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

# Director - Control, Instrumentation, and Diagnostics (CID) SystemsElectrical Engineering### Job DetailsLocationKearny, New Jersey, United StatesEmployment TypeFull-timeWork ModeOn-siteLevelIndividual ContributorPosted2 days ago## Director - Control, Instrumentation, and Diagnostics (CID) SystemsKearny, NJTechnology – Electrical and Control Systems Engineering /Full-time /On-site**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.LI-RD1### 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 #J-18808-Ljbffr