Diagnostic Engineer
Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Devens, MA, USA
Posted on Oct 3, 2024
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.
The design of the SPARC facility is continually advancing, including the design of instrumentation that will be used to control the plasma and deliver the scientific data necessary to inform the design of ARC. The SPARC Diagnostic system is comprised of over forty sub-systems that use a variety of proven techniques to encode information from a tokamak plasma into measurable signals; active laser based measurements, passive and active analysis of microwave-band emission, spectroscopy of plasma emission from the x-ray to infrared, characterization of neutrons produced from fusion reactions, and a wide variety of wired sensors and probes integrated into the vacuum environment. Techniques have been demonstrated by decades of government-sponsored fusion research, and CFS is looking for multidisciplinary engineers who can contribute to innovative design and engineering solutions to endure these concepts can be integrated into the SPARC tokamak. Candidates that have design, build, or analysis skills in the mechanical, civil, or aerospace engineering disciplines are encouraged to apply. The SPARC diagnostic team welcomes engineers looking for a career transition who want to join a team with diverse backgrounds and can solve challenging problems in the growing fusion energy industry. Candidates will work alongside CFS staff, MIT-PSFC partners, and fusion community collaborators from around the world to design and build the tools that will control the SPARC plasma and measure net energy from a tokamak for the first time.
This team member will:
- Support the diagnostic systems in the design of components by applying multi-disciplinary engineering and design skills to a variety of diagnostic systems
- Contribute to a strong safety culture while helping to commission and operate SPARC diagnostics
- Grow expertise that helps CFS build a core competency in fusion measurement tools that can deliver future tokamaks optimized for power production
Project areas can range over multiple topics including design, analysis and testing of:
- Large ~5m tall structures, towers, and weldments which provide support and precision locating features for 10’s - 1000’s of kg of diagnostic equipment
- Packaging and assembly constrained piping and wiring components that can interface from sensors and tokamak systems to signal processing equipment
- Radiation shielding to help increase the lifetime of sensitive equipment
- Support and interfacing structures for scientific measurement tools that use a ~375m^2 dedicated laboratory space next to the SPARC tokamak
Scope and depth of required work is adjustable based on aptitude and experience but can cover:
- Detailed component design and assembly layout in CAD
- Development of assembly and installation procedures for large assemblies
- Rapid prototyping and design of benchtop and rackmount parts that interface custom SPARC components to COTS equipment
- Structural, civil, and thermal analysis
- Collaboration with other CFS teams and external vendors to verify design functionality and manufacturability
- Developing and executing benchtop tests of prototypes
- Supporting the resolution of technical issues that arise during the manufacturing of SPARC diagnostic equipment
- Providing hands on support for diagnostic assembly and calibration, providing feedback on the impact of field changes during installation
The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements:
- At least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field (mechanical, civil, nuclear, or aerospace)
- Demonstrated record of design of structural assemblies requiring high strength and/or complex assembly operations
- Understanding of design for manufacture principles for relevant manufacturing methods such as machining, welding, concrete fabrication, or lifting/rigging
- Experience with rapid prototyping, and failure testing used to debug and improve designs
- Familiarity with all steps in the design process with an emphasis on creativity and simplicity
- Be self-motivated and exhibit excellent problem solving skills
Additional experience and/or qualifications:
- Experience with structural or thermal analysis
- Experience with design using NX and Teamcenter for CAD and drawings
- Familiarity in the design of metallic structures and weldments
- Bias toward design for manufacture and experience working with vendors and fabricators to reduce cost and lead time
- Design of platforms, enclosures or support structures for medium-sized, sensitive equipment
- Experience with creation of piping and instrumentation diagrams
- Attention to detail with an ability to pivot between topics multiple times per day
- An ability to clearly express and critique ideas
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
- Perform activities such as typing, standing, sitting for extended periods of time
- 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
- Willing 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.