Job description
We are looking for a Senior Electromechanical Engineer specializing in Web Handling in Reel-to-Reel (R2R) processes to lead the development of our core manufacturing infrastructure. This is a high-impact role where you will be responsible for the architectural design of the automated systems that process our proprietary superconducting magnets. You will act as the technical authority for web-handling and tension-control systems, guiding the transition from R&D prototypes to high-reliability industrial production lines.
Key Responsibility Areas
- Design the hardware and controls for bespoke reel to reel process machines, ensuring seamless integration between high-precision mechanical assemblies and complex control software.
- Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for machine design enabling roll to roll tension control, web handling and steering, winding dynamics, and in-line process modules, providing technical guidance to the manufacturing and design teams.
- Scope and design electromechanical equipment to handle fragile high temperature superconducting tape with zero-defect tolerance.
- Manage external vendors and integrators for the fabrication of large-scale equipment, ensuring adherence to Thea Energy's rigorous performance and safety standards.
- Design and implement advanced in-line inspection systems (e.g., computer vision, laser interferometry) to capture high-fidelity process data during continuous manufacturing.
- Develop long-term strategies for manufacturing throughput, identifying bottlenecks in the R2R process and implementing automated solutions to increase yield and reliability.
Ideal Experience & Skillsets
- BS, MS, or PhD in Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related fields.
- 8+ years of experience in the electromechanical design and commissioning of complex reel-to-reel equipment, preferably in delicate material applications (e.g., semiconductor, battery electrode, or specialized aerospace).
- Expertise with Beckhoff/TwinCAT 3, EtherCAT, and structured text programming. Experience with "Taper Tension" and specialized winding algorithms is highly desired.
- Expertise in 3D CAD (NX preferred) and the use of FEA or multibody dynamics simulation to validate machine designs.
- Ability to solve "first-of-a-kind" engineering challenges where no off-the-shelf solution exists.
$130,000 - $165,000 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
About this role
About Thea Energy
Company Overview
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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