Vice President - HTS Magnet Engineering
About Thea Energy: Thea Energy is leveraging recent breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering to create a faster and simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy. The company is reinventing the stellarator using computer-controlled arrays of planar coils thereby replacing the intricate, complex modular magnets required in all other stellarator architectures. Thea Energy is on a mission to create a limitless source of zero emission energy for a sustainable future.
Position Overview: Thea Energy is seeking a Vice President - HTS Magnet Engineering to lead the organization responsible for one of the most critical technology pillars of the company’s planar coil stellarator: high temperature superconducting (“HTS”) magnets. As a senior member of the technology leadership team, the VP will set the long-term technical strategy and organizational structure for magnet engineering, own the function’s budget and roadmap, and ensure magnet development scales in lockstep with Thea Energy’s path to commercial fusion. This is a high-visibility executive role requiring both deep technical credibility and proven leadership of large, fast-growing engineering organizations.
Key Responsibility Areas: Define and own the long-term technical strategy and vision for HTS magnet engineering across the company’s fusion program
Build, lead, and scale the magnet engineering organization, including hiring and developing Directors, Managers, Engineers, and Analysts
Own the magnet engineering budget, headcount plan, and capital investment strategy, including test and manufacturing infrastructure
Set organizational goals and milestones for magnet design, build, and test in alignment with overall company strategy and fundraising milestones
Provide executive-level technical judgment on magnet specifications, design trade-offs, and risk management
Own strategic vendor, supplier, and manufacturing partnerships critical to magnet hardware delivery at scale
Partner with the CTO, CEO, and other executive leaders to align magnet engineering with overall stellarator system design, program schedule, and commercialization strategy
Represent Thea Energy’s magnet engineering capability externally to investors, partners, government stakeholders, and the broader fusion and superconducting magnet community
Establish organizational processes, culture, and standards that enable the magnet engineering function to scale from first-of-a-kind builds to production
Own risk identification and mitigation planning for the magnet program at the portfolio level
Ideal Experience & Skillsets: 15+ years of engineering experience with magnets, cryogenics, vacuum systems, or transformer design, including substantial experience as a senior engineering executive
Proven track record building and leading large, fast-growing engineering organizations, ideally in a hardware-intensive startup or advanced technology environment
Deep technical credibility in HTS magnets, electromagnetics, or related disciplines, with the judgment to guide major design and program decisions
Experience owning multi-million dollar engineering budgets, capital planning, and organizational design
Strong track record of strategic supplier and partner relationship management for complex, custom hardware programs
Exceptional executive communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience with investors, boards, or government partners
Demonstrated ability to operate at both strategic and technical depth in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment
Track record of successfully scaling engineering teams and processes from early-stage to production-ready
Innate desire to learn, innovate, and critique ideas — including one’s own and the organization’s
At least a bachelor’s degree in physics, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials engineering, or a related field; advanced degree strongly preferred
Experience with magnetic confinement fusion, aerospace, medical devices, or other highly technical, regulated industries is ideal
Requirements: Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.
Ability to perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time
Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call
Ability to work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics
Company Benefits: Salary range $240,000-$300,000
Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)
Employee equity stock options
20 days PTO
It’s not necessary to meet all of the skillsets outlined above. Please feel free to send us a note and tell us why you would still be a great fit for this role or Thea Energy.
Diversity and Inclusion: Thea Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a company of diverse backgrounds. By creating a diverse environment, we will bring new ideas and approaches to solving some of the world’s hardest (and most important) problems. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, family or marital status, age, disability, veteran’s status, or other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.