Test Engineering Manager

U.S. Fusion Energy; Illinois; On-site; USD 145,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary: $145,000-$185,000

Health benefits

Equity stock options

20 days PTO

Job summary

Thea Energy seeks a Test Engineering Manager to lead verification and validation of superconducting magnets and other critical hardware. You will drive the test validation strategy and align test, manufacturing, mechanical, and physics teams to ensure robust hardware.

The role requires autonomy, mentoring, and cross-functional leadership to de-risk next-generation stellarator designs while maintaining safety and industry standards.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of hardware-centric test engineering in high-stakes environments such as fusion, aerospace, or superconducting magnets.
• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field.
• Proven track record of leading people and building out teams for verification and validation of integrated systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own test validation strategy, including milestones to qualify HTS magnets, cryogenic systems, and high vacuum components.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of engineers and technicians, emphasizing data integrity and first-principles problem solving.
• Oversee design and build of large, custom cryogenic and high-power test stands; coordinate test needs across projects.
• Analyze datasets to troubleshoot system-level failures; work with magnet, electrical, and controls teams.
• Manage vendors and external design/build/validation efforts to meet aggressive timelines.
• Establish commissioning, maintenance, calibration procedures and safety protocols for high-voltage, high-field, cryogenic environments.

Skills

Test engineering

Leadership

LabVIEW

Python

Cryogenic testing

Autonomy

Data analysis

Education

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or related field

Tools

Cryogenic test equipment

Electromagnetic test equipment

Job description

Test Engineering Manager

Kearny, NJ

Technology – Manufacturing Engineering

Full-time

On-site

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

Thea Energy is seeking a Test Engineering Manager to serve as a cornerstone of our hardware validation strategy. This role is central to the organizational build-up of a leading fusion energy company and requires a high degree of autonomy. You will lead the verification and validation efforts for our superconducting magnets as well as other critical technology, ensuring that our hardware meets the rigorous demands of a fusion environment. The role will require close alignment and cross-functional leadership across test, manufacturing, mechanical, and physics organizations. Your efforts will directly contribute to ensuring design success, enabling us to drive forward towards our commercial fusion energy goal. Thea Energy’s dynamic team is made up of self-motivated individuals with an excitement for solving complex problems.

Key Responsibility Areas

• Develop and own test validation strategy, including defining the testing milestones required to qualify High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnets, cryogenic systems, and high vacuum components.
• Act as a subject matter expert for the test engineering team. You will lead, mentor, and grow a team of engineers and technicians, fostering a culture of rigorous data integrity and \"first-principles\" problem-solving.
• Oversee the high-level design and build of large, custom, cryogenic and high power test stands. You will coordinate test needs across projects, identify test capability requirements, and allocate test resources across projects.
• Analyze complex datasets to troubleshoot system-level failure modes. You will work closely with magnet, electrical, and controls teams to ensure test results directly inform and de-risk the next generation of stellarator design.
• Lead relationships with key vendors for specialized hardware and for advanced test facilities, managing high-value procurement contracts and coordinating external design, build, and validation efforts to meet aggressive project timelines.
• Establish and enforce rigorous commissioning, maintenance, and calibration procedures as well as safety protocols for high-voltage, high-field, and cryogenic environments, ensuring all operations meet or exceed IEEE, ANSI, and IEC standards where applicable.

Required Experience & Skillsets

• 7–10+ years of hardware-centric test engineering experience in high-stakes environments (e.g., fusion, aerospace, superconducting magnets).
• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field.
• Proven track record of leading people, hiring to build out teams, and managing the verification and validation lifecycle for integrated systems.
• Mastery of LabVIEW and Python, with expertise in automating complex, multi-day cryogenic and electromagnetic tests.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and make critical engineering decisions under tight deadlines.
• Exceptional ability to translate complex test data into actionable insights for executive leadership and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work through and solve highly multidisciplinary engineering problems.
• Ability to take initiative, work independently and as part of a team.
• Exceptional work ethic, with clear communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to occasionally lift objects up to 50 lbs.

Company Benefits

• Compensation: $145,000 - $185,000
• Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)
• Employee equity stock options
• 20 days PTO

Requirements

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time.
• Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call.
• Ability to work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics.

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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.