Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Technical Subcontracts

Thea Energy is building an economical and scalable fusion energy system utilizing arrays of mass manufacturable magnets and dynamic software controls. Commercial fusion energy can uniquely provide a abundant source of zero-emission power for a sustainable future. Thea Energy is leveraging recent breakthroughs in computation and controls to reinvent the stellarator, a scientifically mature form of magnetic fusion technology. Thea Energy was founded in 2022 as a spin-out of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and Princeton University, where the stellarator was originally invented. Thea Energy is currently designing its first integrated fusion system, Eos, based on its planar coil stellarator architecture which will produce fusion neutrons at scale and in steady-state.

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.

Thea Energy is looking for an experienced, highly motivated Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Technical Subcontracts to oversee high-value, partner contracts for our commercial fusion systems. You will build and manage strategic relationships with specialized engineering firms, construction contractors, custom machine shops, and technical service providers. The ideal candidate has deep experience handling complex statements of work (SOW) and driving contract execution with a high degree of autonomy.

 

 

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.

•    Draft, negotiate, and execute significant technical subcontracts for custom-built fusion components (e.g., cryogenic systems, vacuum vessels).
•    Manage supplier performance against complex statements of work, tracking milestone completions, cost, and technical quality.
•    Formulate negotiation strategies including intellectual property terms that protect Thea Energy’s core technology, confidentiality obligations, liability, risk distribution, and long-term pricing.
•    Partner with leadership, finance and legal team to  ensure all vendor agreements and terms and conditions manage financial, operational and legal risk appropriately.
•    Bridge engineering needs with business agreements, translating technical requirements and program milestones into contractual agreements, including statements of work, acceptance criteria, and payment schedules.
•    Source and evaluate vendor capabilities globally to build an active pipeline of advanced manufacturing partners.
•    Own non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements supporting supplier and partner engagement.

•    6+ years of experience managing subcontracts, complex supplier agreements, or commercial procurement contracts.
•    Background in hard-tech, aerospace, defense, or heavy industrial energy projects.
•    Deep knowledge of contract law concepts, including warranties, intellectual property protections, termination, and liability limitations.
•    Strong attention to detail in contract drafting and document control, including the ability to track and explain changes through a negotiation process.
•    Negotiation and relationship skills, with a track record of handling high-stakes business agreements.
•    Cross-functional leadership ability to coordinate inputs from engineering, finance, and legal teams seamlessly.