Director - Control, Instrumentation, and Diagnostics (CID) Systems
hace 1 día
Kearny
Job DescriptionAbout 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 PTORequirements:, • 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.