Fusion Research Engineer: Plasma Physics & MHD Modeling

ARA Brand; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Retirement Plan with employer

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Health Insurance

Paid leave and holidays

Job summary

Applied Research Associates, Inc. in Omaha, NE seeks a mid-career physicist or engineer with 5–10 years in plasma physics applications for fusion energy development. Strong background in computational MHD and instinct for translating theory into experiments will propel collaborative R&D in ICF, MCF and MTF.

Start date is flexible; DoD clearance is preferred. The role emphasizes mentoring, interdisciplinary teamwork, and applying codes like ALEGRA to design and interpret laboratory and field

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or better in Physics or Engineering in relevant field.
• 5-10 years of relevant research experience in nuclear physics applications.
• In-depth understanding of high temperature plasma physics.
• Proficiency in magnetohydrodynamics and predictive modeling, including first-principles MHD codes.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Ability to obtain a DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on nuclear fusion processes: ICF, MCF, and MTF.
• Analyze and model plasma behavior in FRC and stability under adiabatic compression.
• Investigate fuel cross sections and reactivity for aneutronic fusion.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to design experiments and simulations with diagnostics for MTF.
• Develop empirically based predictive MHD models for plasma stability and performance.
• Apply first-principles codes (e.g., ALEGRA) to support R&D and interpret experiments.
• Mentor junior researchers and promote knowledge transfer.

Skills

Plasma physics

MHD

First-principles modeling

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Physics or Engineering

Tools

ALEGRA

Job description

Applied Research Associates, Inc. in Omaha, NE seeks a mid-career physicist or engineer with 5–10 years in plasma physics applications for fusion energy development. Strong background in computational MHD and instinct for translating theory into experiments will propel collaborative R&D in ICF, MCF and MTF.

Start date is flexible; DoD clearance is preferred. The role emphasizes mentoring, interdisciplinary teamwork, and applying codes like ALEGRA to design and interpret laboratory and field