Open Innovation Engineer

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has the fastest, lowest cost path to commercial fusion energy.
CFS is collaborating with MIT to leverage decades of research combined with new groundbreaking high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. HTS magnets will enable compact fusion power plants that can be constructed faster and at lower cost. The mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. CFS has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by the world’s leading investors, CFS is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. To execute this plan, we are 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 skill sets and experience that relate to this role.
This role will pursue technical, schedule and cost upside across all company roadmaps, achieved through external collaborations and partnerships. The candidate must have expertise in one or more of four broad technical areas: 1) materials and manufacturing; 2) electromechanical machines; 3) plasma physics; or 4) data, controls and algorithms. 

This team member will:

• Integrate with internal technical and procurement teams to understand existing roadmaps and technical and business gaps in one of four technical focus areas as described in the position summary
• Assist in characterization of perceived risk, support discovery of best practices for addressing risks 
• Identify and recruit new collaborators with capabilities required to retire risk and accelerate roadmaps. Partners may include large and small companies, universities, National Labs, and non-profit organizations
• Pitch new programs and collaborations to CFS leadership
• Devise and execute funding strategy for these programs, including but not limited to government grants, in-kind private collaborations, and other internal and external funding
• Write government grant applications, program pitches, and other documents as needed
• Support new program launch, including setting milestones and deliverables, executing contracts, before handing off program to technical teams
• Work with counsel to set appropriate IP terms in collaborative work
• Support memorialization of program outputs and conclusions to internal and external stakeholders, including through creation of indexed, searchable documentation and final reports

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

• Required: Degree  in one or more of four broad technical areas: 1) materials and manufacturing; 2) electromechanical machines; 3) plasma physics; or 4) data, controls and algorithms
• Preferred: Research Masters degree or higher
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn new technical fields and interact with multiple stakeholders to stand up new programs
• Experience navigating complex organizations to achieve technical and business goals through discovery and leveraging of resources
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills – ability to synthesize and present complex technical, programmatic and business information 
• Deep technical fluency
• Sound and practical business judgment, intellectual creativity, and problem-solving skills
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability
• Strong organizational skills and superior attention to detail
• Deep experience partnering with and providing support to product and engineering teams, both internal and external to company boundaries
• Entrepreneurial, fast-moving fire-starter

Additional experience and/or qualifications:

• Participation in at least one research publication is preferred
• Technical consulting experience a plus
• Industrial experience in competence area a plus
• May need to walk around lab, R&D, and manufacturing environments, and abide by all safety protocols for potential  hazards including high magnetic fields, cryogenic liquids, large equipment, high power electronics, etc.
• Ability to performed activities such as sitting and typing for long periods of time
• This role is located in Devens with the possibility of remote work. Willingness to travel is also preferred for this reason.

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.