Design & Analysis Engineer

Gauss Fusion is a European greentech venture focused on engineering and industrialising magnetic confinement fusion power plants. The company is working to lead the commercialisation of fusion energy, with the goal of delivering its first gigawatt-class fusion power plant, the Gauss GIGA-Kraftwerk, by 2045. It connects leading fusion scientists with experienced European industrial fusion technology experts and operates at venture speed through a combination of private and public partnerships. The company's mission is rooted in producing clean, renewable fusion energy to secure long-term energy independence and address climate change. Gauss Fusion pursues high-field magnetic confinement fusion as what it considers the fastest viable path to commercial fusion energy production, and plans to integrate fusion power into the grid as a reliable base load provider that complements intermittent renewable energy sources. What distinguishes Gauss Fusion is its industrially grounded approach: it was founded by companies with hands-on fusion technology experience, applies best practices from industry, and leverages the existing infrastructure of former nuclear fission power plant sites to accelerate construction timelines and reduce costs. The company also collaborates with world-leading scientific and technology institutions and works proactively with regulatory authorities to streamline the licensing process for fusion power plants.

About the role

Gauss Fusion is aiming to build the first commercial scale fusion power plant based on the stellarator concept, and is seeking an experienced mechanical engineer to lead on design and analysis aspects of components and systems within the stellarator.

The ideal candidate will have a solid foundation in mechanical design, including experience with CAD software, engineering analysis, and manufacturing processes. In addition inventive approaches to problem solving, attention to detail and organizational skills will be essential. 

The Design & Analysis Engineer will work together with the design team and the physics team to ensure the appropriate design approaches, undertake multidisciplinary engineering analysis, robustly manage interfaces and develop requirements definitions for the systems. Seamless coordination with cross-functional teams will be key to ensuring designs meet the highest standards of quality, performance, and reliability.

Main responsibilities

• Design and integration of stellarator components, such as Vacuum Vessel and In Vessel components (e.g. divertors, blankets, frames, supports, fixations, vacuum chambers, feedthroughs and cooled components), ensuring that all design requirements and specifications are met.
• Preparation of technical documentation (e.g. design and engineering requirements, technical reports, procedures, procurement documents).
• Using technical experience to identify and manage technical risk throughout the project lifecycle.
• Setting engineering standards and guidelines for engineering design, fabrication and installation.
• Defining relevant interfaces between plant systems to ensure effective integration.
• Ensure the overall system design is optimized for performance, safety, and cost-effectiveness, and meet both industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Maintaining the CAD and FEA database, ensuring engineering analyses are managed, documented, and released in accordance with corporate PDM processes
• Delivering CAD concept drawings for FEM models, presentations and technical documents checking with the team the compliance.
• Performing complex FEM/CFD simulation to verify the component/system performance.

Qualification and educational requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field, Master’s or Ph.D. preferred.
• Technical experience:
  • Minimum of 8 years of experience in mechanical engineering, preferably in large-scale engineering projects.
  • Experience in designing and overseeing the construction of complex mechanical systems, preferably in the energy or nuclear industry.
  • Experience with CAD software and engineering analysis tools.

Competences and preferred skills

• Strong engineering background, with a solid knowledge of mechanical design principles and mechanical manufacturing processes.
• Proficiency in structural and thermal analysis, FEA, kinematic analysis and CFD analysis.
• Good organization skills, ability to manage time and priorities
• Ability to work in a team and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of a product data management system.
• Preferably, experience developing fusion technologies