Mechanical Engineering Manager

Our client is building the world’s first fusion energy power plant at their headquarters in the Seattle metro area. Their mission is to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable electricity at scale, unlocking a future of virtually limitless energy.

Backed by over $1 billion in funding, they're in a position to do something no company has done before. Their last prototype completed 10,000 high‑power pulses and reached plasma temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius (9 keV), and this role will be critical to the success of their next‑generation system, now in development.

This is a pivotal time to come on board. You will tackle real‑world challenges with a team that prizes urgency, rigor, and ownership. Together, you will change the future of energy, because the world can't wait.

In this position, you’ll lead a core thermo‑mechanical team across hardware design for our client’s fusion devices. This is not a sustaining engineering role; it is first‑principles, new‑product‑introduction work where you will own both technical direction and team development.

You will design, prototype, and scale complex hardware under challenging constraints while growing a high-performing engineering team. You will establish technical standards, drive execution, and shape design processes to increase the speed and quality of innovation.

Our client has significant in‑house prototyping and manufacturing capabilities – parts can be turned in ~2 days, and you’ll have the support of over 40 R&D technicians. You’ll also have the support of specialized teams: multi‑physics simulation experts, plasma physicists, and advanced modeling groups. There’s a clear path for both scope growth and promotion as this team scales toward commercialization.

• Grow and mentor a team of multidisciplinary thermo‑mechanical engineers.
• Oversee the design, development, and optimization of thermal management strategies across the machine.
• Drive high‑level architectural decisions on thermal processes, energy recovery, and plant design schemes.
• Lead validation of thermal models through subscale testing, instrumentation design, and correlation of experimental data.
• Drive cost‑effective, manufacturable designs without sacrificing performance/reliability.
• Lead design, analysis, and manufacturing process improvements to increase performance.

• 5+ years of thermal/mechanical engineering experience, including 2+ years in an engineering management role
• Strong mechanical design and prototyping skills
• Demonstrated ability to hire and grow engineers and impact career development
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams with full‑scope project ownership
• Proven ability to manage complex engineering projects with schedule accountability
• Hands‑on exposure to multiple engineering disciplines such as mechanical, thermal, and fluids
• Ability to apply engineering first‑principles and structured problem‑solving to technical challenges

• This is an onsite role in the Seattle metro area.
• You will report to the Senior Manager of Engineering.

This role requires access to information subject to U.S. export control laws (ITAR/EAR). Applicants must be “U.S. Persons” (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or certain protected individuals) or eligible under the TSR license exception. We cannot consider applicants who require an export control license.

Our client’s compensation package includes a competitively benchmarked base salary, meaningful equity grants, and comprehensive benefits. Final compensation is determined through a holistic evaluation of your experience, qualifications, and their commitment to internal equity - ensuring fairness and transparency across our teams. They’re committed to fostering a fair and equitable environment in every aspect of our operations, including compensation.

• Candidates may also be eligible for up to a $30k sign‑on bonus and up to a $20k relocation package.
• This is an exempt salaried role.

The total compensation package includes benefits, including but not limited to:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision plans for employees and their families
• 31 days of PTO (21 vacation days and 10 sick…