Senior Director, SPARC Plant Operations

United States·DevensFull-timesenior

OtherDirector

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Overview

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,

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OtherDirector

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 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 nearly $3 billion in capital, making us the largest and leading private 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.

Plant Utilization
- Develop and manage shift schedules, on-call rotations and vacation planning to ensure 24/7 operational coverage and readiness
- Collaborate with the SPARC Plant Engineering and SPARC Plasma Operations team to ensure the plant is functionally ready to execute operational experiments
- Oversee all daily pre-operational checks and plant startup/shutdown procedures
- Manage all operational consumables and spares (e.g. gases, cryogens, chemicals, diesel fuel, equipment spare parts)
- Operations Programs
  - Develop and maintain plant operations manuals, procedures, and emergency response protocols
  - Develop and implement comprehensive training programs, including initial qualification, continuing training, and specialized skill development
  - Develop and implement plant operations work controls, energy control procedures, and simultaneous operations coordination processes
  - Develop and implement robust alarm and notification systems and standards for efficient operator response to maintain facility integrity and personnel safety
  - Maintenance and Asset Management
    - Develop and execute a comprehensive plant maintenance strategy, incorporating preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance
    - Plan and manage the schedule for all maintenance windows, minimizing downtime and maximizing plant availability
    - Oversee the execution of all maintenance activities, ensuring work is performed safely, to a high standard, and documented correctly
    - Work with the Engineering team to plan and carry out necessary maintenance and upgrades in between scheduled usage
    - Continuous Improvement and Performance
      - Track key reliability metrics to understand overall performance
      - Champion a culture of continuous improvement by actively identifying opportunities to enhance safety, reduce operational costs, and increase plant efficiency and reliability
      - Lead cross-functional teams to execute continuous improvement projects using Root Cause Analysis and other similar methodologies
      - Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for plant operations and use data-driven insights to guide improvement initiatives
      - Team
        
        Recruit, hire, and onboard a high-performing team of plant operators, technicians, and support staff
        
        Foster a strong, positive, and safety-first culture within the operations team
        
        Authorities
        
        Approve and enforce all operating procedures, training manuals, and protocols
        
        Execute maintenance work orders and direct the execution of scheduled maintenance and upgrade projects planned in coordination with the SPARC Engineering Director
        
        Make decisions regarding hiring and mentoring of the Operations Team
        
        Manage and direct the utilization of external maintenance contracts to provide surge support and specialized maintenance
        
        Shutdown operation of the machine if immediate personnel safety or facility integrity is compromised
        
        Accountabilities
        
        Accountable for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the SPARC facility strictly within design basis operating parameters
        
        Accountable for maintaining 24/7 operational readiness and full staffing coverage of all critical shifts
        
        Accountable for the quality, accuracy, and standardization of all operations and maintenance procedures
        
        Accountable for effective collaboration with the SPARC Engineering team to execute scheduled maintenance and maximize facility availability for experiments

Bachelor's degree in an engineering field or equivalent experience
15+ years experience managing operations of large process facilities, such as power plants, scientific facilities, or process manufacturing facilities
Experience with operating large process systems, such as a power plant, chemicals, oil/gas, cryogenics, or others
Experienced managing salaried and hourly staff
Strong people management skills of both small and large teams
Leadership, team-building, and mentoring skills for both engineers and technicians
Demonstrated ability to build trust with front line employees and identify issues first hand
Executes long-term departmental strategy using sound judgment to align tactical initiatives with overall organizational goals
Ensures cross-functional alignment through proven, effective communication with diverse stakeholders and executive leadership
Ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment
Strong attention to safety and the creation of a safety culture

Operational experience with first-of-a-kind facilities or other new technology
Experience with commissioning of plant process systems
Experience working in radiation controlled environments

Perform activities such as stooping, climbing, typing standing or sitting for extended periods of time

Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call

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

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.