Energy America

Compensation

Full Description

VICE PRESIDENT OF PLANT DEVELOPMENT – TEXAS (10GW Factory Program) Centauri Renewable Corporation – Energy America Manufacturing Division Location: Texas (Primary), National & Global Coordination Required Position Type: Executive Leadership – Full Time Reports to: CEO, Centauri Renewable Corporation Matrix Oversight: Centauri Labs, Energy America LLC, EA Solar LLC, Ganymede Utilities LLC, NASA Technology Partners ⸻ 1. ROLE SUMMARY The Vice President of Plant Development – Texas will lead the full lifecycle development of Centauri’s flagship 10GW+ U.S. gigafactory for next-generation solar cells, modules, graphene-enhanced BESS, and advanced energy technologies including NASA-licensed Selenium Interlayer Solar Cell manufacturing (TRL-6 to TRL-9 pathway). This leader is responsible for: • Land acquisition & state registration • Design, engineering, and permitting • Construction, commissioning, and operational readiness • Vertical integration: polysilicon → wafer → cell → module → pack storage • Global supply-chain FEOC compliance • Federal/state incentives, EXIM Bank alignment, NASA visibility • Partnerships with EPC, engineering firms, equipment vendors, and state authorities This is a mission-critical executive position directly shaping the future of America’s clean energy manufacturing ecosystem. ⸻ 2. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES A. Strategic Leadership & Program Ownership • Develop and own the full Texas Gigafactory Master Plan (5GW→10GW scaling). • Lead feasibility studies, financial modeling, phasing strategy, and capacity planning. • Drive cross-division alignment with Centauri, Energy America, Ganymede Utilities, and EA Solar. B. Land & Infrastructure Development • Identify, evaluate, and secure suitable land in Texas (industrial, utilities-ready, >200 acres). • Oversee geotechnical surveys, environmental reviews, zoning approvals, and site engineering. • Manage relationships with utility providers for water, natural gas, 400–800MW power supply. C. Factory Design, Engineering & Technology • Lead facility architectural design, cleanroom planning, process layout, and manufacturing flow. • Work with NASA-aligned engineering teams to integrate selenium interlayer pilot line → mass production lines. • Oversee integration of advanced R&D spaces, AI/AGI simulation labs, and data-center power system development. D. Capital Planning & Funding Coordination • Support federal/state grant applications: • IRA §45X, §48C Advanced Manufacturing Credit • DOE LPO • EXIM Bank financing for export-capable lines • Build CapEx and OpEx models, vendor quotes, and multi-phase budget management. • Coordinate with private equity, institutional LPs, and corporate finance team. E. Construction, EPC & Commissioning • Manage end-to-end EPC procurement, contractor selection, and construction operations. • Ensure alignment with U.S. manufacturing standards, OSHA, and environmental regulations. • Deliver phased commissioning: pilot → early ramp → full 10GW scale. F. Supply Chain, Equipment, and FEOC Compliance • Build complete raw-materials supply chain aligned with FEOC-free sourcing. • Secure long-lead equipment: ingot furnaces, wafer cutters, PECVD, metallization lines, laminators, testers. • Oversee U.S.-based and allied-nation sourcing for selenium, graphene, glass, frames, junction boxes, etc. G. Corporate Governance, NASA Alignment & Reporting • Provide quarterly updates to NASA Glenn’s Technology Transfer Office. • Ensure proper license implementation, virtual patent marking, and IP protection. • Maintain compliance with NASA, DOE, DoD, and federal oversight expectations. H. Operations Readiness & Workforce Development • Build hiring roadmap for 1,500–2,500 employees across engineering, operations, and logistics. • Develop onboarding, safety programs, SOPs, and ISO/UL certifications. • Work with HR on recruiting pipelines (Texas universities, trade schools, veteran workforce). I. Stakeholder & Government Relations • Engage Texas state authorities, economic-development boards, local governments, and utilities. • Collaborate with federal legislators, economic agencies, and trade representatives. • Represent company in public forums, investor meetings, and strategic partnerships. ⸻ 3. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE • 12+ years in factory development, industrial construction, or advanced manufacturing leadership. • Proven track record building GW-scale solar, semiconductor, battery, or related manufacturing plants. • Experience with DOE, NASA, DoD, or federal technology programs preferred. • Strong background in CapEx budgeting ($500M–$5B+ projects). • Demonstrated ability to manage EPC, architects, engineers, and large technical teams. • Deep understanding of FEOC compliance, IRA incentives, and domestic supply-chain structuring. ⸻ 4. KEY COMPETENCIES • Visionary leadership with execution discipline • Technical expertise in solar cell/module/BESS manufacturing • Strong negotiation and vendor management capability • Mastery of construction and commissioning processes • Government relations + federal regulatory navigation • IP protection awareness, NASA licensing compliance • Cross-functional coordination across global teams • Resilience, adaptability, and executive-level communication ⸻ 5. EDUCATION • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field required. • Master’s degree or MBA preferred. • Additional certifications in PMP, PE license, or Lean/Six Sigma are beneficial. ⸻ 6. PERFORMANCE METRICS (KPIs) • Land secured and permits completed within timeline • Stage-gated progress of factory construction • CapEx compliance vs. budget • Completion of pilot lines for selenium interlayer & graphene BESS • IRA/DOE/NASA compliance milestones met • FEOC-aligned supply-chain establishment • Successful commissioning of 1st GW line • Workforce recruitment and operational readiness • On-time delivery of NASA quarterly review packages ⸻ 7. ROLE IMPACT The VP of Plant Development will be the architect of America’s most advanced clean-energy manufacturing ecosystem—anchoring U.S. energy independence, NASA-certified solar innovation, and Centauri’s rise as the global leader in terrestrial and space-grade energy systems.