Head Of Systems Engineering

Overview

Own the system-level vision that turns first-of-a-kind fusion hardware into a cohesive, scalable reality—leading the integration of breakthrough science and engineering on the path to commercial fusion energy.

The Head of Systems Engineering will lead the systems engineering function at Realta Fusion, establishing technical requirements, driving system integration, and ensuring our magnetic mirror fusion devices meet performance, safety, and operational objectives. This senior technical leadership role demands expertise in complex system architecture, requirements management, and integration of multidisciplinary subsystems. You will bridge plasma physics, mechanical, electrical, nuclear, and controls engineering teams to ensure coherent system design and successful execution from experimental devices through commercial deployment.

The ideal candidate combines deep systems engineering expertise with strategic leadership, thriving in a first-of-a-kind hardware environment where disciplined systems thinking directly impacts our ability to deliver commercial fusion energy.

Realta Fusion is a rapidly growing start-up developing compact magnetic mirror fusion energy systems to address the biggest challenge of our time – tackling global climate change while ensuring a sufficient energy supply for at least ten billion people on (and off) earth. We are building a team with diverse talents dedicated to making fusion energy a real solution to humanity’s most pressing problem.

Systems Architecture & Requirements

• Define and maintain system architecture for fusion devices across experimental, pilot, and commercial product lines
• Establish and manage technical requirements from physics performance through operational, safety, and regulatory constraints
• Lead system decomposition and allocation of requirements to subsystems and components
• Develop and maintain interface control documents across mechanical, electrical, plasma, and control systems
• Drive design trades balancing performance, cost, schedule, manufacturability, and risk

Integration & Verification

• Lead system integration activities ensuring subsystems work together to meet top-level requirements
• Define verification and validation strategy including analysis, testing, inspection, and demonstration
• Oversee commissioning and acceptance testing of fusion devices and major subsystems
• Manage technical reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) ensuring design maturity and readiness
• Drive resolution of integration issues and interface conflicts across engineering disciplines

Team Leadership & Development

• Build, lead, and mentor systems engineering team (initially 2-3, scaling to 8-12)
• Establish systems engineering processes, tools, and best practices for fusion development
• Recruit systems engineers with experience in complex hardware integration
• Develop systems engineering capability across the broader engineering organization

Cross-Functional Technical Leadership

• Partner with plasma physics to translate physics requirements into engineering specifications
• Work with mechanical, electrical, nuclear, and controls leads to ensure integrated system design
• Coordinate with operations on maintainability, operability, and lifetime performance requirements
• Support manufacturing and assembly planning to ensure buildability and integration sequence

Program Support & Risk Management

• Provide systems engineering support to experimental campaigns and pilot plant development programs
• Lead technical risk assessment and develop mitigation strategies for system-level risks
• Support project management with integrated schedules, technical dependencies, and critical path analysis
• Represent systems engineering perspective in executive decision-making on technical priorities and resource allocation

External Engagement

• Represent systems engineering capabilities to investors, partners, and technical stakeholders
• Collaborate with national laboratories and research institutions on systems engineering best practices for fusion
• Engage with regulatory agencies on system safety analysis and compliance strategies

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• BS in Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical…