Senior Research Scientist
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Employment type:
Full time
Experience required:
Senior
Salary
$140,000.00 - $200,000.00
About the company:
Zap Energy is a nuclear fusion company headquartered in Everett, Washington, that is working to develop a fundamentally new approach to clean, abundant energy. Founded in 2017, the company is pioneering a compact fusion technology called sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch, which uses flowing plasma and electrical current to generate and sustain the conditions necessary for fusion reactions. Unlike conventional fusion approaches that rely on massive, complex magnetic confinement systems, Zap Energy's design eliminates the need for expensive superconducting magnets, making it a potentially faster and more cost-effective path to commercial fusion power.
The company's mission is to deliver fusion energy to the grid at a scale and cost that can meaningfully address the global climate crisis. By pursuing a simpler, more scalable reactor architecture, Zap Energy aims to accelerate the timeline for fusion power from decades to years, positioning the technology as a genuine contributor to the world's urgent clean energy transition. Their work is grounded in rigorous plasma physics research, with roots in collaborative science conducted at the University of Washington.
What sets Zap Energy apart in the competitive fusion landscape is its commitment to simplicity as a design principle. By dramatically reducing the complexity and cost of their fusion device, the company believes it can achieve commercial viability where other approaches have struggled. With strong backing from leading investors and a growing team of scientists and engineers, Zap Energy represents one of the most compelling next-generation bets on fusion as a cornerstone of a sustainable energy future.
As a Senior Research Scientist, you’ll be at the heart of our mission— defining global science strategies with other leaders, developing fusion concept and scenarios, designing next generation fusion prototypes, developing, running, and analyzing experiments that push the boundaries of plasma physics and fusion technology, coordinating with a strong theory team to validate, benchmark and scale plasma performance, and communicating progress with internal and external stakeholders. Your work will help us understand complex systems, validate models, and uncover insights that move us closer to sustainable energy.
The planet urgently needs safe, reliable, zero-carbon energy without waste. Nuclear fusion can address the scale of this problem, but for decades, existing fusion approaches have not proven a net positive energy gain. Zap Energy has rethought the fundamental technology of fusion. As the only company using sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch, we present potentially the fastest path to commercially available fusion energy.
As a Senior Research Scientist, you’ll be at the heart of our mission— defining global science strategies with other leaders, developing fusion concept and scenarios, designing next generation fusion prototypes, developing, running, and analyzing experiments that push the boundaries of plasma physics and fusion technology, coordinating with a strong theory team to validate, benchmark and scale plasma performance, and communicating progress with internal and external stakeholders. Your work will help us understand complex systems, validate models, and uncover insights that move us closer to sustainable energy.
Responsibilities
- Define scientific strategy and development plans, pushing forward Zap’s fusion concept using both experimental and modeling workflows
- Effectively progress from concept to design and lead experimental campaigns on advanced fusion devices, leveraging insight from theory and modeling
- Manage or lead the design, fielding, and operations of multiple plasma diagnostic systems (interferometry, spectroscopy, neutronics, Thomson scattering, magnetics, etc.)
- Collaborate cross-functionally across the R&D organization and other technical and non-technical teams
- Work closely with research engineers and diagnosticians to integrate systems and optimize experimental setups
- Manage and/or perform data analysis, reduction, error propagation, publication, and presentation of experimental results, including computational results
Qualifications
Required
- PhD in plasma physics or closely related field and 7-10+ years of relevant experience
- Demonstrated ability to plan and lead complex, cross-functional projects
- Experience correlating scientific experimental results with theoretical simulations and models
- Familiarity with plasma theory and computational models either as user or as collaborator
- Strong foundation in plasma physics and fusion science
- Hands-on experience with experimental design and data analysis
- Creative problem solving and proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, collaborative environments
- Clear communicator who enjoys turning complex ideas into actionable insights
Preferred
- Experience with Z-Pinch fusion research, analysis, experimentation, and modeling
- Bonus points for expertise in:
- Fusion plasma diagnostics
- Pulsed power systems
- High-voltage instrumentation
- Computational plasma modeling
Estimated salary range: $140,000-200,000 annually.
Zap Energy also offers the following:
- Competitive compensation
- Matching retirement contributions
- Premium health insurance
- Flexible vacation and paid company holidays
Zap Energy is building a low-cost, compact and scalable fusion energy platform that confines and compresses plasma without the need for expensive and complex magnetic coils. Zap’s sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch technology offers the shortest potential path to commercially viable fusion and requires orders of magnitude less capital than traditional approaches. Zap Energy has over 60 employees in two facilities near Seattle and is backed by leading financial and strategic investors.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
Candidates may be considered for other positions at Zap Energy and actual salary will be based on relevant education, experience, and other qualifications. Range is published in accordance with Washington Equal Pay and Opportunity Act.
Zap Energy Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.
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