Senior Technical Program Manager at Thea Energy (Kearny, NJ)Senior Technical Program Manager

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 an experienced and motivated Technical Program Manager to lead a large, complex custom product development program within the fusion energy industry. This is a highly visible role in the organization leading manufacturing development of core magnet technology. This role will act as a force multiplier by increasing development velocity and raising the bar on execution standards. You will oversee the scaling of magnet production from concept to pilot and commercial scale ramps that will advance fusion technology.

Key Responsibility Areas:

- Lead cross-functional manufacturing and operations programs from concept through pilot production, including process and equipment design, installation, qualification, and ramp.

- Oversee the selection, qualification, and management of external custom manufacturing vendors, ensuring adherence to specifications, quality standards, and delivery schedules.

- Guide the transition from prototype to large-scale manufacturing, including the integration of large equipment and continuous process manufacturing techniques.

- Provide regular, detailed program updates to leadership and stakeholders, highlighting progress, technical challenges, and proposed solutions.

- Establish and track key manufacturing readiness metrics (equipment readiness, process capability, throughput, yield etc.)

- Proactively identify and manage technical, schedule, budget, and quality risks.  develop effective mitigation strategies and contingency plans.

Ideal Experience & Skillsets:

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.

- 5+ years leading complex, multidisciplinary engineering programs ideally involving large scale hardware development in climate tech, aerospace, nuclear, or related industries.

- Demonstrated experience of working in a manufacturing ramp setting and delivering concept and pilot scale manufacturing development milestones.

- Demonstrated ability to work deeply with technical teams (physics, mechanical engineering, magnet engineering, manufacturing engineering) and solve first of a kind problems.

- Strong understanding of design and manufacturing processes and the realities of design, build, test cycles.

- Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence across engineering, operations, and leadership teams.

- Proven ability to distill complex technical programs into clear risks, decisions, and priorities for leadership audiences.

- Comfortable operating in a fast-moving startup environment, with high ownership and ambiguity.

Nice to have:

- Manufacturing roadmap development experience.

Company Benefits:

• 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.