VP - Plant Design Engineering

Thea Energy
Kearny, NJ
On-site

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with construction and engineering experience working in a regulated, fast-paced fusion energy domain.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 8+ years in construction and a background in regulated environments
    — “8+ years of experience in construction, with design and installation history included.”
  • Individuals who have led or built project engineering teams for complex facilities
    — “Build and lead the Project Engineering team responsible for delivering Issued for Bid and Issued for Construction packages input and review.”
  • Candidates with a strong grasp of configuration control and vendor design review
    — “Develop and deliver an effective configuration control program for the Plant design.”

Things to consider

  • The role involves working in industrial environments with significant safety and hazard exposure
    — “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”
  • The position may require on-call availability and occasional travel or weekend work
    — “Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in managing large-scale, complex facilities and configuration control
    — “Familiar with construction techniques and progression on large, complex facilities”
  • Demonstrate ability to communicate design changes effectively in the field
    — “Skilled in understanding the best methods for communicating changes in the field while maintaining configuration control”
  • Showcase experience with regulatory compliance and permit acquisition
    — “Ensure compliance with local and state regulations and laws, while ensuring permits are obtained in time to support construction work.”
  • Position yourself as someone who has expanded or stood up new programs in resource-constrained settings
    — “Experience standing up or significantly expanding a program, particularly in a fast-paced, resource-constrained, or startup environment.”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • successful plant design and construction
  • effective team leadership
  • timely project completion
Typical background
BS/Mechanical Engineering or advanced degree8+ years of construction experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Project EngineeringPlant DesignRegulatory ComplianceConfiguration ControlSafety Oversight

Preferred

Fusion Energy ExperienceStartup Environment Experience

Stack & domain

Plant DesignBalance Of Plant System DesignComponent DesignProject EngineeringIndependent Review ProgramRegulatory CompliancePerformance TrackingConfiguration ControlSite SafetyCost EstimatingStartup And CommissioningConstruction OversightFusion EnergyStellarator PhysicsEngineeringConstruction ManagementProject ManagementConstruction TechniquesLarge Facility ConstructionLeadershipCommunicationTeam ManagementProblem-solvingDecision-makingBudgetingSchedulingRisk ManagementConstructionStellarator

About the role

Original posting from Thea Energy via Lever

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.  

Key Responsibility Areas::

  • Work with the Architect/Engineering and Constructor firms that will deliver the overall plant design, Balance of Plant system and component designs for Thea Energy programs.
  • Build and lead the Project Engineering team responsible for delivering Issued for Bid and Issued for Construction packages input and review.
  • Establish and implement Thea Energy’s independent review program for accepting Vendor design inputs.
  • Ensure compliance with local and state regulations and laws, while ensuring permits are obtained in time to support construction work.
  • Establish and administer a performance tracking system that provides oversight of the Constructor and Architect Engineer efforts (cost and schedule).
  • Evaluate Constructor plans and schedule to avoid scope creep.
  • Develop and deliver an effective configuration control program for the Plant design.  
  • Oversee the Site Safety program to ensure uniform implementation and that reporting lines are clear.
  • Provide Thea Energy oversight during Construction activities, through an appropriately staffed team.
  • Provide cost estimating inputs for Plant design, procurement, installation, and commissioning work.
  • Oversee startup and commissioning activities.

Ideal Experience & Skillsets::

  • BS/Mechanical Engineering or advanced degree in engineering or business fields, or closely related fields.
  • 8+ years of experience in construction, with design and installation history included.  
  • Previous experience in a fusion related work environment is preferred but not mandatory.
  • Relevant certifications or credentials in professional engineering.
  • Direct experience within a regulated environment
  • Skilled in understanding the best methods for communicating changes in the field while maintaining configuration control
  • Familiar with construction techniques and progression on large, complex facilities

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience standing up or significantly expanding a program, particularly in a fast-paced, resource-constrained, or startup environment.
  • Effective communication style that can bridge between the different regulators, construction crafts, and management team.

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

Company Benefits::

  • Salary range $240,000-$300,000
  • Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)
  • Employee equity stock options
  • 20 days PTO

It’s not necessary to meet all of the skillsets outlined above. Please feel free to send us a note and tell us why you would still be a great fit for this role or Thea Energy.  

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.

Source: Thea Energy careers (Lever)

Similar roles

More roles at Thea Energy