US$130,000–165,000 /yr
today
US$130,000–165,000 /yr
today
Job description
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.
We are seeking a Lead HTS Magnet Systems Engineer to own the full lifecycle of our large-scale High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cabled magnet systems. You will bridge interdisciplinary electrical and mechanical domains, driving everything from early stage design trade studies and cable architectures (CICC stacked REBCO) to manufacturing, assembly, QA test and integration into the device.
Key Responsibilities
- End-to-End Program Ownership: Lead system design reviews (CDR/PDR), subsystem qualification, site commissioning, and risk mitigation across multi-year fusion hardware projects.
- Cabled HTS Design: Specify and optimize high-current cabled HTS conductors, managing thermomechanical stresses, high-field Lorentz forces, and thermal quench propagation.
- Large-scale manufacturing: Specify and review designs in the 1-10m range and in the 10-100 Tonne range.
- Electro-Mechanical Integration: Direct coupling between high-current electrical power leads, quench detection systems, cryogenic cooling interfaces, and structural mechanical supports.
- Vendor & Lifecycle Management: Oversee technical deliverables for HTS tape/cable vendors, manufacturing facilities, and integration test platforms.
Core Competencies & Requirements
Direct Experience (10 - 15 Years Required)
- Superconducting Systems: Proven track record design and delivery of high-field (10T+) HTS cabled magnets or low-temperature (LTS) Cable-in-Conduit Conductors (CICC) for fusion applications.
- Program Execution: Demonstrated ownership of major lifecycle milestones in complex megaprojects (e.g., W7x, JT60SA, KSTAR, ITER -scale setups, or commercial fusion ventures) with budget ownership $10M - $50M.
- Failure Analysis & Test Operations: Hands-on leadership of full-scale magnet testing, cryogenic qualification (4.2K-20K), and post-test forensics.
- Start-up experience: Has dealt with the demands of a fast-growing start-up.
- Large-scale magnet manufacturing experience: Demonstrated experience with dealing with the challenges of forgings, composite insulation, solder potting in the 1-10m length scale and aware of the challenges.
Domain Knowledge
- Applied Superconductivity: REBCO 2G-HTS tape mechanics, strain limitations, current distribution, AC losses, and tape-to-cable joint architecture.
- Multiphysics Engineering: FEA modeling coupling electromagnetic forces (Lorentz/Maxwell), structural stress analysis, thermal management, and fluid flow (gaseous/supercritical helium).
- Quench Protection & Diagnostics: Active and passive protection systems, voltage tap arrays, fiber-optic temperature sensors, and high-speed dump circuit interfaces.
- Strategic Risk Mitigation: Mastery of FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) applied to cryogenic system failures, vacuum loss (loss of vacuum/L VAC), and runaway quench scenarios.
Technical & Leadership Skills
- Systems Engineering: CONOPS, requirements, Interface control documentation (ICD), requirements traceability, and cross-functional leadership spanning electrical and mechanical teams.
- Software Tools: Proficiency with ANSYS, COMSOL, OPERA, MATLAB/Simulink, or custom HTS electrodynamic modeling tools.
Education
- B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, or Nuclear Engineering.
Company Benefits
- Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)
- Employee equity stock options
- 20 days PTO
$180,000 - $220,000 a year
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 and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. 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.
Pay & benefits
US$180,000–220,000 /yr
Health insurance
Equity
Paid time off
About this role
Posted
29 Sep 2026
Updated
29 Sep 2026
Job type
Full time
Workplace
On-site
Sectors
Working hours
UTC-04:00
Experience
10 - 15 Years Required
Employerthea.energy
LinkedInThea Energy
About Thea Energy
Company Overview
Name
Thea Energy, originally known as Princeton Stellarators Inc.
HeadquartersPrinceton, New Jersey, United States
Founded2022
SizeEmployee 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.
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