Director - Control, Instrumentation, and Diagnostics (CID) Systems

Location: Kearny, New Jersey, United States; on-site

Salary: $120,000–$240,000 per year

Company

hirify.global is developing a commercial fusion energy system based on stellarator physics and computer-controlled arrays of planar coils.

What you will do

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary organization covering control systems, instrumentation, diagnostics acquisition, embedded software, and real-time integration.
• Set engineering operating rhythms, technical direction, architecture standards, planning processes, and quality expectations.
• Own the Eos CID architecture across fast data acquisition, supervisory control, PLC automation, safety interlocks, diagnostics acquisition, communications, timing, and data flows.
• Direct development and integration of control, instrumentation, safety, and diagnostic acquisition systems, including vendor and collaborator interfaces.
• Lead requirements, interface definitions, technical reviews, verification plans, design gates, configuration control, and acceptance evidence.
• Provide hands-on leadership during laboratory and field activities, including wiring, installation support, commissioning, testing, and debugging.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Controls, Computer Science, Physics, or an equivalent field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience across integrated control systems, industrial automation, fast data acquisition, instrumentation, diagnostics acquisition, or real-time embedded software.
• 5+ years of engineering management experience leading multidisciplinary teams, including hiring and performance management.
• Experience owning complex systems from architecture through prototype validation and integration, with strong safety, interlock, fail-safe, and high-reliability engineering practices.
• Experience with control frameworks and protocols such as EPICS, TANGO, OPC UA, DDS, Modbus, TCP/IP, PLC platforms, FPGA acquisition, real-time operating systems, and deterministic timing networks.
• Must be able to work on-site in a facility with heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics; occasional travel, nights, weekends, or on-call work may be required.

Nice to have

• Experience delivering CID systems for fusion devices, accelerators, advanced nuclear facilities, or other large scientific facilities.
• Experience integrating AI and digital twin capabilities into supervisory control and operations workflows.
• Knowledge of Siemens TIA Portal, Beckhoff TwinCAT, Allen Bradley, Codesys, White Rabbit, IEEE 1588 PTP, PXIe digitizers, AutoCAD Electrical, or EPLAN.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Employee equity stock options.
• 20 days of paid time off.
• Safety-focused engineering environment supporting installation and operations of fusion systems.