Diagnostic Physicist, X-ray Spectroscopy

Fusion Energy Base; Toronto; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership in startup

Relocation support

Health benefits

Immigration support

Job summary

Daedal Systems is seeking a Diagnostic Physicist specializing in X-ray spectroscopy to lead design, deployment, and operations of plasma spectroscopy diagnostics across our platform.

You will translate physics measurements into instrument performance, leverage high-resolution spectrometers, and own the lifecycle of spectroscopic diagnostics from concept to deployment, with global travel up to 20% and relocation support.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to operate spectroscopic instruments on large infrastructure machines.
• Translate physics measurements into instrument performance requirements (ion temperature, impurity concentration, flow).
• Experience with spectroscopic modalities relevant to fusion plasmas (visible-range spectroscopy, XICS, wideband/impurity monitoring).
• Experience with high-resolution spectrometers and optics design.
• Lifecycle experience from design through maintenance of diagnostics.
• Ability to lead technically with minimal supervision.
• Based in Toronto or willing to relocate with relocation support.
• Comfortable traveling up to 20% for client support, including multi-week deployments.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, deployment and operations of plasma spectroscopy diagnostics across the platform.
• Translate physics requirements into achievable instrument specifications and performance targets.
• Own spectroscopic diagnostics from concept to integration on fusion devices with autonomy.

Skills

Spectroscopy

Diagnostics specifications

Visible/x-ray spectroscopy

XICS (X-ray Ion Doppler Crystal Spect)

Wideband spectroscopy

High-resolution spectrometers

Geometric optics

Lifecycle management

Independent technical leadership

Relocation/travel willingness

Ray-tracing software

Startup experience

Education

Master's degree or higher in physics/engineering

Tools

Ray-tracing software

Job description

About Daedal Systems

Daedal Systems is a plasma diagnostic company for the fusion energy industry. Today, every fusion company needs the same R&D plasma diagnostics, but each company builds them themselves in-house, despite them not being core IP. Daedal Systems is building a platform for industrialized plasma diagnostics, which will enable us to deploy suites of plasma diagnostics on fusion devices across the industry. Ultimately, we will provide the operating infrastructure for every fusion power plant. We are seeking talented individuals spanning plasma diagnosticians, engineers and operators to join us in this mission to accelerate fusion energy with industrialized plasma diagnostics. We are building the measurement infrastructure layer upon which fusion will be realized.

The Role

Daedal Systems is looking for a Diagnostic Physicist, X-ray Spectroscopy to lead the design, deployment, and operations of plasma spectroscopy diagnostics across our industrialized plasma diagnostic platform. Reporting to the Vice President of Science, you will be the senior technical authority on spectroscopic measurement techniques spanning the visible through X-ray range. An early focus will include X-ray Ion Doppler Crystal Spectroscopy (XICS) to measure spatial profiles of ion temperature, impurity concentration, and flow. You will be responsible for bringing spectroscopic diagnostics from low-TRL, bench-top systems to industrialized, deployable systems that are integrated on fusion devices across the industry.

Education

Master's degree or higher in physics, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Essential Requirements

• Have worked on at least one spectroscopic diagnostic instrument on a large infrastructure machine (fusion device, accelerator, telescope, or laser facility)
• Experience developing detailed diagnostic specifications that translate physics measurement requirements (e.g. ion temperature, impurity concentration, flow) into achievable instrument performance
• Direct experience with one or more spectroscopic modalities relevant to fusion plasmas: visible-range spectroscopy (e.g. charge exchange recombination spectroscopy), X-ray crystal spectrometry (e.g. XICS), or wideband/survey spectroscopy for impurity monitoring (visible through VUV/XUV)
• Experience using high-resolution spectrometers, with strong working knowledge of geometric optics, light propagation, and spectrometer resolution/etendue tradeoffs
• Experience taking a diagnostic through its full lifecycle: design, procurement, build, test, installation, commissioning, calibration, operation, and maintenance
• Ability to operate independently as a technical lead with minimal supervisory structure
• Based in Toronto or willing to relocate — relocation support will be provided
• Comfortable with travel to support client systems around the globe, up to 20% of the time, occasionally for 2+ weeks in a row
• Direct experience with X-ray Ion Doppler Crystal Spectroscopy specifically
• Experience using optical design/ray-tracing software
• Prior experience in a startup or early-stage technical business

What You Can Expect

You will join as one of Daedal's first technical hires and have the opportunity to shape the measurement infrastructure that will be applied across the fusion industry. The role carries significant autonomy. You will own spectroscopy as a discipline and lead the full lifecycle of Daedal's spectroscopic diagnostics from concept design, product development, implementation and ongoing operational support. As an early technical lead, you will help shape the overall technical direction of Daedal's industrialized plasma diagnostic platform.

What We Offer

• Annual Salary Range: 150k-250k CAD
• Compensation range shown is indicative; final salary and total compensation will be tailored to the candidate's experience and fit.
• Significant equity ownership in an early start‑up
• Immigration and relocation support
• Opportunity to lead a key diagnostic discipline and shape the company's technical direction
• Health benefits

Daedal Systems is committed to an accessible and inclusive recruitment process. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment, assessment and selection process. Please let us know if you require accommodation, and we will work with you to meet your needs.