Director, Materials and Processing
The Materials and Processing (M&P) Department at CFS supports design engineers, supply chain, and manufacturing by selecting materials, unambiguously defining materials and processing routes, validating and measuring those materials and their properties, and conducting R&D to develop new materials and processes to enable fusion power deployment. M&P at CFS is organized around three primary thrusts: engineering, test and characterization, and the fusion materials development program. The work is undertaken in support of delivering SPARC, the net energy tokamak under construction in Devens, MA, and ultimately in designing the ARC fusion power plant. These devices pose unique materials challenges including neutron fluxes produced by deuterium-tritium fusion, high heat loads, molten salt coolant systems, complex component topologies, high magnetic fields, and high mechanical loading in cryogenic conditions.
We are seeking a dynamic and technically accomplished leader for Materials and Processing. In this role, you will be responsible for the strategic direction of M&P and tactical operation of a core discipline required for fusion development and deployment. The team includes matrixed core engineering resources deployed for product development and de-risking, ~1000 sqft and >$5M of hands-on characterization and process development infrastructure, and world-expert scientific staff responsible for a fusion power plant materials development roadmap. You will represent the discipline in core, company-level decision making and strategy setting, defining problems for cross-functional teams. Reporting through the Director of Technology Development, you will work with other discipline directors to operationalize the company’s technology roadmap to fusion power plant deployment.
What you'll do:
- Building and leading a team of 40+ engineers, scientists, and technicians across multiple working locations and shifts
- Prioritizing and balancing the deployment of M&P staff across product teams and development projects
- Mentor and develop leaders in Engineering, Test and Characterization, and Fusion Materials Program verticals of the department
- Manage multi-million operational budgets to simultaneously support design, manufacturing, and research and development activities
- Setting strategic priorities for groups within the M&P department
- Communicating technical outcomes, department KPIs, and overall strategy to executives and other technical leadership
- Executing high-impact technical decision making and backstopping the decision making of vertical leads and department staff
- Provide continuous de-risking services to all company projects through internal and external development and test cycles
- Maintaining a team culture of curiosity, technical excellence, and consistency of delivery
- With other domain Directors in Technology Development, influence the long-term strategic development of the directorate, ensuring that M&P is delivering the highest leverage capabilities to the company at the right time
- Interface with key cross functional stakeholders including core engineering, design, supply chain, and manufacturing to ensure timely resolution to emerging technical challenges
- With supply chain, influence long-term procurement strategy by translating product requirements to material inputs evaluated across global capacities
What we’re looking for:
- Bachelor's degree in materials engineering, welding engineering, nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, or similar
- At least 12 years experience in materials and process engineering with 10 years in leadership roles
- Managing teams across multiple core technical competencies
- Experience working with design teams in collaborative materials and process selection under ambiguous requirements
- Experience using project/product management tools and tracking of projects (JIRA preferred)
- Experience building, justifying, and managing budgets for both projects and standard work centers
- Strong communication and organizational skills
- Performing engineering resource estimation and maintaining team accountability for deliverables
- Experience making and justifying decisions in fast paced engineering settings
- Experience in developing and maintaining a strong safety culture across all teams and work centers
- Strong time management skills
- Self - motivation and autonomy
Bonus points for:
- Deep technical experience in multiple disciplines of materials and processing
- Taking under-defined problems and driving them to a state of completion
- Operating in a flexible, service-oriented matrix engineering team
Must-have Requirements:
- Perform activities such as typing, standing, 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 occasionally (periodic travel up to 15%) or do required nights/weekends/on-call,
