Director SPARC Plant Operations at Commonwealth Fusion Systems

Massachusetts, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Fusion Energy, EnergyIndustries

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in an engineering field or equivalent experience
10+ years experience in the operations of large process facilities, such as power plants, scientific facilities, or process manufacturing facilities
Experience operating large process systems, such as a power plant, chemicals, oil/gas, cryogenics, or others
Experience managing salaried and hourly staff
Strong people management skills of both small and large teams
Leadership, team-building, and mentoring skills for both engineers and technicians
Demonstration of the ability to build trust with front line employees and identify issues first hand
Executes long-term departmental strategy using sound judgment to align tactical initiatives with overall organizational goals
Ensures cross-functional alignment through proven, effective communication with diverse stakeholders and executive leadership
Ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment
Strong attention to safety and the creation of a safety culture
Bonus: Operational experience with first-of-a-kind facilities or other new technology
Bonus: Experience commissioning (inferred from incomplete text)

Responsibilities

Recruit, hire, and onboard a high-performing team of plant operators, technicians, and support staff
Develop and implement comprehensive training programs, including initial qualification, continuing training, and specialized skill development
Develop and manage shift schedules, on-call rotations, and vacation planning to ensure 24/7 operational coverage and readiness
Foster a strong, positive, and safety-first culture within the operations team
Oversee all daily pre-operational checks and plant startup/shutdown procedures
Manage all operational consumables (e.g., gases, cryogens, chemicals, diesel fuel, etc.)
Develop and maintain plant operations manuals, procedures, and emergency response protocols
Develop and execute a comprehensive plant maintenance strategy, incorporating preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance
Plan and manage the schedule for all maintenance windows, minimizing downtime and maximizing plant availability
Oversee the execution of all maintenance activities, ensuring work is performed safely, to a high standard, and documented correctly
Track key reliability metrics to understand overall performance
Champion a culture of continuous improvement by actively identifying opportunities to enhance safety, reduce operational costs, and increase plant efficiency and reliability
Lead cross-functional teams to execute continuous improvement projects using Root Cause Analysis and other similar methodologies
Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for plant operations and use data-driven insights to guide improvement initiatives

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Team RecruitmentOnboardingTraining ProgramsShift SchedulingSafety CulturePreventive MaintenanceKaizenPlant StartupPlant ShutdownConsumables ManagementOperations ManualsEmergency Procedures

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What education or experience is required for the Director SPARC Plant Operations role?

A Bachelor's degree in an engineering field or equivalent experience is required, along with 10+ years of experience.

What are the main responsibilities of this position?

Responsibilities include recruiting and training a high-performing operations team, managing shift schedules for 24/7 coverage, overseeing maintenance and consumables, fostering a safety-first culture, and leading continuous improvement projects using KPIs and Root Cause Analysis.

What is the salary or compensation for this role?

This information is not specified in the job description.

Is this position remote or does it require on-site work?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What does the company culture emphasize for this role?

The company seeks thinkers, doers, builders, and makers who bring new perspectives, solve tough problems, and thrive as part of a team, with the role specifically requiring fostering a strong, positive, and safety-first culture within the operations team.

Commonwealth Fusion Systems

Develops and commercializes fusion energy systems

About Commonwealth Fusion Systems

Commonwealth Fusion Systems focuses on developing fusion energy as a clean and sustainable power source. The company utilizes advanced magnet technology, created in partnership with MIT, to build smaller and more affordable fusion systems called tokamaks. These devices use magnetic fields to confine plasma in a toroidal shape, which is an effective method for achieving fusion. Currently, CFS is manufacturing high-temperature superconducting magnets and constructing SPARC, the first commercially-relevant net energy fusion machine. The success of SPARC is intended to lead to the development of ARC, the first fusion power plant. CFS differentiates itself from competitors by its commitment to scientific integrity and a mission-driven approach, focusing on delivering cost-competitive fusion energy to help combat climate change. The ultimate goal is to provide a reliable and abundant energy source for energy providers and industries that require significant power.

Harvard, MassachusettsHeadquarters

2018Year Founded

$1,958.7MTotal Funding

GRANTCompany Stage

EnergyIndustries

501-1,000Employees

Benefits

12.5 Company-wide Holidays

Our vacation policy is 'take vacation'

Our sick time policy is 'get better and try not to make others sick'

Generous parental leave policy

Health Reimbursement

Health, Dependent Care, & Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Accounts

Delta Dental, Blue 20/20 Vision optional

Wellbeing / Headspace coverage

Short-term & long-term disability

Life and AD&D insurance

401K

Risks

Competition from companies like TAE Technologies could impact CFS's market position.

Reliance on rare-earth materials poses supply chain risks.

Public perception of nuclear fusion technology remains uncertain.

Differentiation

CFS uses rare-earth barium copper oxide superconductor technology for energy development.

CFS collaborates with MIT for advanced fusion research and magnet technology.

CFS is building SPARC, the first commercially-relevant net energy fusion machine.

Upsides

CFS plans to build the world's first commercial fusion power plant in Virginia.

Increased investment in fusion energy startups indicates strong investor interest.

Government net-zero targets align with CFS's clean energy mission.

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