RF & Plasma Research Engineer

STEM Boomerang; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

PTO and holidays

Equity potential

Job summary

Stellios Technologies is seeking an RF & Plasma Research Engineer in Albuquerque to build predictive models for high power microwave sources and RF systems. You will connect computational work directly with hardware decisions, focusing on physics-driven simulations rather than decorative visuals.

The role emphasizes developing and validating models against experiments, with opportunities for publications and patentable work, while collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams on-site in

Qualifications

• Must have a PhD in electrical engineering, plasma physics, or a directly relevant field, or a BS/MS with 5+ years of directly relevant professional experience.
• Strong fundamentals in electromagnetics with expertise in plasma/beam/vacuum electronics, computational electromagnetics, PIC methods, RF systems, or accelerator physics.
• Proven ability to write code, interrogate numerical models, and distill complex simulations to first principles.
• Valued experience validating models against real experiments and publishing results.
• Comfort working around high voltage, vacuum systems, RF diagnostics, precision microwave hardware, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Eligibility as a U.S. person under export control laws.
• Willingness to work on site in NM, Southern California, or Austin.

Responsibilities

• Model electromagnetic structures: cavities, waveguides, resonators, mode converters, launchers, antennas, and high power RF elements.
• Perform PIC and beam interaction simulations for klystrons, gyrotrons, and electron beam devices.
• Model plasma interactions relevant to high power microwave propagation and energy systems.
• Develop reduced order models and first principles checks for large simulations.
• Conduct design space exploration via numerical optimization and uncertainty analysis.
• Validate models against analytic limits, benchmarks, tests, and experimental data.
• Develop internal Python, C++, MATLAB, or Julia tools to accelerate analysis.
• Integrate commercial solvers and open-source codes into repeatable workflows.
• Collaborate with RF, HPM, power, magnet, thermal, mechanical, and experimental engineers.
• Translate research into potential new products, patents, or publications.

Skills

Electromagnetics

Plasma physics

Beam physics

RF systems

Computational electromagnetics

Particle-in-cell

Education

PhD in electrical engineering or physics

BS/MS + 5+ years relevant experience

Job description

Albuquerque, United States

Stellios Technologies is building advanced high power microwave andenergy systems for defense, aerospace, and energy.

We are hiring an exceptional RF & Plasma Research Engineer to build the computational models behind next generation high power microwave sources, RF systems, plasma interactions, and advanced energy systems.

This is a computational research role with direct connection to hardware. Your job is not to generate beautiful simulations. Your job is to build models that predict reality, identify the physics that controls performance, and help the engineering team make better hardware decisions faster.

What You Will Own And/Or Support

• Electromagnetic modeling of cavities, waveguides, resonators, mode converters, launchers, antennas, and high power RF structures
• Particle in cell and beam wave interaction modeling for klystrons, gyrotrons, electron beam systems, and related devices
• Plasma modeling relevant to high power microwave propagation, plasma interaction, breakdown, and advanced energy systems
• Reduced order models and first principles calculations used to sanity check large simulations
• Numerical optimization, parameter sweeps, uncertainty analysis, and design space exploration
• Model validation against analytic limits, published benchmarks, component tests, and full system experimental data
• Development of internal Python, C++, Julia, MATLAB, or equivalent tools that accelerate engineering analysis
• Integration of commercial solvers and open source codes into repeatable computational workflows
• Close collaboration with RF, HPM, power systems, magnet, thermal, mechanical, and experimental engineers
• Technical research that can translate into new products, patents, and publications where appropriate

Requirements

You must have one of the following:

• A PhD in electrical engineering, plasma physics, applied physics, computational physics, accelerator science, or a directly relevant field, or
• A BS or MS in a relevant technical field plus at least 5 years of directly relevant professional experience
• You need strong fundamentals in electromagnetics and at least one of the following: plasma physics, beam physics, vacuum electronics, computational electromagnetics, particle in cell methods, RF systems, or accelerator physics.
• You must be able to write code, interrogate a numerical model, recognize when a solver is lying to you, and reduce a complicated simulation result back to first principles.
• We strongly value candidates who have validated models against real experiments. Purely academic experience can be excellent if the work involved serious simulation development, experimental comparison, or difficult computational physics.
• You should be comfortable working around high voltage, vacuumsystems, RF diagnostics, precision microwave hardware, andmultidisciplinary engineering teams.
• This role requires access to U.S. export controlledinformation. Candidates must qualify as a U.S. person underapplicable export control laws, including U.S. citizens, U.S.nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees.
• You must be willing to work on site in New Mexico, SouthernCalifornia, or Austin.
• 100% Employer-Paid Health Insurance Premiums
• Competitive PTO and paid company holidays
• Equity Package with meaningful ownership potential
• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience and expertise