Head of Technology Innovation

Nextgen Magnets is a deep-tech venture focused on solving the global supply chain and environmental crises associated with rare-earth magnets. Utilizing breakthrough research in High Entropy Alloys (HEAs) and Intermetallics , we are developing sustainable, earth-abundant permanent magnets that rival the performance of NdFeB and SmCo without the market volatility.
We are seeking a Chief Technology Officer to spearhead the transition of these "lab-to-life" materials from thin-film sputtering and rapid thermal annealing (RTA) to industrial-scale bulk manufacturing.
Core Responsibilities Lab-to-Production Scaling : Oversee the critical transformation of disordered cubic structures into highly ordered, high-anisotropy phases at scale.
Manufacturing Engineering : Develop industrial-scale alternatives to laboratory Sputtering and Halogen Lamp RTA processes to produce bulk rare-earth-free magnets for EV motors and wind turbines.
Yield Optimization : Implement high-heating-rate and strain-mediated acceleration protocols to achieve single-phase ordering in thick-film and bulk formats.
2. Advanced Materials R&D Compositional Engineering : Lead the exploration of the "New Arena" of multi-principal element materials, including FeCoNiMnCu and FeCoNiMnAl systems.
High-Entropy Innovation : Leverage Gibbs free energy and configurational entropy principles to design thermodynamically stable, rare-earth-free magnets with high magnetic anisotropy.
Magnetic Tuning : Drive research into switching magnetic orders via non-magnetic additions (e.g., Al addition) to tailor properties for specific applications in robotics, MRI, and consumer electronics.
3. Strategic Technical Leadership IP Strategy : Manage and expand the company's patent portfolio, building on foundational work such as US Patent 10,685,781 .
Ecosystem Building : Represent the company in technical discussions with the National Academy of Inventors, IEEE, and the American Physical Society.
Resource Acquisition : Lead technical proposals for government and private grants (NSF, DOE) to support the scale-up of earth-abundant magnetic materials.
Candidate Profile Academic Background : Ph.D. in Physics, Materials Science, or Metallurgical Engineering. Deep familiarity with Tetrataenite and High Entropy Materials is highly preferred.
Scaling Expertise : Proven experience taking materials from TRL 3 (Laboratory Proof of Concept) to TRL 7+ (Production in an operational environment).
Technical Proficiency : Expertise in phase ordering, high materials, and characterization techniques such as GIXRD and magnetic order switching.
Vision : A commitment to building a sustainable supply chain by replacing Nd, Dy, Pt, and Pd with abundant elements like Fe, Ni, Mn, and Al.
Global Impact : Directly address the supply chain bottlenecks hindering the green energy transition.
Scientific Excellence : Work at the cutting edge of high-entropy magnetics, a field currently redefining nanoscience and nanotechnology.
Founding Influence : Shape the technical roadmap and culture of a Georgetown-born startup poised to disrupt the $20B+ permanent magnet market.

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