SPARC sustains fusion reactions by feeding >25MW of 120MHz RF power into the tokamak to heat the plasma to 100 million Kelvin. We need an RF Test Engineer to play a pivotal role in validating and testing the electronics and control systems that power the most ambitious RF plant in the world.
At this level, you are a hands-on executor and technical problem solver. You will be directly responsible for taking newly architected RF and power electronics from the benchtop to full-scale operation. Your day-to-day will span board-level bring-up, operating high-power RF transmitters, and integrating hardware with software controls to ensure SPARC achieves net energy.
For more information on the SPARC RF plant, see the SPARC journal papers here:
- Overview of the SPARC tokamak
- Physics basis for the ICRF system of the SPARC tokamak
What you'll do:
- Architect and design custom control boards, precision power supplies, and sensing circuits required to drive distributed, high-power solid-state RF amplifiers
- Partner closely with cross-functional teams, including software, RF, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers, to ensure your custom electronic designs integrate seamlessly into the broader system architecture
- Write comprehensive technical specifications for external vendors and internal matrix support teams to ensure manufactured components meet stringent requirements
- Perform advanced simulation and modeling of electronic circuits and power systems to validate performance
- Physically assemble and bring up initial prototypes on the bench, ensuring your designs transition flawlessly into the integrated RF system
What we’re looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field
- 5+ years of hands-on experience designing power electronics, control boards, or RF support circuitry
- Hands-on experience using circuit simulation software (e.g., SPICE) to model and validate circuit designs
- Exceptional PCB design skills utilizing Altium or similar software, specifically geared toward instrumentation, sensing, power supplies, and control systems
- High proficiency in modeling tools to validate electronics architecture and mitigate EMI/EMC issues in high-power, high-noise environments
Bonus points for:
- Experience working with high voltage systems and in high voltage environments
- Background in requirements engineering, specifically decomposing high-level system requirements into actionable hardware specifications
- Direct experience working with RF systems, with a strong bonus for candidates who have worked on high-power RF heating systems
- Experience with thermal management techniques for densely packed, high-power printed circuit board assemblies
- Experience translating complex engineering needs into clear manufacturing specifications for contract manufacturers and cross-functional teams
- A strong systems-level understanding of modern high-performance embedded digital controllers and high-speed communications
Must-have Requirements:
- Ability to lift up to 50lbs
- Perform activities such as stooping, climbing, standing, typing or sitting for extended periods of time
- Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
- Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field
- At least 5 years of hands-on experience designing power electronics, control boards, or RF support circuitry
- Experience using circuit simulation software such as SPICE
- Exceptional PCB design skills using Altium or similar software
- Proficiency with modeling tools for electronics architecture and EMI/EMC mitigation
- Experience with high-voltage systems and environments
- Requirements engineering and decomposition of system requirements into hardware specifications
- Experience with RF systems, especially high-power RF heating systems
- Thermal management for densely packed, high-power PCB assemblies
- Experience translating engineering requirements into manufacturing specifications
- Systems-level understanding of embedded digital controllers and high-speed communications
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Ability to perform extended standing, sitting, typing, stooping, and climbing
- Willingness to travel or work occasional nights, weekends, or on-call shifts
- Ability to work around industrial hazards, including high voltage, high current, cryogenics, strong magnets, and fumes
What We Do
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has the fastest, lowest cost path to commercial fusion energy. CFS is collaborating with MIT to leverage decades of research combined with new groundbreaking high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. HTS magnets will enable compact fusion power plants that can be constructed faster and at lower cost. CFS is now building SPARC, the world's first commercially relevant, net energy fusion demonstration device. SPARC will pave the way for the first fusion power plant, ARC, that will produce power on the grid. The ultimate mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. CFS has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by the world’s leading investors, CFS is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. If you are interested in joining our team, check out cfs.energy/careers for more information.
