Manufacturing Engineer (Temporary ITER Secondment Program)

Proxima Fusion GmbH; München; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Fusion Energy Base in Germany seeks a Manufacturing Engineer to take ownership of developing assembly strategies for their stellarator machine programme. You will gain hands-on experience at ITER in Cadarache for 12 months before relocating to Munich.

The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, with at least 5 years’ experience in large industrial or nuclear projects, and fluency in English. Responsibilities include developing work packages and ensuring safety and quality standards throughout.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering; relevant experience may be considered.
• At least 5 years’ experience in large industrial or nuclear projects.
• Experience in a nuclear or highly regulated environment is a strong advantage.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken).

Responsibilities

• Develop engineering work packages based on system engineering inputs.
• Verify data provided to suppliers and review their installation work.
• Prepare technical documents for assembly work packages.
• Monitor construction work completion, ensuring safety and quality.
• Support development of machine assembly strategy.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

Assembly strategies

Nuclear safety principles

Structural fabrication

Scheduling software (Primavera)

CATIA V5/Enovia

QA systems

Technical documentation

Education

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Primavera

Microsoft Office

Job description

Your Impact

As a manufacturing engineer, you will take ownership of developing assembly strategies and work packages for our stellarator machine programme, defending the critical and technically demanding elements of our first integrated prototype. You will define how complex fusion machine systems are assembled safely, precisely, and on schedule.

Secondment Program

This position is part of a unique secondment program in collaboration with ITER, through their IPA (ITER Project Associates) scheme. You will be hired by Proxima Fusion and, for the first 12 months, embedded at the ITER Organisation in Cadarache, France, gaining direct, hands‑on experience at the world’s largest fusion experiment. Following the secondment, you will relocate to Munich to continue your career at Proxima Fusion.

Responsibilities

• Develop fusion machine assembly engineering work packages based on system engineering inputs, including review of technical data, confirmation of assembly strategies, and identification of open points in the process.
• Verify and validate input data provided to external suppliers, and review installation work packages they prepare in return.
• Prepare technical documents covering specification, execution, and surveillance of machine assembly work packages.
• Survey and monitor construction work through to completion, maintaining responsibility for safety, quality, and schedule.
• Define process interfaces between components, systems, and associated tooling, proposing layouts, concepts, and alternative strategies to resolve assembly challenges, improve quality, and optimise cost and schedule.
• Contribute to the design of assembly tools and ensure applicable quality and safety measures are upheld throughout.
• Support the development and ongoing maintenance of the overall machine assembly strategy.
• Implement technical controls for safety‑critical requirements and ensure their propagation across the external supply chain.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering or a comparable field; relevant experience and additional training certificates may be considered in lieu of formal education.
• At least 5 years’ experience in the construction of large industrial, big science, or nuclear projects.
• Good understanding of non‑standardised design, construction, and assembly aspects related to experimental devices or high‑technology equipment.
• Experience in a nuclear or highly‑regulated environment, with a solid grasp of nuclear safety principles – a strong advantage.
• Proven ability to write technical specifications and documentation covering all aspects of assembly work, from desk to field.
• Experience in contract monitoring and follow‑up with external suppliers.
• Knowledge of structural fabrication, welding, non‑destructive testing (including ultra‑high vacuum leak testing), and complex assemblies involving high‑precision metrology (laser trackers/scanning).
• Good working knowledge of QA systems and their practical application in a field environment.
• Experience with assembly tooling design – including application of codes and standards, safety & quality, and tolerance management – is a plus.
• Familiarity with lifting, handling, and transportation of heavy components and structures is an advantage.
• Experience scheduling assembly activities and using scheduling software such as Primavera is an advantage.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; working knowledge of CATIA V5/Enovia.