Manager, Remote Maintenance

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 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 over $2 billion in capital – more than any other fusion energy company in the U.S.

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 Manager, Remote Maintenance

CFS is designing ARC as the world’s first commercial fusion power plant with the goal of bringing reliable and clean fusion energy to the grid. Due to device activation and commercial uptime needs, ARC will need periodic, fast, and reliable maintenance to be performed fully remotely. This will require novel solutions and integration in the fields of robotics, remote handling equipment (RHE), plant layout, manufacturing, and tokamak design. ARC’s Remote Maintenance System will thus be a critical aspect of realizing CFS’s mission to deliver the urgent transition to fusion energy.

The Remote Maintenance team is responsible for designing ARC’s Remote Maintenance System. As the group manager you will lead a small team of design and development engineers setting the high-level architecture for ARC’s maintenance scheme and own the Remote Maintenance Program focused on underlying technology maturation. You will collaborate closely with other teams to rapidly mature ARC design including physics, neutronics, thermo-fluids, structures, maintenance, manufacturing, assembly, techno-economics, and other disciplines.

• Mentor, coordinate, and line manage a team of remote maintenance engineers
• Maintain and grow CFS cultural values of integrity, self-critique, impact, and execution while supporting and growing team members
• Develop the architecture of CFS’ remote maintenance program and design strategy, developing the playbook to establish CFS as a leader in remote maintenance in challenging environments
• Design ARC’s radiation hardened remote handling equipment (RHE) by incorporating a mix of existing robotic technologies, custom hardware, and remotely operated heavy lift equipment
• Perform maintenance assessments of the tokamak and plant to shape the development of ARC as a remotely maintainable power plant
• Collaborate with multiple teams and manage projects across different disciplines to help solve tough multi-disciplinary problems
• Own the Identification of key R&D needed for the ARC remote maintenance program, and help establish the plans to execute the R&D campaigns internally or with external partners
• Research existing established and cutting edge remote handling solutions to assess their application in the ARC remote maintenance system
• Work with external RHE/robotics organizations and general industry to manage contracted work, collaborate on cutting edge R&D, and transfer knowledge and expertise into CFS
• Establish CFS’s remote maintenance design guidelines for RHE, the Tokamak, and plant
• Develop and manage a team and program to budget, delivering results on time and at cost
• Leading with a safety-conscious mindset in all aspects of work

• Structural, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering BS
• At least 8 years of mechanical engineering experience in the design, fabrication, testing, operations, integration, and commissioning of complex mechanical structures  (e.g. fusion, fission, aerospace, marine)
• Experience with tokamak conceptual design and assembly strategies
• Experience with standard actuation, guidance mechanisms, sensing, and structural mechanisms
• Experience managing projects with cross-functional input and/or the management of contract/temporary technical resources
• Proficient in structural analysis via both hand calcs and finite element analysis (Ansys preferred)
• Proficient in CAD (NX preferred)
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, technical staff, executives, and others
• Ability to clearly express and critique ideas to cross-functional team members and technical and executive leadership
• Safety conscious

• Experience in the pre-conceptual design of complex systems involving high level, multi-disciplinary trade studies of both RHE and machine design (e.g. tokamak, fission core, sub-sea hardware)
• Knowledge of fabrication methods such as welding and machining
• Knowledge of engineering materials basics for metals and composites
• Self driven and autonomous
• Aptitude to use data to drive decisions
• Familiarity with all steps in the design process with an emphasis on creativity and simplicity
• The ability to thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments

• Perform activities such as typing and sitting for extended periods of time
• Dedication to safety to mitigate industrial hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, and cryogenics
• Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally. Travel expected up to 15%

#LI-Hybrid

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.