Project Controls Lead

About Pacific Fusion

Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with the mission to power the world with abundant, affordable, clean energy.

We are rapidly designing and building a pulsed magnetic fusion system to achieve net facility gain (more fusion energy output than stored energy input). In parallel, we are developing the key components required to build affordable fusion systems.

Our plans are ambitious. We have raised over $900M so far from incredible investors, resourcing us to deliver on these plans. We are bringing together the best scientists, engineers, and operators from the fusion community, hard tech industry, and other sectors. We are united by a shared sense of urgency to provide clean power for the world, particularly managing climate change while meeting growing global energy demand. You can read more about us in this letter from our founders.

Why This Role Matters

Pacific Fusion (PF) is seeking a Project Controls Lead to serve as the lead for all project controls activities on a large, complex, first-of-a-kind R&D and light industrial facility.

The successful candidate will be responsible for creating, implementing, and operating the project controls framework from the ground up—including project plans, procedures, tools, and governance—while supporting design and construction milestones.

The role is embedded on site and works day-to-day with the Construction Manager and General Contractor (GC). The Project Controls Lead is the primary ownerside interface for preconstruction and construction cost, schedule, change, risk, and performance management.

What You'll Do

- Project Controls Leadership: Establish and lead the Owner’s project controls function from the ground up, authoring core documents like the Cost Control Plan, Schedule Management Plan, and Risk Management Plan.

- Process Governance: Define workflows, templates, and approval authorities tailored for a startup environment to ensure disciplined project delivery and clear accountability.

- External Interface: Serve as the primary ownerside point of contact for the General Contractor, designers, and consultants to align on expectations, interfaces, and commercial governance.

- Preconstruction Support: Lead early-stage efforts including cost modeling, schedule development, and the validation of early works packages and long-lead procurement strategies.

- Cost & Forecast Management: Maintain a PF-controlled Estimate at Completion (EAC) and cashflow forecast, while managing budgets, contingencies, and management reserves for the GMP project.

- Schedule Integration: Validate and challenge the General Contractor's baseline logic while integrating construction milestones into the Owner’s Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).

- Risk Mitigation: Own the project risk management process by maintaining a quantified cost and schedule risk register and tracking mitigation actions across all project phases.

- Change Control & Claims: Design and implement the owner’s change control process to validate scope and cost impacts, ensuring all changes are reflected in contracts and executive reporting.

- Reporting & Data Integrity: Develop executive-level dashboards and narratives that provide transparency into delivery confidence, utilizing tools like Excel, Primavera P6, or MS Project.

- Construction & Turnover Oversight: Monitor onsite productivity and progress-based performance tracking to ensure a smooth transition from construction to operations and commissioning.

What You Bring

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project

- Management, or related field.

- 10+ years of progressive experience in project controls leadership, cost engineering, and/or scheduling on large capital projects.

- Demonstrated experience supporting a variety of Project Delivery Method and contract types

- Strong experience interfacing directly with GC.

- Advanced proficiency in Excel and Primavera P6 or MS Project.

- Ability to operate independently in a startup or low process environment.

Bonus Points For

- Experience serving as an owner or owner’s representative.

- Background in R&D, high-tech, industrial, or first-of-a-kind facilities.

- Experience with early work packages and longlead procurement.

- Familiarity with probabilistic risk analysis or advanced forecasting techniques.

- Startup or scaleup company experience.

Pay Range

$135,000—$155,000 USD

Benefits

- Industry-competitive salary

- Equity plan

- 6% employer 401k matching

- Generous paid time off (including sick leave, vacation, paid family leave)

- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Actual base salary offered will be determined by: experience, skills, and work location. This range is for base salary, our total compensation includes equity and benefits. We welcome you to apply even if your expectations are outside our listed range.

Pacific Fusion is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Pacific Fusion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures and throughout employment. If you need assistance or any accommodation, please let us know. Pacific Fusion does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies without a fully executed recruitment agreement in place. In the absence of such agreement, Pacific Fusion reserves the right to pursue and hire any candidates without an obligation to pay fees. Agencies are requested not to contact Pacific Fusion hiring managers or employees regarding recruiting services.