Senior Electrical Engineer - Pulsed Power Conversion

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 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.

Our goal is to deploy thousands of fusion power plants around the world. We need a highly motivated and experienced electrical engineer to help deliver our first fusion device, SPARC.

 

In this role, you will work with a team of engineers to deliver the SPARC Pulsed Power Conversion (PPC) System, a network of 25 power converters used to transfer stored energy in a 685 MVA machine to controlled DC power suitable for driving dynamic tokamak magnet loads. You will offer your expertise in power electronics, electric machines, medium voltage distribution, and magnet protection to assist in design documentation and construction. You will reflect emergent needs and proposed vendor deviations from design bases in the SPARC program; you will provide analysis of simulation of selected equipment to confirm adequacy in the SPARC application. You will work with protection engineers to select effective protective relaying strategies, noting that temporary overloads and harsh transient performance is expected in pulsed (~5%) duty. You will oversee the design, construction, installation and commissioning of balance of plant systems and will work with internal and external engineers on delivering the same.

 

You will develop and deliver work packages to the field and will coordinate their execution. You will manage relationships and information flow with selected vendors, and will provide detailed review and comment of proposed equipment during the submittal period. You will provide direction to vendors and relay pertinent design information to other engineering teams. You will offer input on applicable standards relevant to the design of power systems in an emergent industry.

 

The SPARC power system is divided into two subsystems; the pulsed system and steady state system. The selected candidate will focus on the pulsed system responsible for driving the SPARC tokamak magnet system loads and providing dynamic control of plasma. It consists of a 685 MVA, 22 kV synchronous machine source, energy storage and approximately 1000 MVA of installed power conversion equipment serving 20+ individually controlled loads. You will work with a team of 4-6 mid-senior level engineers, subconsultants and subcontractors to finalize design documentation, review submittals and provide adequate information to coordinate work performed by the constructor and electrical subcontractors in a timely manner.

The ideal candidate for this role will have 10+ years’ experience with electrical power conversion and power electronics for industrial plants, power generation facilities, utilities, or large scientific facilities such as particle accelerators or fusion devices. Successful candidates will demonstrate expert technical capability and will have intimate familiarity with standard systems employed in industry. They will have a strong background in control of dynamical systems with specific application in power electronics. They will generate detailed designs utilizing an ecosystem of subcontractors and internal engineers. They will assess the adequacy of vendor-furnished materials for purposes of construction.

 

Broad experience is desired; aptitude in a combination of the following fields of electrical engineering is needed:

·      Electric drives and power conversion equipment, line-commutated and switch-mode converters. Simulation and analysis of the same.

·      Electric machines, rotating equipment and auxiliary systems including excitation system and detailed machine modeling.

·      Dynamic control, implementation of Real-Time systems and integration with vendor-furnished equipment.

·      Medium Voltage AC distribution and DC distribution. Protective relaying and asset protection, insulation systems.

·      Mechanical design of power conversion systems; fault studies, cooling, conductor support, transformer design and testing, operation in pulsed duty.

 

The selected candidate will demonstrate substantial experience delivering and integrating industrial power generation and distribution equipment across many projects. The candidate will be intimately familiar with the construction process. They will be highly organized and an excellent communicator; they will be responsible for prioritizing activities with vendors and trades on a challenging and active construction project.

 

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.