Director - Quality Assurance

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 experienced, entrepreneurial Director of Quality Assurance. This role is a strategic leader who possesses the startup grit to be completely hands-on on day one, with the vision to architect and scale our entire quality organization as we grow. This role requires a unique blend of high-level strategic foresight and a passionate, "roll-up-your-sleeves" execution mindset.

Key Responsibility Areas:

• Startup Agility & Execution: Act as the primary, hands-on quality practitioner initially drafting documentation, executing first-article inspections, and setting up the foundational quality frameworks from scratch.
• Team Scaling & Leadership: Develop the hiring roadmap for the quality organization; recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of quality engineers and inspectors as the company scales.
• Enterprise QMS Architecture: Architect, implement, and continuously mature an agile, enterprise-wide Quality Management System (QMS) compliant with rigorous standards (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100, NQA-1) while balancing high speed execution
• Supplier Governance: Establish a world-class supplier quality engineering framework, auditing initial critical vendors and managing incoming and in-process validation for complex hardware components.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Partner intimately with engineering and manufacturing teams to implement appropriate, value add, quality checks and risk-mitigation frameworks into early-stage hardware and software designs.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead internal audits, anomaly investigations, and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to drive an organizational culture of continuous improvement and safety.

Ideal Experience & Skillsets:

• 10–15+ years of progressive experience in Quality Assurance/Quality Control within high-consequence, complex industries (aerospace, defense, automotive, or advanced energy).
• Proven Startup/Scaleup Experience: Direct experience working in a fast-paced hardware startup or early-stage manufacturing environment where you successfully scaled a quality department from the ground up.
• "Player-Coach" Mentality: A demonstrated history of being equally comfortable pitching a quality strategy to executives/investors and being on the production floor troubleshooting hardware non-conformances.
• Deep Framework Knowledge: Strong familiarity with ISO 9001, AS9100, NQA-1, or equivalent quality frameworks.
• Safety Focus: Strong alignment with environment, health, and safety standards (OSHA 30hr Certification or equivalent experience preferred).
• Exceptional Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence cross-functional technical teams and maintain rigorous quality ethics with absolute discretion.

Company Benefits:

Requirements: