What are the responsibilities and job description for the CTO position at Nextgen Magnets?
The world currently depends on a rare-earth magnet supply chain where 90% of supply is controlled by a single geographic source. This creates critical vulnerabilities for U.S. defense and industrial sectors, alongside devastating environmental costs from toxic mining practices.
Nextgen Magnets is a deep-tech startup commercializing a breakthrough in materials science: high-performance, rare-earth-free permanent magnets. Built from earth-abundant elements and based on pioneering research from Dr. Kai Liu’s lab at Georgetown University, our technology—including $L1_{0}$ phase high-entropy thin films and C16-phase high-entropy borides—offers a sustainable, American-made solution for the next generation of defense, AI, robotics, and industrial applications.
We are seeking a visionary and hands-on Chief Technology Officer to join our founding team. As we move from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 into productization, your primary mission will be to take this groundbreaking IP out of the lab and transform it into a scalable, market-ready product.
Key Mission: Bridge the gap between world-class scientific discovery and industrial-scale manufacturing.
Responsibilities- Technology Transition: Lead the evolution of our rare-earth-free magnet technology from its current lab-scale (TRL 2) to a robust, high-yield production process. See this tech overview https://drive.google.com/file/d/18qi4kBZfXuZp8h3ushmkN1E93vCbpBxr/view?usp=sharing and Dr. Liu’s research https://physics.georgetown.edu/kai-liu/
- Product Development: Optimize magnet performance for our initial beachhead markets, specifically magnetic recording media (HAMR), defense and aerospace sensors, actuators and guidance.
- Global Lab Strategy: Determine and establish the initial laboratory and pilot production site. We are open to any location globally that offers the best infrastructure, talent pool, and strategic advantage for this phase of development.
- Certification & Quality: Drive the process for securing essential industry certifications, such as AS9100 for aerospace/defense or FDA for medical imaging applications.
- Strategic Partnerships: Work alongside our CEO and Scientific Advisor to solidify technical partnerships with key OEMs (e.g., Seagate, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon).
- Scalability: Design and oversee specialized production lines for high-demand, low-volume components to demonstrate manufacturing readiness.
- Deep Tech Expertise: Ph.D. or equivalent experience in Materials Science, Physics, or Engineering, with a specific background in magnetics, thin films, or high-entropy alloys.
- Proven Track Record: Experience taking complex hardware or materials technology from the laboratory/academic setting to commercial production.
- Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with the magnetic recording industry, defense supply chains, or advanced thermal management.
- Entrepreneurial Drive: Ability to thrive in a seed-stage environment, managing a $2M initial capital raise to fuel R&D and pilot production.
- Leadership: Capability to build and lead a world-class technical team while maintaining a "player-coach" mentality in the early stages.
- Massive Impact: Tackle a $55 Billion Total Addressable Market (TAM) while solving a critical national security and environmental crisis.
- Elite Foundation: Partner with internationally recognized experts and a seasoned CEO with a track record in venture formation and B2B strategy.
- Geographic Flexibility: Influence the location of our technical headquarters to ensure optimal success.
Join us in securing critical supply chains and unlocking unprecedented performance.