Head of Origination

Commonwealth Fusion Systems•Devens, MA

12d•Remote

About The Position

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) is seeking a Head of Origination to lead the commercialization, market entry, and structured contracting for future ARC fusion power plants. This role is crucial in transforming how clean, resilient power is contracted and deployed, focusing on identifying, engaging with, and executing customer and partnership strategies. The Head of Origination will define and execute the commercial origination strategy, reporting to the Head of Power Business. Key responsibilities include leading energy customer development, securing long-term offtake agreements, and translating the pipeline into committed contracts, capital, and bankable assets. This position involves being on the front lines of customer and partner engagement, collaborating closely with project development, finance, legal, and engineering teams to craft, negotiate, and secure commercial agreements. The Head of Origination will be a key leader of the commercial team, driving the deployment of clean, safe, and abundant fusion energy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Engineering, Engineering Technologies, Business, Finance, Economics, Math, Physics or a related field OR > 10+ years of progressive energy industry experience, with at least 5 years specifically leading power origination, structured energy sales, or power marketing.
Proven track record of originating and closing large-scale, long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), tolling agreements, environmental product contracts, or capacity contracts.
Deep technical understanding of North American wholesale power markets, RTO/ISO market rules, transmission dynamics, and commercial risk allocation.
Established network of executive contacts across utilities, corporate/hyperscaler procurement teams, and wholesale counterparties.
Strong financial acumen with direct experience working alongside project finance teams to ensure contract bankability and acceptable risk-adjusted returns.
Superior negotiation, presentation, and communication skills, with a track record of presenting to C-suite executives and investment committees.
Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to thrive in a high-growth environment and turn broad, ambiguous opportunities into executed deals.
Perform activities such as typing, standing, and sitting, for extended periods of time.
Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call - this position will require up to 25% travel (day-trip & overnight).
Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree, MBA, or advanced technical degree preferred.
Understanding of Global wholesale power markets.
Experience with clean baseload power, first-of-a-kind (FOAK) technologies, energy storage, or infrastructure.
Demonstrated experience managing basis risk (nodal vs. zonal pricing splits), shape risk, and congestion/line-loss settlement mechanisms.
Knowledge of advanced decarbonization procurement standards, such as hourly 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) matching and tax credit transferability (e.g., IRA PTC and ITC mechanics).
Familiarity with complex utility retail tariffs, standby charges, and wheeling arrangements.
Familiarity with federal energy procurement pathways, tax equity structures, or M&A-driven origination.
Ability to travel up to 40% for customer meetings, site visits, and industry conferences.

Responsibilities

Lead the origination, structuring, negotiation, and execution of long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), tolling arrangements, environmental product contracts, and capacity contracts for ARC fusion power plants.
Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key anchor customers, including regulated and municipal utilities, electric cooperatives, hyperscalers, industrial off-takers, and government agencies.
Formulate and implement the overall wholesale and retail origination strategy to secure contracted revenue streams that support project financing and long-term business objectives.
Provide commercial leadership during utility procurement processes, competitive solicitations, bilateral negotiations, and RFP responses.
Collaborate cross-functionally with internal stakeholders—including project development, finance, legal, external affairs, and engineering—to ensure alignment between customer needs, project economics, and deployment strategy.
Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of origination professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, creativity, extreme ownership, and continuous improvement.
Design and implement innovative contract structures that allow us to effectively engage with early adopters while mitigating the contractual risks in deployment of these novel fusion power plants.
Identify high-value power markets, RTOs, and favorable regulatory frameworks in which we can execute attractive deals and partnerships.
Monitor energy market trends, resource plans, and regulatory developments across North American RTOs/ISOs to identify new contracting opportunities and inform market entry plans.
Develop and own the commercial framework for project opportunities, analyzing market data, assessing risks, and presenting strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
Represent CFS at industry events, customer meetings, and strategic forums as a subject matter expert and ambassador for fusion energy.
Oversee post-execution lifecycle management, ensuring rigorous compliance with contractual obligations while nurturing long-term strategic partnerships to maintain operational excellence and corporate good standing.
Facilitate or source creative solutions and approaches to equitably share risk between parties.
Prioritize multiple projects and/or issues with conflicting deadlines and/or business unit drivers.
Demonstrate a reliable and persistent work ethic, seeing tasks through to completion. Stays determined in the face of uncertainty and failure.
Adaptability to a start-up environment, capability to take initiative, develop own tasks and timelines, and solve broad, ambiguous problems.
Comfort and capability making judgment calls that are fundamental to the success of entire projects or major initiatives.
Proven writing and communication ability, and consistent quality of work appropriate for preparing material for a broad external audience.
Can respectfully challenge senior leadership with a well-reasoned and data-supported argument.