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:
- Execute Board-Level Bring-Up: Lead the initial power-on, debugging, and validation of custom printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), embedded digital controllers, and low-level electronics, focusing heavily on the integration of these boards into working modular solid-state RF systems
- Operate RF Transmitters & High Voltage Systems: Safely run and test high-power RF transmitters with a primary focus on validating and troubleshooting complex RF behaviors. You will also safely interface with, and occasionally troubleshoot, the supporting high-voltage infrastructure and large-scale supercapacitor banks
- Drive Hardware/Software Integration: Bridge the gap between physical electronics and control software, ensuring that measurement circuits, timing systems, and sensors interface seamlessly with SPARC’s central data collection and control networks
- Oversee FAT Fixturing & Operation: Design, assemble, and manage the fixturing for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT). You will oversee the execution of these tests to validate that incoming hardware meets stringent performance and safety criteria
- Develop Procedures & Hand-Off: Translate complex engineering validation steps into clear, repeatable test procedures, ultimately training and handing off routine testing and steady-state operations to engineering technicians
What we’re looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
- 7+ years of hands-on experience testing high-power RF systems, radar, particle accelerators, electric vehicles, or heavy industrial power electronics
- Proven hands-on experience safely working with high voltage components, energy storage (e.g., supercapacitors), and troubleshooting complex analog and digital circuits at the component level
- Exceptional skills in reading RF circuit designs (Altium or similar) and setting up automated test environments to validate sensitive timing and RF detection circuits within extreme high-power, high-noise environments (EMI/EMC mitigation)
- Proficiency in C++ and Python, with the ability to read code and thoroughly understand software deployments before testing them
- Proven intuition for high-power RF environments
Bonus points for:
- Experience designing test fixtures, writing comprehensive FAT protocols, and setting up automated data acquisition systems in high-noise environments, utilizing EMI/EMC mitigation techniques to ensure circuits operate reliably
- Hands-on experience measuring forward and reflected RF power, diagnosing RF arcs, and validating the timing and electronics designed to mitigate them
- Proven experience writing custom test software to automate lab equipment and validate system functionality
- A strong systems-level understanding of modern high-performance embedded digital controllers, high-speed communications, and fundamentals of mechanical/thermal design to safely execute tests and interface effectively with cross-functional teams
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, Physics, or a related field
- 7+ years of hands-on experience testing high-power RF systems, radar, particle accelerators, electric vehicles, or heavy industrial power electronics
- Hands-on experience safely working with high-voltage components and energy storage systems such as supercapacitors
- Experience troubleshooting complex analog and digital circuits at the component level
- Ability to read RF circuit designs using Altium or similar tools
- Experience setting up automated test environments for timing and RF detection circuits in high-power, high-noise environments
- Experience with EMI/EMC mitigation
- Proficiency in C++ and Python, including understanding software deployments before testing
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Ability to perform stooping, climbing, standing, typing, or sitting for extended periods
- Willingness to work occasional nights, weekends, or on-call shifts and travel as required
- Ability to work around industrial hazards including high voltage, high current, strong magnets, cryogenics, fumes, and pressure systems
- Experience designing test fixtures and writing Factory Acceptance Testing protocols
- Experience setting up automated data acquisition systems in high-noise environments
- Experience measuring forward and reflected RF power, diagnosing RF arcs, and validating arc-mitigation electronics
- Experience writing custom test software to automate laboratory equipment
- Systems-level understanding of embedded digital controllers, high-speed communications, and mechanical or thermal design
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.
