Director SPARC Plant Operations

About Commonwealth Fusion Systems: 

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is on a mission to deliver the urgent transition to fusion energy.

Combining decades of research, top talent, and new technologies, we’re designing and building commercially viable fusion power plants. And working with policymakers and suppliers to build the energy industry of the future. 

We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised nearly $3 billion in capital, making us the largest and leading private fusion company in the world.

Now we’re looking for more thinkers, doers, builders, and makers to join us. People who’ll bring new perspectives, solve tough problems, and thrive as part of a team. 

If that’s you and this role fits, we want to hear from you.

Join the power movement as Director SPARC Plant Operations 

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is looking for a manager of the SPARC Plant Operations team who will have the mandate to ensure ongoing operations of the SPARC plant. This includes ensuring that trained staff is available for daily operations as well as for handling outages, conducting preventive maintenance, ensuring all consumables required to run the plant are stocked and available, and carrying out continuous improvement (Kaizen) projects.

• 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

• 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

• Operational experience with first-of-a-kind facilities or other new technology
• Experience commissioning a new facility from scratch

• Perform activities such as typing or sitting for extended periods of time
• Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call
• Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics

#LI-Hybrid

At CFS, we excel in fast-paced environments, driven by our values of integrity, execution, impact, and self-critique. As we grow, we’re eager to bring on mission-driven folks who offer diverse perspectives and fresh ways to tackle challenges.

We value diversity deeply and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally, regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law.

This role requires compliance with U.S. laws concerning the export of controlled or protected technologies or information (collectively, “Export Control Laws"). Any offer of employment will be contingent on the need for compliance with such Export Control Laws.