Computational Physicist- Transport Modeling

Type One Energy Group, Inc.; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock and share options

Relocation allowance

Insurance plans

401k retirement options

Job summary

A leading fusion energy company in Knoxville is seeking a Computational Physicist for Transport Modeling. This role involves developing and applying advanced numerical models predicting plasma behaviors critical to fusion energy. The ideal candidate will have a PhD, experience in plasma transport modeling, and strong coding skills. This position offers competitive salary and benefits as part of a mission-driven team focused on commercializing sustainable fusion energy.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in plasma transport or turbulence modeling.
• Experience developing scientific simulation codes in Python, C++, Fortran.
• Strong foundation in plasma theory including kinetic theory and turbulence.
• Experience developing scientific simulation codes in Python, C++, Fortran, or similar
• Experience working in Linux/HPC environments and parallel computing (MPI/OpenMP)
• Ability to translate physics insight into numerical implementations
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational models of plasma transport.
• Implement reduced transport simulations to predict performance.
• Collaborate closely with theorists and experimental physicists.
• Investigating plasma stability, turbulence, and anomalous transport mechanisms
• Interpret experimental and synthetic diagnostic data to validate and improve models
• Support scenario development and performance projections for current and future devices
• Develop and maintain production-quality simulation codes in HPC environments
• Contribute to or extend existing transport/gyrokinetic frameworks (e.g., GENE, GS2, XGC, GTC, VMEC, STELLOPT, or similar)
• Optimize code performance and scalability on large-scale computing clusters
• Implement numerical methods, solvers, and algorithms for large-scale PDE systems
• Build reproducible workflows, verification/validation pipelines, and data analysis tools
• Work with stellarator design and optimization teams to inform configuration trade studies
• Partner with experimental teams to interpret results and design physics campaigns
• Provide physics-based guidance for engineering constraints and design decisions
• Present results internally and externally through reports, technical reviews, and publications

Skills

Plasma theory

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Scientific coding in Python

Computational modeling

Education

PhD in Plasma Physics or related field

Tools

Linux

C++

Fortran

GTC

VMEC

STELLOPT

Job description

Join us in our mission to commercialize fusion energy ⚡️

About Type One Energy

Type One Energy Group is mission-driven to provide sustainable, affordable fusion power to the world. Established in 2019 and venture-backed in 2023, the company is led by a team of globally recognized fusion scientists with a strong track record of building state‑of‑the‑art stellarator fusion machines, together with veteran business leaders experienced in scaling companies and commercializing energy technologies.

If you are searching for the best new ideas and share our vision, join us as a "Computational Physicist- Transport Modeling". This is what you need to know:

Location: Knoxville, TN

Salary: Highly Competitive Plus Benefits

Contract: Permanent, full time

Reporting to: Principal Scientist

Your role in the mission

Type One Energy is seeking a Computational Physicist – Transport Modeling to develop and apply advanced numerical models that predict plasma transport, confinement, and performance in stellarator fusion devices. This role sits at the intersection of plasma theory, simulation science, and high‑performance computing, enabling critical design decisions for next‑generation fusion systems. The successful candidate will develop, extend, and apply first‑principles and reduced transport models to guide device optimization, interpret experiments, and reduce technical risk across the program. You will collaborate closely with theorists, experimental physicists, and engineering teams to translate physics insight into predictive tools that directly influence machine design and operational strategy.

Physics & Modeling

• Develop and apply computational models of plasma transport, including neoclassical, turbulent, and integrated transport physics
• Implement gyrokinetic, fluid, or reduced transport simulations to predict confinement and performance
• Analyze heat, particle, and momentum transport in stellarator configurations
• Investigating plasma stability, turbulence, and anomalous transport mechanisms
• Interpret experimental and synthetic diagnostic data to validate and improve models
• Support scenario development and performance projections for current and future devices

Software & Simulation

• Develop and maintain production‑quality simulation codes in HPC environments
• Contribute to or extend existing transport/gyrokinetic frameworks (e.g., GENE, GS2, XGC, GTC, VMEC, STELLOPT, or similar)
• Optimize code performance and scalability on large‑scale computing clusters
• Implement numerical methods, solvers, and algorithms for large‑scale PDE systems
• Build reproducible workflows, verification/validation pipelines, and data analysis tools

Cross‑functional Collaboration

• Work with stellarator design and optimization teams to inform configuration trade studies
• Partner with experimental teams to interpret results and design physics campaigns
• Provide physics‑based guidance for engineering constraints and design decisions
• Present results internally and externally through reports, technical reviews, and publications

Qualifications

• PhD in Plasma Physics, Computational Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related field
• 3+ years of experience (post‑PhD or equivalent) in plasma transport or turbulence modeling
• Strong foundation in plasma theory (kinetic theory, transport, stability, or turbulence)
• Experience developing scientific simulation codes in Python, C++, Fortran, or similar
• Experience working in Linux/HPC environments and parallel computing (MPI/OpenMP)
• Ability to translate physics insight into numerical implementations
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills

Preferred

• Experience with stellarator physics or 3D magnetic confinement systems
• Hands‑on use of gyrokinetic or transport codes (GENE, GS2, XGC, GTC, etc.)
• Experience with integrated modeling frameworks
• Familiarity with experimental data analysis or synthetic diagnostics
• GPU acceleration or advanced numerical methods experience
• Track record of peer‑reviewed publications in transport/turbulence modeling
• Experience collaborating in multi‑disciplinary engineering/science teams

We offer

• Stock and share options📈
• Relocation allowance💰
• Insurance plans🩺
• 401k retirement options💸
• And many more great voluntary benefits👀

Type One Energy applies proven advanced manufacturing methods, modern computational physics and high‑field superconducting magnets to develop its optimized stellarator fusion energy system. Its FusionDirect development program pursues the lowest‑risk, shortest‑schedule path to a fusion power plant over the coming decade, using a partner‑intensive and capital‑efficient strategy.

Type One Energy is committed to community engagement in the development and deployment of its clean energy technology. For more information, visit www.typeoneenergy.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Type One Energy is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity, searching for the best new ideas and remaining open to unique perspectives. Therefore, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment independent of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.