Manufacturing Engineer - Third Shift

Commonwealth Fusion; Harvard (MA); On-site; USD 103,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation with equity

13 company holidays

Flexible vacation

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is seeking a hands-on Manufacturing Engineer for the overnight shift. You will captain the overnight operations, acting as the technical anchor for the 3rd shift and ensuring safe, efficient production of high-temperature superconducting magnets when the weekday team is off.

You’ll lead through influence, make sound decisions under pressure, and turn first-time challenges into scalable processes, while training technicians and bridging gaps with weekday engineers.

Qualifications

• BS in Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years hands-on manufacturing engineering experience.
• Proficient with NX (CAD) and Teamcenter (PLM).
• Experience with Jira, Slack, Odoo (or similar ERP).
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes & FOAK environments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical leader for overnight operations, keeping the team focused and aligned.
• Balance production demands with safety and quality, including stopping work when needed.
• Train, mentor, and elevate technician performance on high-precision processes.
• Troubleshoot non-conformances in real time with structured decision-making.
• Document issues and communicate clearly (Jira, etc.).

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing eng.

Problem solving

Process improvement

Cross-functional comms

Education

BS in Manufacturing/Mechanical/Industrial Eng

Tools

NX CAD

Teamcenter PLM

Jira

Slack

Odoo

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.

Manufacturing Engineer – Overnight

We are looking for a hands‑on Manufacturing Engineer to captain our overnight operations. You will be the technical anchor for the "3rd Shift," ensuring that our production of high-temperature superconducting magnets continues safely and efficiently when the weekday engineering team is offline.

This role requires someone who can lead through influence, make sound decisions under pressure, and bring clarity to ambiguity in a fast-moving, First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) manufacturing environment.

You will set the tone for the overnight team while keeping technicians focused, engaged, and operating at a high level and turning first-time challenges into scalable, repeatable processes.

Shift: Monday through Friday, 10:00 pm – 6:30 am

Salary Range: $103,000 – 166,000 (includes 15% shift differential)

What you’ll do:

Leadership, Ownership & Decision-Making

• Serve as the primary technical leader for overnight operations, keeping the team focused, aligned, and executing with urgency.
• Make timely, high-quality decisions in ambiguous, high-pressure situations with strong judgment.
• Balance production demands with safety and quality, including making tough calls such as stopping work when needed.
• Lead through influence by driving alignment across teams without direct authority.
• Train, mentor, and elevate technician performance while maintaining accountability in a fast-paced environment.

Technical Mentorship & Training

• Actively train, coach, and develop technicians on high-precision manufacturing processes.
• Translate complex engineering requirements into clear, actionable guidance on the floor.
• Lead through positive influence, building trust and credibility with the team.
• Close knowledge gaps by reinforcing both the “how” and the “why” behind the work.

Rapid Problem Solving & Escalation

• Troubleshoot non-conformances in real time with a structured and decisive approach.
• Assess severity and take appropriate action:
  • Resolve process drift independently.
  • Escalate true design or system failures without applying short-term fixes.
• Ensure issues are properly documented and communicated (Jira, etc.).

The Overnight Bridge

• Serve as the critical feedback loop between overnight execution and weekday engineering teams.
• Identify gaps in work instructions and drive process clarity and improvements.
• Influence upstream teams by providing clear, data-driven feedback from the floor.

Hands-on Line Leadership

• Maintain the rhythm and flow of production.
• Ensure strong shift transitions and team readiness.
• Confirm technicians have the tools, materials, and direction needed to succeed.

What we’re looking for:

• BS in Manufacturing, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent high-level technical experience).
• 3+ years of hands‑on manufacturing engineering experience.
• Proficient with NX (CAD) and Teamcenter (PLM).
• Experience with Jira, Slack, Odoo (or similar ERP systems).
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and production systems.
• Experience in FOAK or rapidly scaling manufacturing environments.

Bonus points for:

• 8+ years in high‑complexity assembly environments.
• Experience with insulation systems similar to the electric motor industry (e.g., stator winding, VPI processes, taping, high-voltage isolation).
• Knowledge of statistical process control (SPC) and failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA).

Must-have requirements:

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs occasionally.
• Perform activities such as typing, standing, stooping, and sitting, for extended periods of time.
• Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead, high voltage, and cryogenics.
• Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights, weekends, on-call.

Benefits

• 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.

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.