Thea Energy

Develops fusion power via planar-coil stellarators

Program Controls Lead

Program ManagementPosted on Nov 3

Full-timeKearny, NJ, USAIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field.
At least 5 years of experience building and owning integrated master schedules for large, complex hardware or capital programs in fusion, nuclear, aerospace, defense, or large-scale construction.
Expert-level proficiency in Smartsheet, Primavera P6, or Microsoft Project, including resource-loaded, logic-driven schedules, critical path analysis, and baseline and variance management.
Demonstrated experience with schedule risk analysis, such as Monte Carlo analysis, and translating results into mitigation options and clear recommendations.
Ability to work deeply with technical teams, including physics, magnet engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain, to build credible logic and constructively challenge durations and assumptions.
Experience scheduling first-of-a-kind or research-and-development-heavy work with uncertain durations, iterative design, and long-lead custom hardware without forcing false precision.
Working knowledge of program controls practices, including earned value management, cost and schedule integration, and change control.
Ability to communicate complex schedules as clear drivers, risks, and decisions for leadership audiences.
Comfort operating in a fast-moving startup environment with high ownership and ambiguity.

Responsibilities

Build, maintain, and own the integrated master schedule across engineering, procurement, manufacturing, installation, and commissioning workstreams.
Develop schedule logic, milestones, and interdependencies with technical leads, and constructively challenge durations and assumptions.
Identify and communicate the critical path, near-critical paths, and key schedule drivers.
Run schedule risk analyses and translate the results into mitigation options and decision-ready recommendations.
Track progress, forecast completion, and regularly report variances and trends to leadership and stakeholders.
Manage schedule baselines and change control, and integrate vendor and long-lead procurement schedules into the integrated master schedule.
Partner with Program Managers and integrate cost control and risk management to keep schedule, budget, and risk data consistent across the program.

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 an experienced and motivated Program Controls Lead to own the integrated master schedule for our fusion development program. This is a highly visible, individual contributor role within the Program Management team. You will turn uncertain, evolving plans across engineering, procurement, manufacturing, and integration into a schedule that leadership trusts, and you will flag early when plan and reality diverge. This role acts as a force multiplier by giving the organization a clear view of the critical path, risks, and trade-offs.

Key Responsibility Areas:

Build, maintain, and own the integrated master schedule across engineering, procurement, manufacturing, installation, and commissioning workstreams.
Develop schedule logic, milestones, and interdependencies with technical leads, and challenge durations and assumptions constructively.
Identify and communicate the critical path, near-critical paths, and key schedule drivers.
Run schedule risk analyses and turn the results into mitigation options and decision-ready recommendations.
Track progress, forecast completion, and report variances and trends to leadership and stakeholders on a regular cadence.
Manage baselines and schedule change control, and integrate vendor and long-lead procurement schedules into the IMS.
Partner with Program Managers and integrate cost control and risk management to keep schedule, budget, and risk data consistent across the program.

Ideal Experience & Skillsets:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field.
5+ years leading building and owning integrated master schedules (IMS) for large, complex hardware or capital programs in fusion, nuclear, aerospace, defense, or large-scale construction.
Expert-level proficiency in Smartsheet, Primavera P6, or Microsoft Project, including resource-loaded, logic-driven schedules, critical path analysis, and baseline and variance management.
Demonstrated experience with schedule risk analysis (e.g., Monte Carlo) and turning results into mitigation options and clear recommendations.
Ability to work deeply with technical teams (physics, magnet engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, supply chain) to build credible logic and challenge durations and assumptions constructively.
Experience scheduling first-of-a-kind or R&D-heavy work with uncertain durations, iterative design, and long-lead custom hardware, without forcing false precision.
Working knowledge of program controls practices, including earned value management (EVM), cost and schedule integration, and change control.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to distill complex schedules into clear drivers, risks, and decisions for leadership audiences.
Comfortable operating in a fast-moving startup environment, with high ownership and ambiguity.

Company Benefits:

Salary range: $130,000 - $180,000
Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)
Employee equity stock options
20 days PTO

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.

About the Company

Thea Energy

Develops fusion power via planar-coil stellarators

Thea Energy develops fusion-based power technology to provide scalable, zero-emission baseload electricity for utilities and heavy industry. Its approach uses a reimagined stellarator with flat, planar superconducting coils controlled by software-defined systems, replacing the traditional complex magnet geometry to lower costs and improve serviceability. Its Eos neutron-source device and Helios commercial power plant concept illustrate a pipeline from research to grid-ready power, backed by DOE milestones and public-private partnerships. The company aims to commercialize fusion as a dependable grid-level energy source and win long-term offtake agreements with utilities and large customers.

Company size: 51-200
Company stage: Grant
Total funding: $145.8M
Headquarters: Princeton, NJ
Founded: 2022

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