Job description

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 we're working with policymakers, suppliers, and many others to build the energy industry of the future. We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised $4 billion of capital, making us the largest and leading fusion company in the world. 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. Join the power movement as Assistant General Counsel – Commercial CFS is seeking an experienced, pragmatic, and highly strategic Assistant General Counsel – Commercial to serve as a foundational leader on our legal team. This is a rare opportunity to shape how legal operates at a company building an entirely new industry from the ground up. This role is a true n of 1 : you will be the company's dedicated commercial legal lead, operating as both a hands-on individual contributor on CFS's most complex, mission-critical transactions and the architect of the legal infrastructure that will support the company's next phase of commercial growth. As CFS scales, you will be expected to build and lead a team in commercial and corporate legal, making this as much a leadership opportunity as a technical legal one. Reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer, you will partner with executive leaders across commercial and business development, corporate development, strategic partnerships, supply chain, finance, and engineering — giving you direct visibility into, and influence over, the company's most consequential strategic decisions Why This Role Matters: CFS is at an inflection point, moving from R&D to commercial execution. The deals, structures, and legal foundation this person builds now will directly shape how CFS contracts, partners, and scales for years to come. This is not a maintenance role — it is a builder role, for someone who wants outsized ownership over both the substance of high-stakes deals and the systems that make the whole commercial legal function work. What You'll Do Build & Scale the Commercial Legal Function Serve as the architect of CFS's commercial legal capability — building on and improving existing processes to create scalable contract workflows, tools, standard templates, negotiation playbooks, and training that empower business teams and accelerate deal velocity. Lay the groundwork for, and ultimately recruit and lead, a team as the function grows Lead High-Stakes Commercial and Partnership Negotiations Structure, draft, and negotiate complex, high-value commercial and partnership agreements, including key customer, supplier, and vendor deals, long-term procurement contracts, joint developments, strategic alliances, and partnerships Drive Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Serve as a core legal partner on corporate development initiatives — strategic partnerships, joint ventures, strategic investments, technology transfers, licensing, and other complex transactions central to scaling commercial fusion. Partner closely with corporate development and open innovation teams to structure and close deals that advance CFS's strategic position Support Core Corporate Legal Matters Provide legal support on corporate, subsidiary and entity management, and corporate transactions as they relate to commercial, corporate development, or strategic partnership transactions and agreements, serving as a trusted resource to the CLO, CFO, and CCO on corporate-adjacent legal needs beyond commercial deal work Advise Supply Chain & Operations Serve as the primary legal advisor to procurement and global supply chain teams, mitigating risk across complex, multi-tiered international supply chains for advanced hardware, specialized materials, and manufacturing Drive Pragmatic Risk Management Provide business-minded, creative, and actionable legal guidance that balances risk mitigation with the urgency and agility required to hit CFS's commercial milestones Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration Partner closely with commercial, corporate development, supply chain, engineering, global affairs, finance, and compliance teams to ensure alignment and seamless execution across all commercial and corporate development activity — and act as a visible legal leader within the broader organization What You'll Bring Education & Bar: J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar admission in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (eligible for MA In-House Counsel registration) Experience: 12+ years of legal experience, ideally starting at a top-tier law firm followed by significant in-house experience at a fast-growing, complex technology, energy, advanced manufacturing, or industrial company Commercial Expertise: Deep background in drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts, strategic partnerships, global supply chain agreements, and corporate development transactions (JVs, strategic investments, licensing, tech transfer) Corporate Legal Exposure: Familiarity with core corporate legal matters — governance, entity structuring, and general corporate transaction support — sufficient to advise confidently alongside commercial work 0-to-1 Process Builder: Proven track record of creating, operationalizing, and/or improving commercial legal systems, contract management tools (CLM), and negotiation playbooks from the ground up Leadership Trajectory: Experience mentoring, managing, or building legal teams, or a clear readiness to do so — this role is expected to grow into a team lead position Business Acumen & Pragmatism: Exceptional judgment and the ability to synthesize complex technical, operational, and legal concepts into clear, actionable advice for non-lawyers Executive Presence: Comfort advising senior leadership and acting as a trusted strategic partner to the CLO and business unit executives Adaptability & Drive: A proactive, self-starter mentality comfortable operating in a fast-changing, high-ambiguity environment where innovation happens daily Mission Alignment: A genuine passion for clean energy, deep technology, science-based product commercialization, and CFS's mission to bring fusion to the grid Must-have requirements: Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead, high voltage, and cryogenics Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call Why Join CFS? At CFS, you won't just be managing contracts — you will be laying the legal and commercial operational foundation for an entirely new global industry, with the opportunity to build and eventually lead the team that carries it forward. We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, a collaborative environment, and the opportunity to work alongside world-class experts dedicated to solving one of humanity's greatest challenges. 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. This role requires compliance with U.S. laws concerning the export of controlled or protected technologies or information (collectively, “Export Control Laws"). Any offer of employment will be contingent on the need for compliance with such Export Control Laws.

Requirements

Must-haves

Drive Pragmatic Risk Management Provide business-minded, creative, and actionable legal guidance that balances risk mitigation with the urgency and agility required to hit CFS's commercial milestones
Education & Bar: J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar admission in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (eligible for MA In-House Counsel registration)
Experience: 12+ years of legal experience, ideally starting at a top-tier law firm followed by significant in-house experience at a fast-growing, complex technology, energy, advanced manufacturing, or industrial company
Corporate Legal Exposure: Familiarity with core corporate legal matters — governance, entity structuring, and general corporate transaction support — sufficient to advise confidently alongside commercial work
0-to-1 Process Builder: Proven track record of creating, operationalizing, and/or improving commercial legal systems, contract management tools (CLM), and negotiation playbooks from the ground up
Leadership Trajectory: Experience mentoring, managing, or building legal teams, or a clear readiness to do so — this role is expected to grow into a team lead position
Business Acumen & Pragmatism: Exceptional judgment and the ability to synthesize complex technical, operational, and legal concepts into clear, actionable advice for non-lawyers
Executive Presence: Comfort advising senior leadership and acting as a trusted strategic partner to the CLO and business unit executives
Adaptability & Drive: A proactive, self-starter mentality comfortable operating in a fast-changing, high-ambiguity environment where innovation happens daily
Mission Alignment: A genuine passion for clean energy, deep technology, science-based product commercialization, and CFS's mission to bring fusion to the grid
Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead, high voltage, and cryogenics
Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call
Why Join CFS?

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