Vice President - Supply Chain
Thea Energy
Company Overview
Thea Energy, originally known as Princeton Stellarators Inc.
Princeton, New Jersey, United States
2022
Employee count and revenue figures for 2023 or later remain undisclosed publicly, though it operates as a private fusion startup with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program as one of eight recipients (source: pppl.gov).
What They Do
Thea Energy focuses on advancing fusion energy through innovative stellarator designs, utilizing arrays of planar high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils to achieve stable magnetic confinement. This approach simplifies the traditional complex 3D modular magnets found in conventional stellarators, allowing for more efficient and effective fusion energy production (source: fusionxinvest.com). Their flagship system, named Eos after the Greek goddess of dawn, is designed to produce neutrons for tritium breeding, which is essential for validating their technology and enabling future commercial applications, such as steady-state fusion power plants (source: heatmap.news). The company's technology leverages modern computing power and HTS materials to optimize designs, providing inherent steady-state stability that mitigates disruptions commonly associated with tokamaks (source: thea.energy). Their target markets primarily include commercial fusion energy developers, with an initial focus on neutron sources for industrial applications, although specific customer segments have not been detailed (source: fusionxinvest.com). A key differentiator for Thea Energy is its rapid in-house manufacturing capabilities, which utilize tools like a CNC machine and a specialized device named "Zeus" for winding HTS tape, allowing for quick iterations and reducing reliance on outsourced labor (source: heatmap.news).
Projects & Track Record
As of now, Thea Energy has not completed any projects, as it is still in the early stages of development focused on prototyping its Eos system. This system is intended to serve as the first demonstrator for neutron and tritium production, but specific completion dates, capacity specifications, or project locations have not been reported (source: fusionxinvest.com). The company is actively engaged in building and testing planar HTS coil prototypes at its facility in Kearny, New Jersey, which is equipped with an open office space, laboratory, and small-scale manufacturing capabilities for magnet arrays (source: heatmap.news). Thea Energy's origins at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) provide it with strong partnerships and a foundation in stellarator research, with co-founder David Gates being a notable physicist and Edison Patent Award winner for his contributions to the field (source: pppl.gov). Currently, the geographic presence of Thea Energy is limited to New Jersey, and there have been no announcements regarding expansion, although the location benefits from proximity to significant fusion research hubs in the Northeast, including PPPL and Columbia University (source: heatmap.news).
Recent Developments
In 2023, prior to its rebranding, Princeton Stellarators Inc. received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, which supports advancements in stellarator technology toward commercialization (source: pppl.gov). However, there have been no reported contracts, acquisitions, mergers, or additional funding rounds in the last two years, as the company focuses on proprietary breakthroughs without public milestones or awards beyond Gates' personal Edison Patent (source: thea.energy). Thea Energy's website encourages subscription updates but does not list any recent press releases regarding major announcements, indicating a relatively quiet period in terms of public communications (source: thea.energy).
Working There
Information about working at Thea Energy is limited, but it appears to be suitable for job seekers interested in a small, early-stage fusion startup environment. Roles likely encompass engineering positions focused on magnet design, HTS winding, and CNC manufacturing, as well as physics research and operational roles, inferred from the facility's mix of open desks, lab work, and prototype building (source: heatmap.news). Hiring seems to be concentrated at the New Jersey site, with no remote or other location postings documented (source: fusionxinvest.com). The company culture appears to blend the agility of a tech startup with the practicalities of a laboratory environment, emphasizing local unionized labor for scalability and rapid prototyping, rather than relying on elite academic talent, all within a space that prioritizes manufacturing efficiency (source: heatmap.news). However, no documented benefits, salary data, or employee testimonials are available in public sources.
Last updated on 2026-02-23 | Report an issue
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.
Thea Energy is looking for an experienced, highly motivated executive to define the global supply chain strategy for commercial fusion power. As Vice President - Supply Chain, you will serve as a strategic partner to the Company's leadership, finance & operations, and technical teams to architect the procurement and logistics infrastructure necessary to scale from prototype to power plant. This role will have a high degree of autonomy, and the ideal candidate must be able to move quickly to secure and manage critical path components in a competitive global market.
Key Responsibility Areas
- Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute the long-term global supply chain and procurement strategy to support Thea Energy's rapid growth and commercialization roadmap
- Organizational Development: Plan the hiring strategy and build a world-class supply chain organization, inclusive of sourcing, subcontracts management, supplier management, inventory/warehouse and logistics
- Global Sourcing & Partnerships: Lead supplier and partner negotiations and establish strategic partnerships with suppliers of critical materials (e.g. superconductors, vacuum vessels, power electronics)
- Process Architecture: Manage and develop company policies, programs, and procedures for inventory control, logistics, and vendor management, evolving these processes as the company grows
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with the Company's leadership to support employee growth & development and ensure supply chain needs are integrated into engineering and financial planning
- Culture Building: Employ strategies to build, maintain, and grow the Company's workplace culture within the operations team, fostering diversity and inclusion
Ideal Experience & Skillsets
- Executive Experience: 15+ years of relevant work experience, with significant time spent in senior leadership positions managing and growing supply chain organizations
- Scaling Expertise: Proven ability to support businesses through growth periods, specifically transitioning from R&D to full-scale manufacturing
- Strategic Acumen: Proven organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities while maintaining the "big picture" strategic vision
- Negotiation & Communication: Excellent negotiation, communication, and collaboration skills, capable of interacting effectively with board members, technical leads, and external partners
- Startup Agility: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment where speed and execution are critical
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Ability to work across cross-functional teams to support complex hardware challenges and recruitment needs
Company Benefits
- Salary range: $160,000-$250,000
- 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.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
Apply now
Job expired?Please let Thea Energy know you found this job on Rejobs. This will help us grow and get more people to work on renewable energy!
Apply now
Job expired?Please let Thea Energy know you found this job on Rejobs. This will help us grow and get more people to work on renewable energy!
Discover how you’re connected
View connectionsSee your contacts at Thea Energy on LinkedIn to leverage your network in applying for this position.
Get job alerts
Get job alerts for opportunities in Kearny, New Jersey, United States
Join Talent Pool
Let top clean energy employers find you
About the role
March 6, 2026
Full time
Company
- Kearny, New Jersey, United States
15+ years of executive experience
UTC-05:00