Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has the fastest, lowest cost path to commercial fusion energy.
CFS collaborates with MIT to leverage decades of research combined with groundbreaking new high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. HTS magnets will enable compact fusion power plants that can be constructed faster and at lower cost. Our mission is to deploy these power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. To that end, 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 implement this plan, we are looking to add dedicated people to the team who treat people well, improve our work by adding multifaceted perspectives and new ways of solving problems, have achieved outstanding results through a range of pursuits, and have skills and experience related to this role.
Operating the SPARC tokamak requires currents in MA, voltages in the kV, power in MW, magnetic energy in GJ, steel at temperatures of hundreds of degrees Celsius and control loops in kHz. The SPARC instrumentation and control team is seeking an experienced engineer with demonstrated experience designing safety and protection systems to lead the design and implementation of the SPARC’s safety control systems.
This role will be to ensure the safe and effective operation of SPARC through identification and implementation of automated protection functions. You will first develop a deep understanding of the SPARC facility, tokamak, and plant systems. You will use this knowledge to design and build a control system to protect both the people and the machine. Key systems you will work with include power systems, cryogenics, high-power radio-frequency heating, laser diagnostics, tritium processing, superconducting magnets, plasma control, and diagnostics. You will work closely with operators, plant systems owners, plasma physicists, safety officers, radiation analysts, I&C engineers, and software developers in the implementation of this system.
This team member will:
- Design, build, and test the safety control system for SPARC
- Devise and document software behaviors that will protect SPARC in all operating modes and environments
- Work closely with SPARC engineers, scientists, and software developers
- Lead a a small team with 1-2 engineers supporting this system
The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering or science field (e.g., software, electrical, mechanical, etc.)
- 3+ years experience developing safety control systems for industrial plants, national lab experiments, spacecraft, ships/subs, or equivalent
- Experience documenting software behaviors in realtime control systems with deterministic control loops
- Instrumentation and control systems
Additional experience and/or qualifications:
- Industrial plant facilities (power plants, manufacturing centers, etc)
- High power electronics and RF, heating, cryogenics, and fluids systems
- Experience in a demanding yet exhilarating work environment
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
- Perform activities such as typing and sitting for extended periods of time
- Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call
- #LI-Hybrid
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.
