The Role
Lead R&D testing and risk reduction for high-temperature superconducting magnets. Design magnet samples, subsystems, test equipment, instrumentation, and cryogenic systems; perform structural, electrical, and thermal analyses; execute test campaigns; troubleshoot production and integration issues; develop data-analysis tools; maintain requirements, documentation, schedules, and budgets; and present trade studies and test results to multidisciplinary engineering and physics teams.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Commonwealth Fusion Systems:
Commonwealth Fusion Systems is on a mission to deliver the urgent transition to fusion energy.
Combining decades of research, top talent, and new technologies, we’re designing and building commercially viable fusion power plants. And we're working with policymakers, suppliers, and many others to build the energy industry of the future.
We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised $4 billion of capital, making us the largest and leading fusion company in the world.
Now we’re looking for more thinkers, doers, builders, and makers to join us. People who’ll bring new perspectives, solve tough problems, and thrive as part of a team.
If that’s you and this role fits, we want to hear from you.
Join the power movement as a Senior R&D Engineer
The NINT Magnet R&D team is responsible for testing and retiring risks for CFS's NINT (non-insulated-non-twisted) HTS magnets. This includes executing development test campaigns for CFS's next-generation NINT magnet technology, and leading RCCA efforts through analysis and testing to resolve issues that may arise with the SPARC NINT magnets currently in production, tokamak integration, and commissioning. HTS magnet technology is inherently multidisciplinary, and a successful Senior R&D engineer will seamlessly flex between disciplines and groups to effectively lead the execution of tests and projects on aggressive schedules supporting CFS's mission. The Senior R&D engineer must have a fundamental understanding of mechanical, electrical, materials, fluids, and systems engineering, or some combination thereof. It is also the role of the R&D engineer to constantly push and challenge the requirements, risks, and test objectives that they are given to help the combined stakeholders come to a consensus on why the planned test is required and what data is deemed essential for the outcome to be achieved.
What you'll do:
- Develop new HTS magnet designs and their associated subsystems, which includes the designing and building R&D test samples, and developing their manufacturing processes and test operations
- Design, build, and commission test equipment required to accomplish R&D test campaign objectives
- Perform structural, electrical, and/or thermal analyses in support of R&D sample design and to predict test results
- Build expertise in testing HTS magnets as well as how to design and build R&D HTS magnets and their associated subsystems, including power delivery, cryogenic cooling, and structures
- Support the production, integration, and commissioning of SPARC NINT coils as issues requiring HTS magnet build and test expertise arise
- Understand, challenge, and maintain well documented requirements and risks for the system or component under test, and align stakeholders on why the planned test is required and what data is deemed essential for the desired outcome to be achieved
- Collaborate with I&C engineers to develop necessary instrumentation and data acquisition systems
- Maintain documentation, schedules, and budgets for test campaigns. Documentation includes: design reviews, wiring lists, P&IDs, schematics, CAD assemblies, drawings, BOMs, data acquisition systems, and operations software
- Develop custom tools to analyze generated data. Compile test results in presentations for review
- Prepare and deliver presentations containing trade studies, design reviews, test readiness reviews, and test data reviews to teams of engineers and physicists
What we’re looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science field is required; mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or similar, or applied physics degree preferred
- 7+ years’ experience as an R&D engineer or test engineer designing, building, commissioning complex electromechanical systems
- Experience working on a multi-disciplinary engineering project, ideally as a technical leader
- Excellent fundamental knowledge of mechanical systems such as static structures and heat transfer
- Experience with selecting and utilizing instrumentation and control components such as thermocouples, voltage and current sensors, oscilloscopes, pressure transducers, strain gauges, heaters, flow meters, fittings and valves
- Experience with developing and executing test procedures
- Proficiency with CAD design in Siemens NX or equivalent CAD software
- Familiarity with electromagnetic fundamentals - voltage, current, resistance, Ohm’s law, AC/DC, right-hand rule, solenoids, etc
- Excellent troubleshooting / problem-solving skills with great attention to detail
- Experience developing and effectively presenting comprehensive trade studies comparing the pros & cons of various technical approaches
- Data reduction and analysis skills that can be used in generating anticipated results and processing generated data
- Effective at communicating technical topics to both technical and non-technical audiences
- High self-motivation and drive to execute quickly
- Collaboration skills including active listening and facilitating production discourse on problems
- Willingness to challenge the status quo in search of better, more efficient methods
Bonus points for:
- Experience with modeling/analysis software, especially ANSYS, COMSOL, and PLECS
- Experience writing Python or MATLAB data tools for processing and analyzing data
- Experience with high voltage and high current power equipment design and use – power supplies, water-cooled cables, insulation
- Experience debugging electronics hardware and test software
- Experience with designing and commissioning new test facilities
- Experience designing fluid systems – P&IDs, component selection, ASME design codes
- Experience with cryogenic equipment design for use with liquid nitrogen and supercritical helium – vacuum jacketed equipment, cryocoolers, phase separators, cold traps
- Experience with high vacuum equipment design and use – roughing pumps, turbopumps, ion gauges, residual gas analyzers
- Experience developing or improving manufacturing processes and handing off processes to production teams
Must-have requirements:
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
- Perform activities such as typing, climbing, standing, stooping or sitting for extended periods of time
- Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call
- 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
#LI-Hybrid
At CFS, we excel in fast-paced environments, driven by our values of integrity, execution, impact, and self-critique. As we grow, we’re eager to bring on mission-driven folks who offer diverse perspectives and fresh ways to tackle challenges.
We value diversity deeply and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally, regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law.
This role requires compliance with U.S. laws concerning the export of controlled or protected technologies or information (collectively, “Export Control Laws"). Any offer of employment will be contingent on the need for compliance with such Export Control Laws.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in engineering or science
- 7+ years of experience as an R&D engineer or test engineer designing, building, and commissioning complex electromechanical systems
- Experience working on multidisciplinary engineering projects, ideally as a technical leader
- Fundamental knowledge of mechanical systems, including static structures and heat transfer
- Experience selecting and using instrumentation and control components
- Experience developing and executing test procedures
- Proficiency with Siemens NX or equivalent CAD software
- Familiarity with electromagnetic fundamentals
- Troubleshooting and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
- Experience developing and presenting technical trade studies
- Data reduction and analysis skills
- Ability to communicate technical topics to technical and non-technical audiences
- Self-motivation and ability to execute quickly
- Collaboration, active listening, and facilitation skills
- Willingness to challenge existing methods
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds
- Ability to perform typing, climbing, standing, stooping, or extended sitting
- Willingness to occasionally travel or work nights, weekends, or on-call shifts
- Ability to work around industrial hazards, including high voltage, high current, pressure systems, cryogenics, and strong magnets
- Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or applied physics degree
- Experience with ANSYS, COMSOL, or PLECS
- Experience writing Python or MATLAB data-analysis tools
- Experience with high-voltage and high-current power equipment
- Experience debugging electronics hardware and test software
- Experience designing and commissioning test facilities
- Experience designing fluid systems and using ASME design codes
- Experience with cryogenic equipment using liquid nitrogen or supercritical helium
- Experience with high-vacuum equipment
- Experience developing or improving manufacturing processes and transferring them to production
Commonwealth Fusion Systems Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Commonwealth Fusion Systems and has not been reviewed or approved by Commonwealth Fusion Systems.
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Healthcare Strength — Health insurance is a core part of the package, with broad medical coverage presented as competitive for a growing tech and engineering employer. This is consistently listed alongside other cornerstone benefits.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) program with employer match is prominently included in compensation descriptions, signaling support for long-term savings. This appears across roles, including technical and production postings.
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Parental & Family Support — Generous parental leave is cited as a notable element of the offering. It sits alongside paid leave options that many candidates prioritize.
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The Company
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.
