The Role
Leads a portfolio of complex R&D projects involving high-temperature superconducting magnet systems, from concept through prototype development and production ramp-up. Manages scope, schedules, budgets, risks, staffing, technical tradeoffs, and cross-functional matrix teams. Serves as a liaison among executives, engineering teams, suppliers, and external stakeholders while driving project execution, operational scale-up, and risk mitigation.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Commonwealth Fusion Systems:
Commonwealth Fusion Systems is on a mission to deliver the urgent transition to fusion energy.
Combining decades of research, top talent, and new technologies, we’re designing and building commercially viable fusion power plants. And we're working with policymakers, suppliers, and many others to build the energy industry of the future.
We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised $4 billion of capital, making us the largest and leading fusion company in the world.
Now we’re looking for more thinkers, doers, builders, and makers to join us. People who’ll bring new perspectives, solve tough problems, and thrive as part of a team.
If that’s you and this role fits, we want to hear from you.
Join the power movement as a Senior R&D Technical Project Manager
We are seeking a Senior Technical Project Manager (TPM) to join our Project Management Office. This TPM will drive our next-generation High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnet systems. This specialized role requires proven experience delivering first of a kind (FOAK) complex projects from concept to first article prototypes through production ramp up.
What you'll do:
- Manage a portfolio of small to mid-sized R&D projects, leading and advising others in project management best practices
- Frequently act as the primary technical liaison with the executive team, internal engineering teams, and external project management of the scale-up efforts into repeatable sustained operational processes
- Understand and manage technical tradeoffs between research objectives and operational needs, including but not limited to scalability of the solution, design for manufacturability, material selection, coating technologies, tolerancing, etc.
- Work with others to ensure your projects are staffed sufficiently with the right skills mix to ensure the projects deliver on their commitments
- Develop and document comprehensive project plans, outlining project scope, goals, deliverables, resources, and timeline to meet strategic targets
- Lead a cross-functional team (matrix) composed of engineers, designers, analysts, procurement specialists, and other stakeholders to meet the requirements of the execution plan
- Foster a collaborative and high-performance team culture to drive project execution and achieve collective goals
- Monitor project timelines rigorously, identifying potential delays, devising, and implementing mitigation strategies to maintain project schedule
- Lead the active management of risks throughout the project lifecycle: Identify risks, develop & drive mitigation plans, and keeping stakeholders informed about progress of risks through regular updates & risk reporting
What we’re looking for:
- Bachelor’s or Masters degree in Science, Engineering, or a related field with a PMP or other Project Management certification
- 10+ years of technical experience, with a minimum of 5 years as a project manager leading new product integration
- Leader of people in the project management of the scale-up efforts into repeatable operational processes
- Proven project management experience including scope/requirements definition and management, schedule management and planning, risk management, budget management, stakeholder and communications management
- Experience acting as a technical liaison with the executive team, internal engineering teams, and external suppliers
- Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills and the ability to mobilize multi-disciplinary teams to address complex issues
- Functions as a collaborative team member and a servant leader, maintaining the team focused on objectives
- Proficient in driving decision-making and execution with available resources
- Capable of leading strategic ideation and transitioning seamlessly to drive flawless operational execution
- Possesses excellent communication skills, adapting to various levels of technical proficiency to ensure comprehensive understanding among all stakeholders
Bonus points for:
- PMP or equivalent Project Management certification.
- Proven experience managing projects with budgets exceeding $10M and teams of 15+ matrixed personnel
- Demonstrable expertise in development, fabrication, and testing large, complex prototypes or processes
- Familiarity with risks and challenges of any fusion power technologies (e.g cryogenics, vacuum, high current electrical systems, molten salts)
Must-have Requirements:
- Perform activities such as typing, stooping, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time
- Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
- Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics
#LI-Onsite
At CFS, we excel in fast-paced environments, driven by our values of integrity, execution, impact, and self-critique. As we grow, we’re eager to bring on mission-driven folks who offer diverse perspectives and fresh ways to tackle challenges.
We value diversity deeply and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally, regardless 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.
This role requires compliance with U.S. laws concerning the export of controlled or protected technologies or information (collectively, “Export Control Laws"). Any offer of employment will be contingent on the need for compliance with such Export Control Laws.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in science, engineering, or a related field
- PMP or other project management certification
- 10+ years of technical experience
- At least 5 years of experience as a project manager leading new product integration
- Experience leading project management for scale-up efforts into repeatable operational processes
- Experience managing project scope, requirements, schedules, risks, budgets, stakeholders, and communications
- Experience serving as a technical liaison with executive teams, engineering teams, and external suppliers
- Strong problem-solving skills and experience mobilizing multidisciplinary teams
- Ability to lead strategic ideation and transition projects into operational execution
- Excellent communication skills across varied technical audiences
- Experience managing projects with budgets exceeding $10 million
- Experience managing teams of 15 or more matrixed personnel
- Expertise in developing, fabricating, and testing large complex prototypes or processes
- Familiarity with fusion power technologies, including cryogenics, vacuum, high-current electrical systems, or molten salts
- Ability to work in industrial environments with heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead, high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics
- Willingness to travel or work occasional nights, weekends, or on-call shifts
- Ability to perform typing, stooping, standing, and sitting for extended periods
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The Company
What We Do
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. CFS is now building SPARC, the world's first commercially relevant, net energy fusion demonstration device. SPARC will pave the way for the first fusion power plant, ARC, that will produce power on the grid. The ultimate 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. If you are interested in joining our team, check out cfs.energy/careers for more information.
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