Director, Mechanical Engineering – Fusion Systems

U.S. Fusion Energy; Energy (IL); On-site; USD 175,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Employee equity stock options

20 days PTO

Job summary

Thea Energy is seeking a Director of Mechanical Engineering to lead the design, analysis, and integration of mechanical fusion system components for its stellarator projects. The role requires oversight of structural, thermal, vacuum, and materials engineering, with close collaboration across manufacturing and nuclear engineering disciplines.

You will guide requirements definition, system trades, and verification campaigns, while building a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in mechanical/nuclear engineering or related field with large-scale hardware.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary hardware development programs from concept through fabrication and test.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical baseline for primary and secondary mechanical fusion systems, including requirements, design, development, analysis, verification, through manufacturing, commissioning, and operation.
• Drive system-level trades across performance domains (thermal, structural, electromagnetic, nuclear, vacuum, cryogenic).
• Build, lead, and develop an integrated engineering team spanning multiple disciplines.

Skills

Structural analysis

Thermal-hydraulic analysis

Vacuum system design

Cryogenic engineering

Nuclear engineering

High-heat-flux design

Manufacturing engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering

Bachelor's degree in physics

Tools

CAD NX

ANSYS

PLM systems

Job description

Thea Energy is seeking a Director of Mechanical Engineering to lead the design, analysis, and integration of mechanical fusion system components for its stellarator projects. The role requires oversight of structural, thermal, vacuum, and materials engineering, with close collaboration across manufacturing and nuclear engineering disciplines.

You will guide requirements definition, system trades, and verification campaigns, while building a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team in a