, maintenance and commissioning of a custom instrumentation package for commercial or research application
• Combined direct and indirect line management of a team of at least 50 people
• Understanding of magnetically confined fusion systems such as tokamaks and stellarators
• Understanding of risks associated with nuclear technology, preferably fusion-related
• Attention to detail with an ability to pivot between topics multiple times per day
• Ability to understand and manage interface issues that bridge complex engineering and physics topics
• Exceptional engineering leader with a strength in connecting multi-faceted teams and resolving conflicts across interfaces
• Ability to combine design integration activities with procurement and project scheduling to manage cost and schedule risk
• Ability to perform activities such as typing, standing, and sitting for extended periods of time
• Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include strong magnets

CFS team members thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and have demonstrated exceptional results through a range of different pursuits. We all tightly align with our company values of integrity, execution, impact and self-critique. As we grow, we are looking to add talented people who are mission driven and bring diverse perspectives and new ways of solving problems.At CFS, we deeply value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally for employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.