Senior Legal Counsel

Title: Senior Legal Counsel

Location: Knoxville, TN

Department: General & Administration

Job Description:

About Type One Energy

Type One Energy Group is mission-driven to provide sustainable, affordable fusion power to the world. Established in 2019 and venture-backed in 2023, the company is led by a team of globally recognized fusion scientists with a strong track record of building state-of-the-art stellarator fusion machines, together with veteran business leaders experienced in scaling companies and commercializing energy technologies.

If you are searching for the best new ideas and share our vision, join us as a Senior Legal Counsel.

This is what you need to know:

Location: Knoxville, TN

Salary: Highly Competitive Plus Benefits

Contract: Permanent, full time

Reporting to: Vice President of Legal
 

Your role in the mission:

The Senior Legal Counsel will provide strategic legal support across critical business functions, with a primary focus on procurement, supply chain, logistics, real estate, and regulatory compliance.
 

This role plays a key part in enabling complex domestic and international commercial transactions, supporting advanced manufacturing operations, and ensuring compliance in a dynamic, global regulatory landscape. The Senior Legal Counsel will work closely with cross-functional teams and executive leadership to deliver practical, business-focused legal solutions.
 

Key Responsibilities

Commercial & Supply Chain Legal Support

• Serve as lead counsel for procurement, supply chain, logistics, and commercial operations
• Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret a wide range of commercial agreements, including:
• • Procurement and supply agreements
  • Vendor and logistics contracts
  • Manufacturing and fabrication agreements
  • Sales and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreements
  • Master services agreements
  • Real estate and facilities agreements
  • Quality and technical specification agreements
  • Licensing and technology agreements
• Advise on sourcing strategies, contract structures, and operational risk management
• Support compliance requirements related to federal, state, and international partnerships
• Provide guidance on regulatory matters impacting energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing
   

Corporate Governance & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Support corporate governance activities and intercompany agreements
• Partner with internal stakeholders to develop and implement policies, procedures, and training
• Provide legal guidance on disputes, investigations, and strategic initiatives
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, and executive teams
• Translate complex legal concepts into practical business solutions
• Keep leadership informed of key legal risks and developments
• Manage outside counsel effectively and optimize legal spend
• Contribute to building a scalable and efficient legal function
   

What you’ll need:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited U.S. law school
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. state
• 5-10 years of relevant commercial legal experience, including:
• • Procurement and supply chain contracting
  • Vendor and logistics agreements
  • Supporting energy, technology, manufacturing or industrial clients
• Strong contract drafting, negotiation, and interpretation skills
• Experience supporting technical or engineering-driven organizations
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to engage effectively with senior leadership
• High integrity, sound judgment, and a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) as well as AI-based software

Preferred:

• In-house legal experience, particularly in energy, advanced manufacturing, or technology sectors
• Familiarity with U.S. federal and state agency contracting requirements
• Experience working in high-growth/startup environments
• Background managing and improving internal contract review intake processes
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 10%

We offer:

In addition to a basic salary and yearly bonus, you will also get…

• A hybrid work policy
• Stock options
• Relocation allowance
• Insurance plans
• Retirement options
• And many more great voluntary benefits

Type One Energy applies proven advanced manufacturing methods, modern computational physics and high-field superconducting magnets to develop its optimized stellarator fusion energy system. Our FusionDirect development program pursues the lowest-risk, shortest-schedule path to a fusion power plant over the coming decade, using a partner-intensive and capital-efficient strategy.
 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

Type One Energy is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity, searching for the best new ideas and remaining open to unique perspectives. Therefore, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment independent of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.