Senior R&D Technical Project Manager

Lever, Inc.; Harvard (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; 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 is seeking a Senior R&D Technical Project Manager to lead FOAK HTS magnet programs from concept to prototypes and production ramp. You will drive cross-functional teams and act as a liaison with executives and external PM resources to ensure successful program execution.

The role requires 10+ years of technical experience, with at least 5 years as a PM leading new product integrations, and a PMP‑type certification is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Science, Engineering, or related field; PMP or other PM certification is a plus.
• 10+ years of technical experience, with minimum 5 years as a project manager leading new product integration.
• Proven PM leadership for scale-up efforts into repeatable operational processes.
• Experience as a technical liaison with executive teams, engineering groups, and external suppliers.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to mobilize multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of small to mid-sized R&D projects in the PMO.
• Act as primary technical liaison with executive team and internal/external PM groups.
• Balance research objectives with operational needs, focusing on scalability and manufacturability.
• Ensure projects have appropriate staffing and skills mix to meet commitments.
• Develop and document comprehensive project plans (scope, goals, deliverables, resources, timeline).
• Lead cross-functional matrix teams to meet execution plan requirements.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture to drive project execution.

Skills

Project leadership

Cross-functional coordination

Technical liaison

Risk management

Decision making

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Science/Engineering

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. If that’s you and this role fits, we want to hear from you.

Join the power movement as a Senior R&D Technical Project Manager

We are seeking a Senior Technical Project Manager (TPM) to join our Project Management Office. This TPM will drive our next-generation High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnet systems. This specialized role requires proven experience delivering first of a kind (FOAK) complex projects from concept to first article prototypes through production ramp up.

What you’ll do:

• Manage a portfolio of small to mid-sized R&D projects, leading and advising others in project management best practices
• Frequently act as the primary technical liaison with the executive team, internal engineering teams, and external project management of the scale-up efforts into repeatable sustained operational processes
• Understand and manage technical tradeoffs between research objectives and operational needs, including but not limited to scalability of the solution, design for manufacturability, material selection, coating technologies, tolerancing, etc.
• Work with others to ensure your projects are staffed sufficiently with the right skills mix to ensure the projects deliver on their commitments
• Develop and document comprehensive project plans, outlining project scope, goals, deliverables, resources, and timeline to meet strategic targets
• Lead a cross‑functional team (matrix) composed of engineers, designers, analysts, procurement specialists, and other stakeholders to meet the requirements of the execution plan
• Foster a collaborative and high‑performance team culture to drive project execution and achieve collective goals
• Monitor project timelines rigorously, identifying potential delays, devising, and implementing mitigation strategies to maintain project schedule
• Lead the active management of risks throughout the project lifecycle: Identify risks, develop & drive mitigation plans, and keeping stakeholders informed about progress of risks through regular updates & risk reporting

What we’re looking for:

• Bachelor’s or Masters degree in Science, Engineering, or a related field with a PMP or other Project Management certification
• 10+ years of technical experience, with a minimum of 5 years as a project manager leading new product integration
• Leader in the project management of the scale‑up efforts into repeatable operational processes
• Proven project management experience including scope/requirements definition and management, schedule management and planning, risk management, budget management, stakeholder and communications management
• Experience acting as a technical liaison with the executive team, internal engineering teams, and external suppliers
• Demonstrates strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to mobilize multi-disciplinary teams to address complex issues
• Functions as a collaborative team member and a servant leader, maintaining the team focused on objectives
• Proficient in driving decision-making and execution with available resources
• Capable of leading strategic ideation and transitioning seamlessly to drive flawless operational execution
• Possesses excellent communication skills, adapting to various levels of technical proficiency to ensure comprehensive understanding among all stakeholders

Bonus points for:

• PMP or equivalent Project Management certification.
• Proven experience managing projects with budgets exceeding $10M and teams of 15+ matrixed personnel
• Demonstrable expertise in development, fabrication, and testing large, complex prototypes or processes
• Familiarity with risks and challenges of any fusion power technologies (e.g cryogenics, vacuum, high current electrical systems, molten salts)

Must-have Requirements:

• Perform activities such as typing, stooping, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time
• Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
• 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

$140,000 - $200,000 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.