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About Pacific Fusion

Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with the mission to power the world with abundant, affordable, clean energy.


We are rapidly designing and building a pulser-driven inertial fusion system to achieve net facility gain (more fusion energy output than stored energy input). In parallel, we are developing the key components required to build affordable fusion systems.


Our plans are ambitious. We have raised over $900M so far from incredible investors, resourcing us to deliver on these plans. We are bringing together the best scientists, engineers, and operators from the fusion community, hard tech industry, and other sectors. We are united by a shared sense of urgency to provide clean power for the world, particularly in managing climate change while meeting growing global energy demand. You can read more about us in this letter from our founders.


About the Role:

This is a unique opportunity to serve as the Deputy General Counsel and strategic legal partner to the General Counsel of a rapidly growing, mission-driven company operating at the intersection of energy, advanced technology, and national security. As the second legal hire, you will play a highly visible role advising executive leadership and the Board while managing a broad range of commercial, IP, corporate, regulatory, and government contracting matters. The ideal candidate is an intellectually rigorous, business-minded attorney who can navigate complex legal and technical issues, communicate effectively with highly sophisticated stakeholders, and thrive in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment. This role offers the opportunity to help shape the legal function, support groundbreaking technologies and strategic initiatives, and contribute directly to the company's growth and long-term success.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Serve as the Deputy General Counsel and primary legal partner to the General Counsel, acting as a trusted advisor across all legal, business, operational, and corporate governance matters.
  • Manage a broad range of day-to-day legal matters, including commercial agreements, scaled procurement, strategic partnerships, and other transactional work.
  • Provide legal support for government contracting activities, including federal procurement, regulatory compliance, and interactions with government agencies.
  • Advise business leaders on legal issues arising from nuclear energy, advanced manufacturing, and other highly regulated areas.
  • Support complex corporate transactions, including debt financings, capital raises, joint ventures, and the formation, capitalization, and governance of subsidiaries and SPVs.
  • Lead and manage legal matters relating to intellectual property, technology development, and licensing.
  • Guide export controls, national security regulations, security clearance requirements, and other compliance obligations relevant to defense and government-related programs.
  • Develop and improve legal operations, contract management processes, and technology-enabled legal workflows, including AI and other productivity tools.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with finance, operations, human resources, engineering, and business development teams to support company growth and execution.
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and business risks while enabling the company to achieve strategic objectives.
  • Distill complex legal, technical, and business issues into clear, concise recommendations for executives, scientists, engineers, and Board members.
  • Manage outside counsel and specialized legal advisors to ensure efficient, cost-effective legal support.
  • Assume increasing responsibility for the overall legal function and act on behalf of the General Counsel when required.


Requirements:

  • JD from an ABA-accredited institution and eligible to practice law in California.
  • 8-15 years of substantive legal experience with demonstrated depth in multiple of the following areas: commercial and procurement transactions; corporate, governance, and finance matters; intellectual property and technology licensing; government contracts and federal procurement; export controls and national security compliance; and regulatory matters in energy, nuclear, or other highly regulated sectors with an in-house legal department and/or law firm.
  • Experience supporting companies operating in defense, aerospace, national security, energy, advanced manufacturing, hard-tech, or other highly regulated technology sectors.
  • Working knowledge of government contracts and federal procurement environments.
  • Experience with intellectual property, export controls, security clearances, and related regulatory frameworks.
  • Strong corporate and transactional background, including financings, capital formation, subsidiary management, and strategic transactions.
  • Demonstrated success advising or operating in high-growth, founder-led, or technically sophisticated organizations.
  • Experience implementing legal operations initiatives and leveraging AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency and scale.
  • Exceptional executive communication skills, with the ability to quickly identify the critical issue, cut through noise, and provide actionable recommendations.


Compensation & Benefits:

  • Industry-competitive salary range $290,000 - $330,000
  • Equity plan
  • 6% employer 401k matching
  • Generous paid time off (including sick leave, vacation, paid family leave)
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance


Actual base salary offered will be determined by experience, skills, and work location. This range is for base salary; our total compensation includes equity and benefits. We welcome you to apply even if your expectations are outside our listed range.


Pacific Fusion is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.


Pacific Fusion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures and throughout employment. If you need assistance or any accommodation, please let us know


Pacific Fusion has exclusively engaged Kerwin Associates to conduct this search. Any resumes sent directly to Pacific Fusion will be forwarded to Kerwin Associates. If interested in this role, please contact Anne Kerwin Payne (anne@kerwin.com) or Danielle Ryan (danielle@kerwin.com) at Kerwin Associates.