Heating Systems Lead

Thea Energy, Inc.; Kearny (NJ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Employee equity stock options

20 days PTO

Job summary

Thea Energy, Inc. seeks a Heating Systems Lead to oversee the design, development, and operation of plasma heating systems for our flagship fusion devices. This senior role requires deep technical expertise in RF/microwave heating, as well as strong leadership to coordinate physics, systems, and engineering teams.

You will own system roadmaps for the Eos device, guide diagnostics partnerships with national labs and universities, and ensure safety and industry standards. A Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in RF, microwave, or related technologies, focusing on high-power systems.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex projects.
• Experience in startup environments with high autonomy.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor engineers in design, testing, and operation of plasma heating systems.
• Manage budgets, vendor relations, and procurement of specialized hardware.
• Oversee multiple heating system projects to ensure timely delivery.
• Advise on system architecture, diagnostics, and plasma absorption.
• Define a comprehensive system roadmap for the Eos device and future plants.
• Coordinate diagnostics partnerships with national labs and vendors.

Skills

RF/microwave heating

High-power systems

Leadership of multidisciplinary teams

Education

PhD in Electrical Engineering

Master's in Electrical Engineering

Job description

About Thea Energy

Thea Energy is leveraging recent breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering to create a faster and simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy. The company is reinventing the stellarator using computer-controlled arrays of planar coils thereby replacing the intricate, complex modular magnets required in all other stellarator architectures. Thea Energy is on a mission to create a limitless source of zero emission energy for a sustainable future.

Position Overview

As Heating Systems Lead, you will oversee the design, development, implementation, and operation of plasma heating systems for Thea Energy’s flagship fusion systems.

This is a high-impact, senior-level role requiring deep technical expertise in magnetic confinement fusion heating, excellent team-building capabilities, and a collaborative mindset to interface with our core fusion physics, systems, and engineering teams.

Key Responsibility Areas

• Lead and mentor a team of engineers, scientists, and technicians in the design, construction, testing, and operation of plasma heating systems. Manage the budget, vendor relations, and procurement of highly specialized hardware.
• Oversee multiple plasma heating system projects ensuring technical excellence and timely delivery.
• Serve as a technical advisor for plasma heating programs, providing guidance on system architecture, diagnostics, fusion absorption, and operation.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices in heating system design and safety.
• Define a comprehensive system roadmap for the Eos device and future power plants, ensuring heating system capabilities align with core physics, engineering, and power plant requirements.
• Own the conceptual, preliminary, and final engineering designs of heating systems. Ensure these systems integrate seamlessly into the spatial constraints of our planar coil stellarator.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for diagnostics partnerships with national laboratories, academic institutions, and vendors to accelerate deployment.

Ideal Experience & Skillsets

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in RF, microwave, or related technologies, with a focus on high-power systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing complex projects.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, high-autonomy startup environment where prioritizing first-of-a-kind problem solving is the norm.

Company Benefits

• Salary range $150,000-$240,000
• 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.