About Commonwealth Fusion Systems:
Commonwealth Fusion Systems is on a mission to deliver the urgent transition to fusion energy.
Combining decades of research, top talent and new technologies, we’re designing and building commercially viable fusion power plants. And working with policymakers and suppliers to build the energy industry of the future.
We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised over $2 billion in capital – more than any other fusion energy company in the U.S.
Now we’re looking for more thinkers, doers, builders, and makers to join us. People who’ll bring new perspectives, solve tough problems, and thrive as part of a team.
If that’s you and this role fits, we want to hear from you.
CFS is now a 1,000+ person, multi-billion dollar effort. As we prepare for our next phase of power project deals, continued corporate growth, and global expansion, we are hiring the company’s first Chief Legal Officer, responsible for setting the vision for CFS’s Legal capabilities into the future and executing that vision. This role will report directly to the CEO and be a key member of the Executive Leadership Team.
This team member will:
- Be the trusted advisor to the CEO, supporting a broad set of legal-related corporate, investor relations, compliance, IP, open innovation partnerships, commercial, and other matters
- Set the vision for CFS’s Legal Department, seeking to build a world class legal team and operation that accelerates the company, empowers decision-making throughout the company, and amplifies its abilities
- Build a right-sized and streamlined legal operation for systematic support of a very large quantity of routine deals like supplier contracts, export control determinations, and employment matters, while at the same time providing high-touch support for a smaller quantity of company-defining deals and a growing pipeline of key commercial deals
- Risk-optimize the company’s legal decision-making, prioritizing the risks that are most important to the company and streamlining and decentralizing decision-making for lower risks
- Build new legal capabilities while managing our existing internal and external legal teams
- Centralize and manage the company’s legal expenses
- Instill a service mindset throughout the legal team of “what must be true to get us to yes?”, emphasizing creativity and tenacity and protecting our interests while becoming a trusted accelerant for business development and partnerships
The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements:
- Juris Doctorate (JD) required along with the necessary licenses to practice
- Additional education in engineering, physics, or other relevant energy fields is a plus
- 20+ years of experience in relevant legal roles. Deep legal and business intuition to become a trusted advisor to the CEO
- Experience designing, building, and running inhouse legal departments
- Experience in power development, having seen many deals relevant to power development and company growth.
- Experience building and running high-functioning, data-driven legal operations
- Experience working in a fast-paced environment where speed is prioritized over perfection
Additional preferred experience and/or qualifications:
- Perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time
- Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead, high voltage, and cryogenics
- Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
- #LI-Onsite
At CFS, we excel in fast-paced environments, driven by our values of integrity, execution, impact, and self-critique. As we grow, we’re eager to bring on mission-driven folks who offer diverse perspectives and fresh ways to tackle challenges.
We value diversity deeply and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally, regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law.
