Component Cleaning & Prep Lead

Commonwealth Fusion; Harvard (MA); On-site; USD 55,104 - 68,880; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is seeking a Cleaning Technician Team Lead to manage 2–3 technicians on the shop floor, ensuring safety and adherence to procedures while maximizing throughput.

You will develop SOPs, collaborate with inventory teams, and oversee cleaning of metal components using solvents, aqueous degreasing, ultrasonic cleaning, and manual wiping. This is a hands-on leadership role in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Technical certifications preferred.
• 3–5 years in industrial parts-cleaning operations.
• Experience leading a manufacturing floor.
• Knowledge of cleaning methods: solvent, aqueous, ultrasonic.
• Familiarity with ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 2–3 cleaning technicians; assign daily tasks and manage throughput.
• Partner with Material and Inventory Coordinators to log tracking, batch control, and material movements in the ERP system.
• Author Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cleaning modalities and equipment.
• Research, define, and implement cleaning standards and workflow layouts based on best practices.
• Ensure compliance with safety guidelines and proper handling of solvents and hazardous waste.

Skills

Team leadership

Industrial chemistry

Manufacturing technology

Cleaning methods

Metal parts handling

ERP systems

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Odoo

SAP

Oracle

Job description

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 we’re 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.

What you’ll do:

• Lead a team of 2–3 cleaning technicians. Assign daily tasks, manage throughput, and maintain a flexible schedule to meet shifting production demands. Act as the onsite trainer to educate team and management on chemical safety, contamination control, and proper hardware handling techniques
• Partner closely with dedicated Material and inventory Coordinators to ensure tracking, batch control, and material movements are seamlessly logged in the ERP system
• Author Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for various cleaning modalities, including immersion/baths for small hardware and manual wipe-down protocols for oversized metal components. Assist in the selection, commissioning, and validation of specialized cleaning equipment (e.g., ultrasonic baths, parts washers, chemical stations, or specialized filtration/ventilation systems)
• Research, define, and implement component-cleaning standards, validation methods, and workflow layouts based on industry’s best practices for industrial metal parts
• Obey and enforce all CFS Safety guidelines. Manage the safe handling, storage, and disposal of cleaning solvents, chemical agents, and hazardous waste in compliance with SDS and CFS plans. Maintain a highly organized, clean, and audit-ready clean area

What we’re looking for:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Technical certifications in industrial chemistry, materials science, or manufacturing technology preferred
• 3–5 years of experience directly executing and managing industrial parts-cleaning operations within a manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, or precision-machining environment
• Proven team leadership or supervisory experience; must have a record of successfully assigning tasks, managing team throughput, and driving accountability on a manufacturing floor
• Deep knowledge of a variety of cleaning methodologies (e.g., solvent cleaning, aqueous degreasing, ultrasonic cleaning, acid/alkaline baths, and precision manual wiping)
• Proven experience handling metals of various shapes and scales, understanding how surface finishes, oils, and particulate matter impact downstream assembly
• Demonstrated experience establishing a line, setting up cleaning work‑cells, or implementing new manufacturing procedures from scratch
• Functional understanding of ERP systems (Odoo, SAP, Oracle) and how material tracking impacts production

Bonus Points For:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Strong technical training skills; comfortable explaining chemical and physical cleaning constraints to non-technical team members
• Strong computer skills with MS Office or G‑Suite applications (Excel, Docs) for drafting procedural checklists
• Experience operating material handling equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks) is a plus

Must-have requirements:

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
• Perform activities such as stopping, climbing, typing, standing, and sitting for extended periods of time
• Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, and cryogenics

$40 - $50 an hour

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.