Program Manager

Job Description

Thea Energy is seeking for an experienced, organized, and motivated Program Manager. As a Program Manager, you will be responsible for managing the execution of a complex deployment of various fusion systems including an integrated device across design, prototyping, construction, and operational phases.

In this role, you will help organize and execute across the lifecycle of new technology deployment of one of the most consequential and cutting-edge technologies of our generation - fusion energy. As a Program Manager, you will establish critical management protocols and procedures to manage risk and deploy the Company's technology in the most efficient way possible.

The Thea Energy team is comprised of self-motivated, innovative, and collaborative individuals with an excitement for solving complex problems. This is a challenging position that requires a high degree of autonomy, and the ideal candidate must be able to move quickly. A proven track record of leading program management, excellent communication skills, and a passion for new technologies and innovation is required.

Key Responsibility Areas

• Manage the strategy and execution of first-of-a-kind technologies across design, prototyping, construction, and startup phases
• Coordinate overall program schedules and budgets with Company leadership, engineering and physics teams, and vendors, to execute against programs
• Identify critical path risks and decisions, and enact them into program management
• Continue the development of project management best practices that prioritize efficiency and manage programmatic baselines including WBS, schedule, and cost
• Take full ownership of the risk register and mitigation tracking system, facilitating regular reviews with technical leads to ensure mitigation plans are actively enacted
• Maintain and evolve project scoping and approval processes to ensure all new initiatives are properly vetted, aligned with company milestones before execution, and then enacted
• Work with various teams to establish scope and associated staffing requirements to accomplish projects as the company scales
• Work closely engineering and physics teams to implement various management and documentation protocols capable of tracking risks, decisions, cost, and schedule across development stages
• Manage programs using lean systems designed to provide maximum visibility to leadership with minimum administrative friction
• Develop performance metrics to track program effectiveness and establish a regular reporting structure to communicate progress to staff and the Company' Board
• Establish project controls and planning functions, including the process for establishing schedule baselines and managing changes
• Serve as the central hub between physics, engineering, and finance to ensure technical decisions are mapped to budget and schedule impacts
• Maintain a regular reporting cadence for department updates

Ideal Experience & Skillsets

• 5+ years of program management experience in a deep-tech or high-growth hardware environment
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field
• Proven track record of maintaining project governance, approval workflows, and stage-gate processes, and meeting milestones on time and on budget
• Advanced experience in risk management and the active tracking of mitigation lifecycles
• Knowledge of project execution risks and how to manage them effectively, including financial implications
• Experience deploying large and complex first-of-a-kind systems (e.g. fusion, aerospace)
• Familiarity with complex hardware systems such as cryogenic, heating, fluid, vacuum, power electronics, and control systems
• Demonstrated ability to manage lean project systems that prioritize big-picture goals over administrative complexity
• Strong communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to translate strategy into actionable engineering tasks
• Ability to innovate, execute, and flourish in a fast-paced environment
• Experience with schedule development for large projects, including managing variances, strategic planning, and contingencies
• Exceptional work ethic
• Prioritization of safety above all else
• Proficiency in project software including Jira, Wrike, and Microsoft Project
• Team player who is excited to help others and flourish in a high-autonomy work culture
• Ability to occasionally lift objects up to 50 lbs.

Company Benefits

• Salary range $85,000-$145,000
• 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.