R&D Facility & Safety Specialist

Ignite Next GmbH; Zürich; On-site; CHF 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Proxima Fusion is building Europe’s fastest-growing fusion platform with operations across Munich, Zurich, and Oxford. We seek an R&D Facility & Safety Specialist to lead safety coordination for our Swiss sites, manage documentation, risk assessments, and regulatory interactions, and own maintenance and safety training programs.

You will join a high-ownership team supporting structured technical thinking, incident investigations, and emergency planning, contributing to safe, compliant, and

Qualifications

• Experienced technician, technical engineer, safety engineer, or operations specialist with hardware development experience.
• At least 3 years of work experience in a research institute or industrial setting.
• Holding SiBe/KOPAS training (SUVA or equivalent), or willing to complete in first three months; experience applying health and safety in Switzerland or the EU.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Sicherheitsbeauftragte/r (SiBe) or Safety Contact Person for Proxima Fusion's Swiss subsidiary.
• Coordinate safety organisation and keep its documentation up to date.
• Coordinate risk assessments with team leads and external safety specialists.
• Investigate incidents and near misses, and advise management on risks and corrective actions.
• Own emergency and evacuation planning, first-aider coverage and drills.
• Manage safety inductions, safety training, and access rights to facilities.
• Act as the point of contact for regulators and authorities.
• Organise day-to-day running of two Swiss R&D facilities: workspace layout, housekeeping, shared areas, equipment booking, storage, waste disposal, interface with building owners and neighbors.
• Own maintenance and operations of tooling, equipment and infrastructure: preventive maintenance, repairs, calibration, inspections.
• Manage and procure consumables and stock materials for manufacturing.

Skills

Technical engineering

Safety engineering

Operations management

Hardware development

Documentation & compliance

Regulatory liaison

German language

English communication

Driving license (Switzerland)

Job description

Proxima Fusion is Europe's fastest-growing fusion company and the continent's best-funded fusion player, as well as the first spin-out from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP). Backed by over €650M and powered by a growing team across Munich, Zurich, and Oxford, we are developing the hardware and infrastructure needed to deliver the world's first commercial stellarator fusion power plant.

Our concept advances the most mature fusion technology out there, the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, through two next-generation machines: Alpha and Stellaris. Our work combines stellarator optimization, advanced computation, machine learning, and high-temperature superconducting magnets to unlock higher-performance designs that were previously out of reach.

Turning these designs into a functioning fusion power plant requires excellence and ownership across every discipline, from physics and engineering to software, manufacturing, law, and business functions.

BY JOINING OUR TEAM YOU’LL GET TO

• Architect a breakthrough energy technology - Play a defining role in designing and integrating the systems that will power the world's first commercial stellarator fusion plant, influencing decisions that shape the future of clean energy.

• Solve some of the most complex engineering challenges in fusion - Work across magnet design, HTS technology, manufacturing, structural integration, and controls, turning cutting-edge science into real hardware

• Move fast and build what matters - Join a highly ambitious, multidisciplinary team that combines cutting-edge simulation with hands-on engineering, turning bold ideas into real hardware on the path to commercial fusion.

YOUR IMPACT

As an R&D Facility & Safety Specialist, you will work with the Engineering Program, Safety and Operations teams to ensure the smooth and safe operation of Proxima's Swiss industrial facilities. This is a high-ownership role requiring strong organizational and communication skills supporting structured technical thinking.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Act as the Sicherheitsbeauftragte/r (SiBe) or Safety Contact Person for Proxima Fusion's Swiss subsidiary.

  • Coordinate our safety organisation and keep its documentation up to date

  • Coordinate risk assessments with team leads and external safety specialists

  • Investigate incidents and near misses, and advise management on risks and corrective actions

  • Own emergency and evacuation planning, first-aider coverage and drills

  • Manage safety inductions, safety training, and access rights to facilities

  • Act as the point of contact for regulators and authorities

  • Organise the day-to-day running of our two Swiss R&D facilities: workspace layout and housekeeping, shared areas and equipment booking, storage, waste disposal, and the interface with building owners and neighbors

  • Own maintenance and operations of our tooling, equipment and technical infrastructure: preventive maintenance, repairs, calibration, and inspections

  • Manage and procure consumables and stock materials for manufacturing

WHO YOU ARE

• An experienced technician, technical engineer, safety engineer, or operations specialist with experience in hardware development environments

• At least 3 years of work experience in either a research institute or an industrial setting

• Holding SiBe/KOPAS training (SUVA or equivalent), or willing to complete it in your first three months; experienced applying health and safety practice in Switzerland or the EU

• A proactive, detail-oriented team player who takes full ownership of delivering results.

• A confident, self-aware communicator who collaborates well and can negotiate effectively with suppliers and external partners.

• Fluent in German and conversational in English.

• Holding a driving license valid in Switzerland.

NICE TO HAVE

• Training or qualifications in industrial safety

• Experience in warehouse management - knowledge of incoming goods best practices and experience building an in-house process.

• Knowledge of fire safety and industrial hazards

• Experience with cryogenic, pressure equipment, chemical and electrical hazards

• Experience with heavy lift equipment and operations

• First aid training

• Qualified in Switzerland to operate overhead cranes or forklifts

INTERVIEW PROCESS

• Recruiter Interview (30-60 min)

• Technical Screening (30 min)

• On-site Technical Panel (3x60 min)

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At Proxima Fusion, our mission is bold: making limitless clean energy a reality. To get there, we need a high-performing, diverse team that brings different perspectives, challenges assumptions, and builds together with purpose. We know that diversity of thought and experience leads to better ideas, stronger execution, and a more resilient team. We don't look at how you identify, what you look like, who you choose to worship or what ethnicity you are. We care about what you can bring to the table.