Senior Precision Assembly Engineer

Fusion Energy Base; San Leandro (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific Fusion is seeking a Senior Target Fabrication Engineer to bridge target design and manufacturing, ensuring high-precision assemblies are delivered on schedule.

You will lead end-to-end fabrication of fusion targets, coordinate cross-functional teams, and develop fixtures and tooling to enable micron-level accuracy while maintaining rigorous documentation and quality controls.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex assemblies from concept to delivery.
• Strong GD&T knowledge and ability to read technical drawings.
• Ability to coordinate with scientists, engineers, and fabrication technicians.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end delivery of fusion targets and ensure schedules and budgets.
• Lead precision assembly of complex target systems with micron-level accuracy.
• Design fixtures and tooling to improve repeatability.
• Establish project timelines and resource plans for scaling to production.
• Maintain quality documentation and ensure design intent compliance.

Skills

Project management

Precision assembly

GD&T expertise

CAD modeling

Technical liaison

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's or PhD (preferred)

Tools

CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA)

Measurement & metrology tools

Job description

Why This Role Matters

Pacific Fusion is looking for a Senior Target Fabrication Engineer specializing in precision assembly and project management to join our growing target fabrication team. In this role, you will be a primary bridge between target design and physical realization, ensuring that complex, high-precision assemblies are delivered on schedule. Your work in managing the lifecycle of these targets from component sourcing to final integration is critical to maintaining the high-cadence production on the road to commercial fusion energy.

What You’ll Do

• Manage the end-to-end delivery of fusion targets to internal departments, ensuring all technical requirements, budgets, and schedules are met.
• Lead the precision assembly of complex target systems, utilizing specialized techniques to integrate components with micron-level accuracy.
• Coordinate across working groups to understand internal customer requirements and translate them into actionable fabrication and assembly plans.
• Design and implement assembly fixtures and specialized tooling to improve the repeatability and reliability of target builds.
• Establish project timelines and resource plans to transition from R&D prototypes to a high-throughput production environment.
• Oversee quality control and documentation for delivered targets, ensuring each assembly meets rigorous design intent and inspection standards.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field; a Master’s or PhD is a plus.
• Proven experience in project management within a precision engineering environment, specifically managing the delivery of complex assemblies.
• Hands-on expertise in precision assembly techniques and a deep understanding of GD&T and technical drawings.
• Ability to drive a project through all stages of development, from initial concept and prototyping to high-cadence internal delivery.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to act as a technical liaison between scientists, engineers, and fabrication technicians.
• Proficiency in CAD modeling for the design of assembly jigs, fixtures, and handling equipment.

Bonus Points For

• Experience managing small-scale, high-complexity hardware with micron-level tolerances and delicate material interfaces.
• Deep understanding of chemical and material bonding techniques that includes glue, epoxy, soldering, and precision welding Background in automated assembly or developing semi-automated systems for a production environment.
• Familiarity with cleanroom operations and cryogenic vacuum systems.
• Knowledge of advanced metrology for verifying complex 3D assemblies, such as radiography or tomography.