Senior Manager, Mechanical Engineering — Vacuum Vessel

Join the power movement as a Senior Manager, Mechanical Engineering

CFS is looking for a creative, experienced mechanical engineering manager to lead the design and delivery of the ARC vacuum vessel. Commonwealth Fusion Systems is currently designing the ARC fusion power plant. Within the ARC plant, the ARC tokamak consists of many large mechanical structures that support the large loads and extreme conditions of the fusion plasma. One of the newest and most interconnected components in ARC will be the vacuum vessel, a hundred-ton mechanical structure that surrounds the fusion plasma. This structure must withstand extreme heat fluxes on the plasma-facing side and effectively remove this heat via flowing molten salt on the other side of the vessel. This vessel must also be replaceable via a remote handling system during regular plant maintenance cycles. Come lead the design of a critical portion of the world's first fusion power plant!

What you'll do:

• Lead a team of mechanical engineers to plan and deliver on the ARC vacuum vessel and connected systems
• Oversee the full design lifecycle, from initial concept and CAD modeling to hardware procurement and assembly
• Interface the design of the vacuum vessel with many other systems in the ARC plant, coordinating with other engineering teams to ensure the best overall design for the product
• Provide hands-on technical leadership to solve complex, multi-disciplinary design challenges and manage risks in new environments and with novel materials
• Work with the supply chain and materials and processing teams to identify and develop suppliers for the vacuum vessel
• Proactively manage schedule and budget to deliver a critical component to the ARC fusion power plant
• Manage all aspects of the group's talent, including hiring, training, and setting clear performance expectations
• Promote a culture of resilience and grit, ensuring the team consistently follows through on assignments despite technical hurdles

What we're looking for:

• Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related degree
• 10+ years experience in mechanical engineering or closely related fields
• Experience working on a multi-disciplinary engineering project
• Experience designing and delivering large metallic structures
• Experience with structural analysis
• Experience with fabrication of complex large structures
• Experience working in dynamic R&D environments, including novel materials and locations
• Broad knowledge of engineering sufficient to interact with multi-disciplinary engineering teams
• Knowledge of finite element structural analysis
• Knowledge of fluid cooling of mechanical structures
• Ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment

Bonus points for:

• Experience designing systems operating at high temperature (600C / 1100F)

Must-have requirements:

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