Fusion Plasma Materials Scientist – R&D for Fusion Energy

U.S. Fusion Energy; Energy (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range

Health benefits

Equity options

PTO 20 days

Job summary

Thea Energy in Kearny, NJ seeks a Plasma-Materials Scientist to develop plasma-facing materials for fusion devices and contribute to elite R&D for stellarator systems. You will help build and commission a plasma device, run diagnostics, and guide experiments with surface analysis tools and computational modeling.

Requirements include a Master's in a related field, knowledge of plasma physics, vacuum systems, and experience with plasma diagnostics.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in materials science, engineering, applied plasma physics, chemistry, or a related field.
• Knowledge of basic plasma physics.
• Experience with vacuum systems.
• Experience with experimental plasma setups and diagnostics such as industrial plasma sources, RF plasmas, spectroscopic diagnostics, laser-based diagnostics, and electrostatic probes.
• Experience with surface analysis techniques such as electron microscopy, atomic-scale microscopy, and elemental composition analysis methods (e.g. XPS, EDX, Raman).
• Experience with one or more of the following: Python, MATLAB, FEA tools, COMSOL, C++, Fortran.
• Ability to work independently and manage projects.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the construction and commissioning of a plasma device and diagnostics for exposing and evaluating plasma-facing material candidates.
• Collaborate with plasma-material exposure facilities and use materials characterization tools for surface evaluation.
• Provide technical guidance across team members in plasma device operation, plasma-material performance assessment and experimental planning.
• Participate in stellarator plasma-facing component operational campaign planning.
• Utilize computational and simulation tools to perform plasma-surface interaction simulations, thermal analysis, and contribute to multi-physics modeling efforts.

Skills

Plasma physics

Materials analysis

Surface characterization

Python

MATLAB

FEA tools

COMSOL

C++

Fortran

Project management

Detail oriented

Collaboration

Education

Master's degree in materials science / engineering / applied plasma physics / chemistry

PhD in applied plasma physics or related field

Tools

XPS

EDX

Raman

Electron microscopy

Job description

Thea Energy in Kearny, NJ seeks a Plasma-Materials Scientist to develop plasma-facing materials for fusion devices and contribute to elite R&D for stellarator systems. You will help build and commission a plasma device, run diagnostics, and guide experiments with surface analysis tools and computational modeling.

Requirements include a Master's in a related field, knowledge of plasma physics, vacuum systems, and experience with plasma diagnostics.