R&D Engineer - High Voltage

Cfsenergy; Harvard (MA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is seeking an R&D Engineer to design, build, and test high voltage systems for superconducting magnets, focusing on Paschen effects and vacuum conditions. The role requires cross-disciplinary work with mechanical, electrical, materials, fluids, and software engineering.

You will run test campaigns, develop instrumentation, analyze data, prepare design reviews, and collaborate across manufacturing, R&D, procurement, and SPARC teams on aggressive schedules.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science is required.
• Minimum 2 years designing, building, or testing complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience with instrumentation like thermocouples, sensors, oscilloscopes.
• Proficiency with CAD design in Siemens NX or equivalent.
• Familiarity with vacuum, high voltage, and Paschen effect.
• Excellent troubleshooting and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel or work nights/weekends as needed.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Develop new high voltage system designs and their subsystems.
• Design, build, and commission high voltage test equipment.
• Perform structural, electrical, and thermal analyses.
• Support SPARC production and integration.
• Collaborate with I&C engineers to develop instrumentation.
• Maintain documentation, schedules, and test budgets.
• Prepare and deliver trade studies and test data reviews.

Skills

High voltage systems

R&D engineering

Instrumentation and data acquisition

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Test procedure development

Troubleshooting

Scientific communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science field

Mechanical/Electrical discipline preferred

2+ years R&D or test engineering experience

Tools

Siemens NX

Python

MATLAB

CAD software

Data analysis tools

Job description

About Commonwealth Fusion Systems:

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is on a mission to deliver the urgent transition to fusion energy. Combining decades of research, top talent, and new technologies, we’re designing and building commercially viable fusion power plants. And we're working with policymakers and suppliers to build the energy industry of the future.

We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised nearly $3 billion in capital, making us the largest and leading private fusion company in the world.

Now we’re looking for more thinkers, doers, builders, and makers to join us. People who’ll bring new perspectives, solve tough problems, and thrive as part of a team.

If that’s you and this role fits, we want to hear from you.

Join the power movement as a R&D Engineer

Most fusion-relevant superconducting magnets undergo high voltage transients that must be designed and tested against - using protection schemes that must take high and poor vacuum effects into account (e.g. the Paschen effect). This role is aimed towards research and development of high voltage systems for superconducting magnets with a focus on the Paschen effect including the execution and development of test campaigns as well as leading RCCA efforts through analysis and testing to resolve issues that may arise with the SPARC / ARC magnets currently in production, tokamak integration, and commissioning. Magnet technology is inherently multidisciplinary, and a successful R&D engineer will seamlessly flex between disciplines and groups to effectively execute tests and projects on aggressive schedules supporting CFS's mission. The R&D Engineer must have a fundamental understanding of mechanical, electrical, materials, fluids and software engineering, or some combination thereof—with a focus on high voltage systems in vacuum. The R&D Engineer will be responsible for the design, build, and commissioning of equipment and/or software in support of development, qualification and production tests related to high voltage systems inside vacuum. They must work collaboratively across manufacturing, R&D, procurement, and SPARC teams to achieve their test campaigns. It is also the role of the R&D Engineer to constantly push and challenge the requirements, risks, and test objectives that they are provided to help the combined stakeholders come to a consensus on why the planned test is required and what data is deemed essential for the outcome to be achieved.

• Develop new high voltage system designs and their associated subsystems, which includes designing and building R&D test samples, and developing their manufacturing processes and test operations


• Design, build, and commission high voltage test equipment required to accomplish R&D test campaign objectives


• Perform structural, electrical, and/or thermal analyses in support of R&D sample design and to predict test results


• Build expertise in testing superconducting magnets under high voltage


• Support the production, test, integration, and commissioning of SPARC insulated coils


• Understand, challenge, and maintain well documented requirements and risks for the system or component under test, and align stakeholders on why the planned test is required and what data is deemed essential for the desired outcome to be achieved


• Collaborate with I&C engineers to develop necessary instrumentation and data acquisition systems


• Maintain documentation, schedules, and budgets for test campaigns. Documentation includes: design reviews, wiring lists, P&IDs, schematics, CAD assemblies, drawings, BOMs, data acquisition systems, job hazard analysis, test logs, and operations software


• Develop custom tools to analyze generated data. Compile test results in presentations for review


• Prepare and deliver presentations containing trade studies, design reviews, test readiness reviews, and test data reviews to teams of engineers and physicists

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science field is required; mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or similar, or applied physics degree preferred


• 2+ years' experience as an R&D engineer or test engineer designing, building, commissioning complex electromechanical systems


• Experience with selecting and utilizing instrumentation and control components such as thermocouples, voltage and current sensors, oscilloscopes, pressure transducers, strain gauges, heaters, flow meters, fittings and valves


• Experience with developing and executing test procedures


• Proficiency with CAD design in Siemens NX or equivalent CAD software


• Familiarity with electromagnetic fundamentals: voltage, current, resistance, Ohm's law, AC/DC, right-hand rule, solenoids, etc.


• Excellent troubleshooting / problem-solving skills with great attention to detail


• Experience developing and effectively presenting comprehensive trade studies comparing the pros & cons of various technical approaches


• Data reduction and analysis skills that can be used in generating anticipated results and processing generated data


• Effective at communicating technical topics to both technical and non-technical audiences.


• High self-motivation and drive to execute quickly


• Collaboration skills including active listening and facilitating productive discourse on problems


• Willingness to challenge the status quo in search of better, more efficient methods.

• Experience writing Python or MATLAB data tools for processing and analyzing data


• Experience with high voltage and high current power equipment design and use - power supplies, water-cooled cables, insulation


• Experience with designing, building, and testing composite materials.


• Have a general understanding of the physics of high voltage breakdown and the Paschen effect


• Experience debugging electronics hardware and test software


• Experience with designing and commissioning new test facilities


• Experience with cryogenic equipment design for use with liquid nitrogen and supercritical helium - vacuum jacketed equipment, cryocoolers, phase separators, cold traps


• Experience with high vacuum equipment design and use - roughing pumps, turbopumps, ion gauges, residual gas analyzers


• Experience developing or improving manufacturing processes and handing off processes to production teams


• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs


• Perform activities such as typing, climbing, standing, stooping or sitting for extended periods of time


• Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call


• Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics

#LI-Hybrid

At CFS, we excel in fast-paced environments, driven by our values of integrity, execution, impact, and self-critique. As we grow, we’re eager to bring on mission-driven folks who offer diverse perspectives and fresh ways to tackle challenges.

We value diversity deeply and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally, regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law.

This role requires compliance with U.S. laws concerning the export of controlled or protected technologies or information (collectively, "Export Control Laws"). Any offer of employment will be contingent on the need for compliance with such Export Control Laws.