People Team (HR) Intern
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 Feb 23, 2026 | Report an issue
At Thea Energy, we believe our people are our greatest catalyst for innovation. As a People Team Intern, you'll be sitting at the heart of our organization and culture. Reporting directly to the VP - People, you will gain a high-level perspective on how a People function scales, while executing the foundational tasks that keep our team thriving.
This role is ideal for a proactive, detail-oriented student or recent graduate looking to understand the "why" behind HR strategy and the "how" of operational excellence.
What You'll Do
- Talent Acquisition Support: Assist in recruitment process, from sourcing candidates to coordinating interviews and ensuring a stellar candidate experience. Maintain our ATS data integrity with a keen eye for detail. Assist with enhancing our employer talent brand.
- Culture & Engagement: Help design and execute internal initiatives that foster connection.
- People Operations: Support the onboarding process for new hires to ensure they feel like "Theans" from day one. Create templates, process flows and SOPs.
- Strategic Projects: Partner with the VP - People on special research projects.
The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements
- Current Student or Recent Grad: Pursuing a degree in HR, Business, Psychology, or a related field.
- Prior HR experience is a plus.
- Discreet & Trustworthy: You understand that working in "People" means handling sensitive information with the utmost confidentiality.
- A Clear Communicator: Whether it's an email to a candidate or a Slack message to the team, your communication is professional, warm, and concise.
- Bias for Action: You don't wait for a manual; you're a problem-solver who enjoys figuring things out and improving processes.
- Tech-Savvy: Comfortable with software applications and eager to learn HR tools (like Lever, LinkedIn Recruiter).
- Experience leveraging AI tools is a plus.
Why Intern at Thea?
Direct Mentorship: You'll work closely with the VP - People, gaining insights into executive-level decision-making.
Impact: We are a lean team; your work will be visible and valued.
Growth: We treat our interns as full members of the team. You'll leave with a portfolio of real-world HR experience.
Compensation range: $18-20/hr
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!
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About the role
May 12, 2026
Internship
Company
- Kearny, New Jersey, United States
Current student or recent graduate
UTC-05:00
