Zap Energy

Develops and licenses fusion plasma confinement

Pulsed Power Engineer

Electrical EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeSan Diego, CA, USA$110k - $160k

About the Job

Requirements

A Bachelor of Science or Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Applied Physics, or a similar field.
Four to seven years of experience with pulsed power or high-voltage electronics design and testing.
Experience with high-voltage pulsed-power systems (20 kV+, 100 kA+, 10s of nanoseconds to 100s of microseconds) and architectures including Marx generators, linear transformer drivers, and high-energy capacitor banks.
Familiarity with pulsed-power components such as spark-gap switches, thyristors, and capacitors.
Understanding of pulsed-power diagnostics such as Rogowski coils, high-voltage probes, and B-dot or magnetic probes.
Familiarity with 3D finite element analysis modeling tools for electrostatic, transient dynamic, and circuit modeling.
Proficiency with Ansys Maxwell 3D.
Experience with high-voltage safety equipment and procedures, including safing capacitor banks, discharge and grounding sticks, and high-voltage energy dump systems.
Comfort developing, assembling, and using test fixtures for high-voltage systems, with good lab housekeeping habits.
Knowledge of insulating systems including vacuum, pressurized insulating gases such as SF6, air breakdown, and insulating materials such as polymers and ceramics.
Experience with hipot testing and high-voltage power supplies.
Ability to develop project plans and provide status reports to management and stakeholders.
Strong testing and troubleshooting skills, including competence with electronics bench tools such as oscilloscopes, probes, signal generators, power supplies, and impedance analyzers.
Soldering and rework skills.

Responsibilities

Maintain a safe work environment and complete all safety training on time.
Design and implement high-voltage pulsed-power components, test fixtures, and assemblies that are manufacturable, professional, and commercially applicable.
Test high-voltage pulsed-power components and systems safely and effectively.
Participate in the engineering development process, including conducting design reviews and attending team and project meetings.
Follow established development processes and workflows and use industry best practices.
Participate in Review and Planning activities supporting company, team, and personal periodic milestones and goals, and have regular one-on-one discussions with the manager.
Communicate using email, Slack, Confluence, Jira, and Microsoft Office.

Desired Qualifications

Familiarity with printed circuit board development and tools such as Altium or KiCad, printed circuit board manufacturing, and testing.
Experience with control systems.
Programming experience in Python, C, or NI LabVIEW.
Familiarity with power electronics and switch-mode power supplies.
Experience using solid modeling tools such as SolidWorks.

Zap Energy is looking for a Pulsed Power Engineer to join our team in San Diego. The San Diego Zap team is a small, highly experienced pulsed power group, focused on component development for power plant-relevant scale fusion systems. As part of the team, you will work closely and directly with principle pulsed power architects and designers to safely and effectively implement testing, collect test data, and provide results and suggested improvements. Office and labs are in San Diego and San Marcos. This is a full-time, on-location position. Hybrid and remote arrangements are not available for this role.

Responsibilities:

Maintain excellent safety environment and complete all safety training on time.
Design and implement high voltage pulsed power components, test fixtures, and assemblies that are manufacturable, professional, and commercially applicable.
Test high voltage pulsed power components and systems safely and effectively.
Participate in engineering development process including conducting design reviews, and team/project meetings.
Follow established development processes and workflows and use industry best practices.
Participate in Review and Planning (R&P) activities supporting company, team, and personal periodic milestones and goals, and have regular 1:1 discussions with manager.
Communicate effectively using various tools including email, Slack, Confluence, Jira, Microsoft Office.

Qualifications:
Required:

BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Applied Physics or similar
4-7 years experience with Pulsed Power/High Voltage Electronics design and testing
Experienced with high voltage pulsed power systems (20kV+, 100kA+, 10’s ns – 100us’s) and architectures including marx generators, LTD, high energy capacitor banks
Familiar with typical pulsed power components such as spark gap switches, thyristors, capacitors,
Understands pulsed power diagnostics such as rogowskis, high voltage probes, b-dot / magnetic probes
Familiar with 3D FEA modeling tools for Electrostatic, transient dynamic, and circuit modeling
Proficient with Ansys Maxwell 3D
Experienced with high voltage safety equipment and procedures such as safing capacitor banks, discharge and grounding sticks, high voltage energy dump systems
Enjoys working in the lab, has good lab housekeeping habits, comfortable developing, assembling, and using test fixtures for high voltage systems
Knowledgeable in various insulating systems including vacuum, pressurized insulating gas like SF6, breakdown in air, and insulating materials like polymers and ceramics
Experienced with hi-potting and high voltage power supplies
Good communication skills developing project plans and providing status and reporting to management and stakeholders
Strong testing and troubleshooting skills. Competent with typical electronics bench tools such as oscilloscopes, probes, signal generators, power supplies, impedance analyzers
Decent soldering and rework skills

Preferred:

Familiar with PCB development and tools such as Altium or KiCad, PCB manufacturing, and PCB testing
Experience with control systems
Programming in Python, C, or NI Labview
Familiar with power electronics and switch mode power supplies
Experienced using solid modeling tools like Solidworks

Travel:

12%- 25% (Once every 4-8 weeks) to headquarters in Seattle and various other locations for vendor visits, professional conferences, and similar

Benefits of joining Zap Energy - While doing meaningful work is rewarding in itself, we also offer the following programs and benefits for all employees: 

Competitive salary and benefits 
Premium medical / dental / vision insurance 
Flexible vacation and paid company holidays

The estimated salary range for this position is $110-160k. Candidates may be considered for other positions at Zap Energy and actual salary will be based on relevant education, experience, and other qualifications. Range is published in accordance with Washington Equal Pay and Opportunity Act.

Zap Energy is building a low-cost, compact, and scalable fusion energy platform that conﬁnes and compresses plasma without the need for expensive and complex magnetic coils. Zap’s sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch technology provides compelling fusion economics and requires orders of magnitude less capital than conventional approaches. Zap Energy has approximately 150 team members in multiple facilities near Seattle and is backed by leading ﬁnancial and strategic investors.

Zap Energy Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.

Questions on this position can be sent to [email protected].

About the Company

Zap Energy

Develops and licenses fusion plasma confinement

Zap Energy designs and commercializes fusion energy using plasma confinement with a sheared-flow stabilized Z-pinch. The system uses electric currents and magnetic fields to compress plasma until fusion occurs, seeking a more compact and potentially lower-cost path to fusion compared with traditional approaches. The company monetizes through licensing and selling its technology to large energy providers and government entities, supported by patents and ongoing development. Differentiation comes from its specific Z-pinch approach, emphasis on licensing, and focus on bringing a scalable fusion solution to market rather than building full-scale power plants alone. The goal is to provide a clean, abundant energy source by enabling fusion power generation for customers through its technology licensing and partnerships.

Company size: 51-200
Company stage: Series D
Total funding: $337.8M
Headquarters: Everett, WA
Founded: 2017

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