Scientist - Disruption Software
Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Devens, MA, USA
Posted on May 29, 2025
About Commonwealth Fusion Systems:
Commonwealth Fusion Systems is on a mission to deliver the urgent transition to fusion energy.
Combining decades of research, top talent and new technologies, we’re designing and building commercially viable fusion power plants. And working with policymakers and suppliers to build the energy industry of the future.
We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised over $2 billion in capital – more than any other fusion energy company in the U.S.
Now we’re looking for more thinkers, doers, builders, and makers to join us. People who’ll bring new perspectives, solve tough problems, and thrive as part of a team.
If that’s you and this role fits, we want to hear from you.
Join the power movement as a Scientist - Disruption Software
The Scientist - Disruption Software will develop the real-time and non-real-time software needed for SPARC operations and then put them to use on the charge to Q>1 and beyond.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems is building the SPARC tokamak, which aims to be the first magnetic confinement device to achieve net energy and is predicted to operate with an energy gain up to 11, producing up to 140 MW of fusion power. SPARC is also the first tokamak to operate with disruption loads on the power plant scale. To maximize the lifetime of SPARC and to accelerate the achievement of operational milestones, high performance disruptions should be avoided or predicted and mitigated as often as possible. Disruption hardware systems are in manufacturing and attention is now needed on SPARC disruption software development. Needs include post-disruption impact analysis, tools to project the disruption impact risk in future plasmas, and most notably, continued development of the real-time Off-Normal Warning System (ONWS) and associated non-real-time tools. Control-oriented disruption modeling is also needed to test the ONWS and to help inform optimal control responses to events. The successful candidate will join the SPARC physics and operations team and work closely with the software and diagnostics teams. The successful candidate will play a central role as a disruption operator and will need to seamlessly transition from code development to using these tools to inform pulse planning and control room decision-making during SPARC operations.
What you'll do:
- Work closely with physics, diagnostics, and software teams to efficiently build out disruption software tools
- Develop the ONWS within the plasma control system
- Work with collaborators to demonstrate ONWS observers on present day tokamaks like C-Mod and TCV
- Develop models for evaluating and optimizing the performance of the ONWS, and to inform optimal control responses
- Develop control room tools for efficiently optimizing ONWS thresholds between plasma pulses
- Guide the development of control room event labeling tools
- Act as a disruption operator during SPARC operations with a particular focus on the ONWS and help inform control responses to detected events
- Opportunities for involvement in post-disruption impact analysis and impact prediction software development
- Opportunities for involvement in disruption hardware commissioning / operation particularly for disruption avoidance and mitigation
What we’re looking for:
- PhD in plasma physics or a closely related discipline + 2 years of experience
- Research experience with plasma disruptions
- Strong code development background: proficient with Python and git version control
- Experience with machine learning
- Tokamak control room experience
- Ability to work collaboratively on teams
- Ability to communicate ideas clearly
- Practical and results focused
- Ability to think clearly under pressure
Bonus points for:
- Experience developing off-line disruption prediction algorithms
- Experience developing and deploying real-time disruption prediction algorithms
- Familiarity with C++
Must-have Requirements:
- Perform extended activities such as typing, standing, sitting, etc.
- Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call regularly
- 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
#LI-Hybrid
At CFS, we excel in fast-paced environments, driven by our values of integrity, execution, impact, and self-critique. As we grow, we’re eager to bring on mission-driven folks who offer diverse perspectives and fresh ways to tackle challenges.
We value diversity deeply and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally, regardless 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.