Manager, Process Engineering - Assembly

Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLC; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

13 Company-wide Holidays

Flexible vacation days

10 sick days

Generous parental leave policy

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Professional growth opportunities

Team-building activities

Job summary

Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLC is seeking a Manager, Process Engineering - Assembly to lead a team of 8–15 engineers across SPARC assembly work instructions. You will translate strategy into actionable plans, optimize workflows, and drive manufacturing-focused design reviews.

Expect close collaboration with design and field teams to unblock work and improve throughput. The role demands 7+ years in mechanical engineering with ownership, and 2+ years leading a team, plus CAD experience.

Qualifications

• BS in Civil, Structural, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering.
• 7+ years of Mechanical Engineering experience with project ownership.
• 2+ years of experience directly managing an engineering team or a large-scale project.
• 2+ years of experience with CAD software.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of engineers to develop, release, and implement technical work instructions for SPARC assembly.
• Translate department strategy into actionable objectives and timelines.
• Define and optimize engineering workflows and internal standards for efficiency.
• Oversee tracking tools to manage hundreds of planning tasks for SPARC assembly.
• Establish best practices for mechanical assembly and rework processes.
• Manage talent, including hiring, training, and performance expectations.
• Mentor team members and contribute to their technical growth.
• Collaborate across teams to influence design direction and resolve conflicts.
• Provide design feedback to SPARC subsystem designs focused on manufacturability.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

Project ownership

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Civil, Structural, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering BS

Tools

CAD software

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, suppliers, and many others to build the energy industry of the future.

We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised $4 billion of capital, making us the largest and leading 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.

Join the power movement as Manager, Process Engineering - Assembly

The Manager, Process Engineering is an organizational leader accountable for the management, engineering oversight, and efficient development and release of all engineering created work instructions across all elements of the SPARC Tokamak build. The role will manage a team of 8 to 15 engineers spread across the in work and soon to start stations of SPARC Assembly. As manager, the role at its core requires supporting the effective organization, tasking, and development of the individual contributors on the team while also driving efficiency and technical development tools to most effectively complete the thousands of planning tasks prior to the planned start of work. Additionally, the leadership role requires close collaboration with Field Assembly Engineering peers (who scope and discretize the work) and design engineering counterparts supplying inputs and technical detail. The role involves a high degree and quantity of decision making around technical approaches to a wide variety of mechanical challenges to keep the team unblocked and on task. At the core, the manager will refine existing processes, develop individual talent, and resolve pop up issues to create the most complete set of work instructions needed to build CFS’s technically complex SPARC Tokmakak.

What you'll do:

• Lead a team of eight to fifteen process engineers to develop, release and implement the technical engineering work instruction to construct the SPARC device
• Translate department-level strategy into actionable group objectives and manageable project timelines
• Define and optimize process engineering workflows and internal standards to improve successful solution outcome rate and team efficiency
• Oversee the full development of tracking and priority tools to concurrently manage hundreds of individual planning tasks for the SPARC Assembly effort.
• Establish and reinforce best practices for mechanical assembly, including standards for aligning, installation, and rework
• Manage all aspects of the group's talent, including hiring, training, and setting clear performance expectations
• Coach and mentor team members, actively contributing to their technical growth and professional career development
• Build relationships across the organization to influence design direction and resolve technical conflicts with stakeholders
• Provide design feedback to SPARC sub-system designs with a focus on manufacturing and assembly. Participate in both formal and informal design reviews to ensure what is delivered can be assembled
• Support hands on operations during Tokamak Assembly serving a variety of roles in the process
• Work with teammates in a collaborative fashion to receive feedback early and often to ensure all requirements are met. Many SPARC projects involve high loads, vacuum requirements, and complex manipulation requiring the involvement and review of adjacent sub system experts

What we’re looking for:

• Civil, Structural, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering BS
• 7+ years of Mechanical Engineering Experience demonstrating project ownership
• 2+ years experience directly managing an engineering team or a large scale engineering project as an individual contributor.
• 2+ years of experience with CAD software

Bonus points for:

• 8+ years of Mechanical Engineering Experience demonstrating project ownership
• 4+ years experience directly managing an engineering team or a large scale engineering project as an individual contributor
• 3 years of experience with Siemens NX
• Lifting operations experience
• Knowledge of welding
• Knowledge of piping and tubing construction and joining
• Experience with highly complex or delicate assemblies
• Experience with assembly or integration in tightly packaged spacesExperience with fast-paced and dynamic construction, manufacturing, or assembly/integration builds

Must-have Requirements:

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
• Perform activities such as typing, standing, stooping, climbing or sitting for extended periods of time
• Travel occasionally required for vendor visits during tool fabrication phases
• Required onsite 5 days/week when assembly operations with relevant tools are underway, with possible first or second shift assignment
• 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

$110,000 - $185,000 a year

Salary range for this full-time position + equity + benefits The actual salary will depend on level, location, qualifications, and experience. The range displayed on each job posting reflects new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Benefits include:

• Competitive compensation with equity
• 13 Company-wide Holidays
• Flexible vacation days
• 10 sick days
• Generous parental leave policy
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Professional growth opportunities
• Team-building activities

#LI-Onsite

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.