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.
If you are interested in joining our team, check out cfs.energy/careers for more information.
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 Controls Engineer – Plasma position will develop, test, and evaluate the real-time control algorithms for the SPARC plasma control system. The candidate will contribute to innovative, low-latency, robust, real-time control systems, including plasma control and machine protection, and the development of simulation platforms necessary to achieve the mission of SPARC. This position will work closely with the software engineering team that is implementing the real-time control and protection systems, with the physics operations team responsible for defining operational scenarios and actuator interfaces, and with the plasma instrumentation team that provides control inputs. While we love to hear from candidates with plasma and fusion experience, we specifically encourage candidates who have worked on similarly difficult problems in aerospace, aviation, automotive, and robotics to apply.
The candidate will be a key member of the team that operates SPARC, working to improve the control system during SPARC operation and contributing to the SPARC operational plan.
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.
This team member will:
Develop control algorithms for the plasma in the SPARC tokamakDevelop control-oriented models of the SPARC tokamak in collaboration with the plasma physics team, tokamak operators, and the engineering design teamWork with software engineers to implement, test, and calibrate control algorithms in simulation and in the tokamakDevelop tools to evaluate the performance of the implemented control algorithmsAdditional preferred experience and/or qualifications:
A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a closely related field Experience developing low-latency, high-reliability, fast (1kHz+) control systemsExperience in linear systems analysis, stability, and classical controller designExperience with MIMO/state space control, optimal control, and state machines.Experience developing control-oriented models for complex systemsComfortable working in a cutting-edge engineering space with high uncertaintyStrong communication and teamwork skillsExperience with PythonExperience with C/C++The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements:
Familiarity with MATLAB SimulinkFamiliarity with electromagnetism and/or fluid dynamicsFamiliarity with power electronicsPerform activities such as typing or sitting for extended periods of timeDedication to safety to mitigate hazards that may include strong magnetsWillingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally