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. The 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. To execute this plan, we are looking to add talented people to the team who are mission-driven and treat people well, improve our team by adding diverse perspectives and new ways of solving problems, have demonstrated exceptional results through a range of different pursuits, and have skill sets and experience that relate to this role.
The mechanical engineer for the SPARC fueling systems will work closely with the system responsible engineer and technical leads to design and develop gas injection systems, delivering the fuel for SPARC from pressurized gas cylinders into the vacuum atmosphere of the tokamak. These systems are designed for inert and hydrogen gas applications, fast response times, operating in rough to high vacuum, with high leak-tightness. This role will involve design work, systems integration, and hands-on build/test activities. The fueling systems engineer will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of engineers, builders, scientists, vendors, and supply integration managers, and report to the gas fueling system responsible engineer. We are looking for applicants who enjoy collaborating with a variety of disciplines in a fast-paced environment to help us deliver fusion on climate-relevant time scales.
Applicants with experience in hands-on prototyping and testing with data-acquisition and control hardware, experience with gas handling and vacuum, and designing systems for remote control are preferred. Applicants with hands-on experience with designing, building, testing process systems (gas, fluid, vacuum) are encouraged to apply as well.
- Design and specify components and test systems for use within the SPARC fueling system including but not limited to valves, gas metering and mixing systems, and instrumentation
- Create testing methods and coordinate in-house testing or supplier testing of components to meet SPARC requirements
- Develop process diagrams and component layouts for fueling subsystems that are communicated through standard engineering documents and integrated with tokamak and tokamak interfacing systems
- Lead the design, test, and tuning of control loops for remotely actuated valves coordinated with the SPARC instrumentation and controls team
- Support the fueling system technical leads in completion of design and documentation for engineering design reviews
- Coordinate and collaborate with outside development partners and vendors in all the above
- Design and develop test-stands for component life testing and performance characterization
- Required Education: Bachelor’s degree or similar experience in mechanical engineering, electromechanical engineering, chemical engineering, applied physics, or similar
- Required Experience: +3 years experience designing & building fluidic / gas processing systems; +1 year experience building and testing of automated systems
- Required Knowledge: Data acquisition and test stand automation; Design and implementation of feedback controllers; Use of analytical instrumentation (such as: pressure sensors, temperature sensors, gas chromatography, residual gas analyzers, etc.); Process engineering and systems integration; Use of process diagrams
- Experience handling hazardous materials; designing to requirements; writing operating procedures; troubleshooting, collecting and analyzing instrument data; and presenting results in written and oral communications
- Preferred experience with designing high vacuum high pressure gas systems, developing automated testing platforms, system integration with industrial controllers (PLC), Documenting / tracking requirements from top level through sub-systems and using change control
- End-to-end experience of design to operation of a mechanical system
- Preferred knowledge of MATLAB or Python programming, CAD tools (NX suite), Use of engineering management tools, and/or Confluence/JIRA/Azure and remote collaboration tools
- Ability to do activities such as typing, standing, sitting for extended periods of time
- Dedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, hazardous gas and radiological hazards
- Willingness to occasionally travel to vendor / development partners
- Equipment installation and commissioning activities may require evening / weekend work shifts
CFS team members thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and have demonstrated exceptional results through a range of different pursuits. We all tightly align with our company values of integrity, execution, impact and self-critique. As we grow, we are looking to add talented people who are mission driven and bring diverse perspectives and new ways of solving problems.
At CFS, we deeply value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally for employment. We do not discriminate on the basis 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, ordinance, or regulation.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems is combining proven physics backed by decades of government-funded fusion research with a revolutionary superconducting magnet technology to accelerate the path to commercial fusion energy.