Quaise Energy is unlocking Earth’s deep heat to deliver clean, reliable, baseload energy at scale – almost anywhere in the world. As both a technology innovator and project developer, Quaise builds and operates solutions that harness superhot geothermal energy far below the surface, enabling power generation that can rival the output of today’s most efficient fossil fuel and nuclear plants. Leveraging millimeter wave drilling, developed after more than a decade of research at MIT, Quaise’s mission is to make superhot geothermal a backbone of the modern energy system, offering affordable, zero-carbon power and true energy independence for communities and nations everywhere.

Work Location: Remote or Hybrid (Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Bend, OR; Portland, OR; or Seattle, WA)

The Permitting Program Manager is a senior individual contributor role responsible for planning, securing, and maintaining the environmental studies, permits, and authorizations required to develop, construct, and operate Quaise’s geothermal projects. This role owns the integrated federal, state, and local permitting program in partnership with the Origination, Development, Construction, and Operations teams, and serves as a primary point of contact with regulators, land managers, and environmental consultants.

This position will play a key role in advancing Project Obsidian, Quaise’s first commercial superhot geothermal power plant in Central Oregon, and in building the repeatable permitting framework that supports Quaise’s transition from technology development to commercial deployment.

Additional responsibilities include maintaining a positive corporate culture, promoting a safe and creative work environment, identifying and supporting opportunities for external collaborations, and other activities designed to improve Quaise.

Essential functions (Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.)

Permitting Strategy & Regulatory Approvals

Own the integrated permitting program for Quaise’s geothermal projects, spanning exploration, drilling, wellfield, power plant, and interconnection and linear facility scopes from early-stage screening through construction and operations.

Collaborate with regulator counsel to develop project-specific permitting strategies that identify required federal, state, and local authorizations, critical-path approvals, and key risks, and align them with the project development and construction schedule.

Lead preparation, submittal, and agency review of federal geothermal authorizations under the Geothermal Steam Act and 43 CFR 3200, including exploration notices of intent, geothermal drilling permits and operations plans, sundry notices, utilization plans, facility construction permits, site licenses, and commercial use permits.

Manage state and local permitting, including geothermal well permits, energy facility siting, water rights and water quality, air quality, and local land use approvals (e.g., Oregon DOGAMI, EFSC/ODOE, DEQ/UICs, and OWRD).

Coordinate with land managers on surface use authorizations (e.g., USFS special use authorizations for roads and ancillary facilities) and with transmission providers on environmental review supporting interconnection and gen-tie facilities.

Support due diligence for new sites and lease acquisitions, including permitting fatal-flaw screening and development of environmental diligence guidance and standards.

NEPA, Consultation & Environmental Studies

Support NEPA compliance with the BLM, USFS, and other lead and cooperating agencies, including preparation and review of Categorical Exclusions, Determinations of NEPA Adequacy, Environmental Assessments (EAs), and Environmental Impact Statements (EISs).

Manage interagency consultations in support of NEPA and state processes, including ESA Section 7, NHPA Section 106, and Clean Water Act Section 404/401, and support agency-led government-to-government Tribal consultation.

Scope, commission, and review environmental and cultural resource studies (biological, cultural, hydrologic, wetland delineation, noise, visual, induced seismicity, etc.), and plan survey calendars around species-specific protocol windows.