Computer Aided Design Apprentice Jobs in Newark, NJ

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.

The Configuration Manager owns the configuration and integrity of Thea Energy's products by directly managing the top‑level assembly in Siemens NX and creating, maintaining, and enforcing the modeling standards, drafting standards, review workflows, and release process for the company. The role pairs end‑to‑end ownership of one or more top‑level assemblies with process and procedure governance over CAD and PDM standards and processes. These responsibilities will be executed using Siemens NX and Siemens Teamcenter to achieve project goals through a lean, high‑performance process adhering to ISO 9001 standards.

The Configuration Manager is the single point of accountability for how Thea structures, controls, and evolves its top‑level CAD configurations, and for ensuring that the PDM environment remains stable, current, and well‑governed as the team scales. The role combines deep CAD authority with system‑administrator responsibility, and partners closely with subassembly leads, systems engineering, and engineering leadership.

1. Top‑Level Assembly Configuration Ownership
   • Assembly Ownership: Serve as the named owner of a designated top‑level assembly (TLA), responsible for its structure, release state, and configuration integrity from concept through production.
   • Subassembly Coordination: Partner with subassembly leads to maintain alignment between subordinate models and the TLA, including merge cadence, naming conventions, structural standards, interfaces, space claim, and modeling best practices.
   • Conflict Resolution: Drive resolution of configuration conflicts between subassemblies and ensure design intent preservation across the assembly hierarchy.
2. Cross‑Functional Interface Coordination
   • Interface Tracking: Partner with the Systems Engineer to track and document mechanical‑to‑electrical, mechanical‑to‑fluid, and mechanical‑to‑software interfaces relevant to the assigned TLA.
   • Interface Register: Maintain a PDM‑based interface register based on an authoritative source that reflects the current physical and logical boundaries between subsystems.
   • Drift Detection: Flag interface drift early including geometry, tolerance, and connector changes and lead the change‑control conversation when shifts occur.
3. Teamcenter PDM Operations
   • System Administration: Serve as the system administrator for Teamcenter, accountable for environment uptime, system upgrades, and patch cycles.
   • Licensing: Support negotiations for Teamcenter licensing with Siemens and adjacent partners by providing information on usage and managing seat allocation, and steward annual or multi‑year renewals.
   • Feature Lifecycle: Scope, test, evaluate, and roll out new Teamcenter features and modules in response to evolving company needs, in coordination with IT and engineering leadership.
   • PDM Proliferation: Lead integration of Teamcenter into the larger company software stack, for example, PDM interaction with Manufacturing and Test software platforms.
4. Access Control & Workflow Governance
   • Access Control: Own user access and permissions for Teamcenter and Siemens NX, including provisioning, role definitions, and periodic access reviews.
   • Workflow Templates: Define and maintain Teamcenter workflow templates (release, change, review) so that the process is consistent across teams and meets the needs of the team for speed versus complexity.
   • Workflow Auditing: Audit workflow activity, identify bottlenecks, and iterate workflow design with feedback from all company stakeholders.
5. Training & Documentation
   • CAD and Configuration Training: Develop and deliver training on CAD and configuration management practices, including modeling best practices, top‑level assembly structure, subassembly coordination, and naming and merge conventions.
   • Teamcenter Usage Training: Build and maintain onboarding and ongoing‑use training for Teamcenter, covering navigation, item creation, revision control, and day‑to‑day data management.
   • Release Workflow Training: Author training and reference materials that walk users through release workflows, including ECO/ECR initiation, review responsibilities, approval routing, and post‑release obligations.
   • Best‑Practice Documentation: Maintain a living set of best‑practice guides and quick‑reference documents for the engineering organization, updated as Teamcenter features and CAD practices evolve.
6. Additional Support
   • VFX and Marketing Graphics: Interface with and provide support to VFX and marketing groups for graphics generation, as necessary.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Five to seven years of professional experience in mechanical design and CAD, including ownership of complex assemblies in Siemens NX or an equivalent commercial CAD package.
• Hands‑on experience administering Teamcenter or another commercial PLM platform (e.g., Windchill, Enovia).
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate across engineering disciplines on shared deliverables, including interface management with systems engineering.
• Working familiarity with engineering change management (ECO/ECR) and release control.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly in documenting configuration management and PDM administration practices, and in producing training materials for technical audiences.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Direct experience as the named owner of a top‑level assembly on a hardware product through release.
  • Prior responsibility for PDM license negotiation or vendor management.
  • Familiarity with Model‑Based Definition (MBD), Design‑in‑Context methodologies, and Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) workflows.
  • Experience designing or auditing Teamcenter workflow templates.
  • Experience developing and delivering technical training for engineering teams (CAD, PDM, or workflow‑related).
  • Experience in fusion energy, aerospace, defense, medical devices, or another regulated hardware environment.
  • Familiarity with NX Open or Teamcenter customization (BMIDE, ITK, or comparable).

• Salary range $150,000-$185,000
• Comprehensive health benefits (e.g., medical/dental/vision)
• Employee equity stock options
• 20 days PTO

It’s not necessary to meet all of the skillsets outlined above. Please feel free to send us a note and tell us why you would still be a great fit for this role or Thea Energy.

Thea Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a company of diverse backgrounds. By creating a diverse environment, we will bring new ideas and approaches to solving some of the world’s hardest (and most important) problems. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, family or marital status, age, disability, veteran’s status, or other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.