Tritium Breeding Blanket Manufacturing 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

Main responsibilities

• Review engineering, manufacturing deliverables (procedures, reports, manufacturing routes)
• Control and verification of manufacturing project requirements
• Documentation management and control
• Follow-up on engineering activities (technical documentation during engineering and production phases)
• Identify design issues, propose solutions and contribute to the updates of the associated design description documents
• Provide design-for-manufacturing (DfM) guidance throughout concept evolution
• Attendance of activities at partners and collaborators premises
• Support mechanical design with engineering verification assessments against criteria defined in standards, regulations and codes
• Define and develop manufacturing and assembly strategies and activities (focus on manufacturability assessment, mock-up and prototype development, evaluations and liaison with industrial partners to produce the manufacturing mock-ups)
• Review design analysis and development of test prototypes for breeding blankets (technical design and construction of prototypes, CAD modeling, finite element modeling)
• Support and review development of mock-ups, and full-scale prototypes

Qualification and educational requirements

• A good master’s degree or equivalent in physics, mechanical engineering, materials engineering or nuclear engineering fields
• Technical experience:
  • At least 5 years’ experience in manufacturing engineering roles, with demonstrated involvement in prototyping, pilot production and qualification phases in fusion, nuclear or aerospace industries
  • Hands-on experience in the follow-up of the manufacturing of mechanical components under a Quality Management System, involving some of the following activities: forging, sanding/surface coating, drilling, welding, machining, or electrical /TIG welding
  • Preferably with industrial experience in welding activities (International Welding Engineers, ideally) and Non-Destructive Testing techniques (Radiographic, Ultrasonic, Visual, Liquid penetrant), in particular for stainless steels
  • Knowledge of at least one code and standard used in the design and manufacturing of mechanical components (ASME III, ASME VIII, RCC-MR, RCC-MRx, Eurocodes, EN standards, etc.)
  • Verification of the compliance of mechanical components with at least one code and standard used in the manufacturing of such components (ASME III, ASME VIII, RCC-MR, RCCMRx, Eurocodes, EN standards, etc.)

Competences and preferred skills

• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes and routes, including machining, forming, assembly, surface treatments and special processes relevant to the industry
• Familiarity with design analysis and development of test prototypes
• Familiarity with manufacturing readiness, process qualification, and production ramp-up activities
• Experience working with suppliers or industrial partners on technical deliverables
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, interfacing with design, materials and quality
• Familiarity with magnetic fusion and/or nuclear power-plant systems preferred
• Proficiency in English. Ability to read and communicate in German and or French preferred.