Director - Control, Instrumentation, and Diagnostics (CID) Systems

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.

Position Overview:

Thea Energy is seeking a Director - Control, Instrumentation and Diagnostics (CID) Systems to lead CID system design and execution for the company’s upcoming Eos integrated stellarator. This leader will manage and grow three tightly coupled engineering groups:

- Control Systems (Eos control system architecture and integration, including fast data acquisition, PLC automation, Safety and Interlock Systems)

- Instrumentation Systems (instrumentation backbone across the facility, including sensors, signal architecture, wiring, grounding, shielding, tagging, and commissioning practices)

- Diagnostics Systems (plasma diagnostics control and acquisition, including real time DAQ, timing and synchronization, and low latency data pipelines for plasma control)

This role will own the end-to-end delivery of CID systems from architecture and requirements through detailed design, prototyping, vendor engagement, test, installation support, and commissioning readiness. The Director will serve as a key cross-functional partner to systems engineering, controls and software, mechanical engineering, safety, and program management, ensuring electrical designs are buildable, testable, safe, and integrated.

As part of a rapidly growing team, you’ll be part of the organizational build-up of a leading fusion energy company. This role will have a high degree of autonomy and must be able to move quickly. The Thea Energy team is comprised of self-motivated, creative, and fun individuals with an excitement for solving complex problems.

Key Responsibility Areas:

- Lead and mentor a multi-disciplinary organization spanning control systems, instrumentation, diagnostics acquisition, embedded software, and real time integration, including hiring, performance management, career development, and team structure

- Establish engineering operating rhythm: planning, prioritization, technical reviews, staffing plans, and decision-making processes

- Set technical direction and ensure consistent engineering quality across requirements, architecture, implementation, verification, and documentation

- Own the Eos CID architecture, including functional, physical, communications, timing, and data flow boundaries across fast DAQ, supervisory control, PLC automation, safety interlocks, and diagnostics acquisition

- Lead technology selection for real time control, SCADA, networking, timing, and data management, and ensure consistency across integration protocols and data interfaces

- Own the technical interface to external vendors and collaborators providing controls hardware, diagnostics hardware, and instrumentation deliverables, including technical specifications, design reviews, and acceptance participation.

- Oversee development and integration of the Eos control system across major subsystems, ensuring deterministic behavior, fault handling, and operational sequencing

- Own Safety and Interlock System philosophy, including safety class logic where required, participation in hazard analyses, and alignment to functional safety practices and standards.

- Own instrumentation architecture across the facility: sensor selection, signal types, isolation strategy, signal conditioning, grounding, shielding, and segregation practices for noisy, high power environments.

- Oversee diagnostic acquisition architecture end to end, from front end sensors and conditioning through digitizers, FPGA processing, data streaming, and archiving in support of plasma operations and feedback control.

- Partner with systems engineering to translate device requirements into CID requirements, interface definitions, and verification plans.

- Run evidence based technical gates and design reviews, with clear entry and exit criteria and configuration control.

- Own delivery artifacts such as requirements, interface control documents, design packages, test plans, and acceptance evidence to support procurement, installation, and commissioning

- Maintain a strong safety culture including machine protection thinking, hazard analysis inputs, and design choices that support safe installation and operations

- Provide hands on leadership in lab and field environments, coordinating with technicians and test teams for build, wiring, installation support, and debug

Ideal Experience & Skillsets:

- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Controls, Computer Science, Physics, or equivalent

- 10 or more years of relevant experience spanning two or more of the following: integrated control systems, industrial automation, fast data acquisition, instrumentation systems engineering, diagnostics acquisition, real time embedded software

- 5 or more years of engineering management experience leading multi team organizations, including hiring and performance leadership.

- Demonstrated experience owning complex system development from architecture through prototype validation and integration.

- Strong foundation in safety and high reliability engineering practices, including interlocks, alarms, fail safe design, and disciplined documentation

- Strong cross functional communication skills and experience driving technical decisions across physics, mechanical, electrical, safety, and program teams

- Exceptional work ethic and communication skills

- Experience delivering CID systems for fusion devices, accelerators, advanced nuclear, or other large scientific facilities with tight timing and data fidelity requirements

- Experience with EPICS or TANGO, and industrial integration protocols such as OPC UA, DDS, Modbus, and deterministic timing networks

- Experience with functional safety workflows and standards driven PLC systems engineering.

- Experience with FPGA based acquisition and low latency streaming pipelines for real time feedback and machine protection

- Familiarity integrating AI and digital twin capabilities into supervisory control and operations workflows

- Control frameworks and integration: LabView, EPICS, TANGO, OPC UA, DDS, Modbus, TCP IP

- PLC platforms: Siemens TIA Portal, Beckhoff TwinCAT, Allen Bradley, Codesys, IEC 61131 3 practices.

- Timing and synchronization: White Rabbit, IEEE 1588 PTP

- Data acquisition and diagnostics: PXIe digitizers, FPGA platforms, event and timestamping frameworks, data streaming infrastructure

- Embedded and middleware software: real time embedded Linux and real time operating systems, C and C++, distributed orchestration tooling.

- Instrumentation design and documentation: AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, tag databases, input and output lists, cable schedules and loop diagrams

Company Benefits:

- Salary range $120,000-$240,000

- Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)

- Employee equity stock options

- 20 days PTO

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

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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.