Senior Process Engineer, Fueling Systems

Commonwealth Fusion Systems; Harvard (MA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading company in fusion energy as a Senior Process Engineer, focusing on the SPARC fusion machine's fueling systems. Collaborate across teams to manage installation, commissioning, and performance verification while ensuring safety and efficiency in design. This role offers a competitive salary, equity, and a range of benefits, including flexible vacation days and professional growth opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive compensation with equity

12.5 Company-wide Holidays

Flexible vacation days

10 sick days

Generous parental leave policy

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer matching

Professional growth opportunities

Team-building activities

Qualifications

• 7+ years designing fluidic and gas handling systems for industrial applications.
• Experience with high radiation or high magnetic field environments.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to SPARC fuel system construction management and commissioning.
• Develop high-level estimates of plant thermal loads and gas processing needs.

Skills

Problem Solving

Strong Communication

Tools

COMSOL

MATLAB

AutoCAD

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 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 over $2 billion in capital – more than any other fusion energy company in the U.S.

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 Senior Process Engineer, Fueling Systems

CFS is well into the construction phase of our Smallest Possible Affordable Robust Compact (SPARC) fusion machine that will demonstrate commercially-relevant fusion power. In parallel we are advancing the design of our first electrical power-producing fusion device: ARC. The senior process engineer will help manage the installation, commissioning and performance verification of SPARC fueling systems, and will also contribute to the concept development of various systems for ARC, including cooling water, thermal management, and the fuel cycle. This role will be very cross-functional, collaborating with various teams across CFS from R&D to construction to operations. In supporting SPARC, the senior process engineer will work with our construction contractors, equipment suppliers and CFS commissioning, software and safety teams to bring high purity gas mixing, distribution and analysis systems on line and ready for SPARC’s first plasma.

With 400 MWe output, many of ARC’s subsystems will have similar scale to existing commercial power plants. The senior process engineer will estimate plant-wide thermal and process gas loads and propose suitable ventilation, thermal management systems, cooling water and other system designs.

Applicants with hands-on experience with gas handling / processing and vacuum systems, and a track record of delivering deployable technologies are preferred. Experience designing for high radiation or high magnetic field environments, high temperature heat transfer systems, or gas separation processes is a plus, as well as experience with flammable and toxic gases.

What you'll do:

• Contribute to SPARC fuel system construction management and commissioning
• Contribute to SPARC fuel system performance verification
• Develop high-level estimates of plant thermal loads, gas processing needs, ventilation needs
• Propose system designs and major equipment that can support those estimates
• Perform trade studies of different architectures / solutions

What we’re looking for:

• +7 years designing fluidic and gas handling / processing equipment and systems for industrial scale applications
• Developing process flow diagrams and P&IDs
• Analysis of mass and heat transfer for plant systems / chemical processes
• Selecting and specifying plant equipment such as pumps, compressors, sensors, heat exchangers, piping systems
• Adhering to strict safety standards in design and operations
• Adhering to ASME B31.3, BPVC or other national / international codes
• Writing requirements, designing to requirements, and verifying final hardware or system performance
• Writing procedures, compiling data, and presenting results in written and oral communications
• Working with vendors to deliver high quality equipment and components
• Plant / process simulation software (COMSOL, Hysys, AVEVA, ProSim, MATLAB, etc)
• Autocad or other tools for P&IDs and plant design
• ASME, BPVC, NFS codes for piping, vessel design and fire safety.
• Strong problem solving skills
• MS office suite

Bonus points for:

• Use of analytical instruments (RGA, GC, mass spec, etc)
• Molten salt or other high temperature processes
• Gas separation technologies (membranes, mole sieves)
• MATLAB/Python programming

Must-have Requirements:

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
• Perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time
• Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call regularly; occasional travel to vendors
• Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, cryogenics, hazardous gas and radiological hazards

$80,000 - $180,000 a year

Salary range for this full-time position + equity + benefits.The actual salary will depend on level, location, qualifications, and experience. The range displayed on each job posting reflects new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Benefits include:

• Competitive compensation with equity

• 12.5 Company-wide Holidays

• Flexible vacation days

• 10 sick days

• Generous parental leave policy

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) with employer matching

• Professional growth opportunities

• Team-building activities

#LI-Onsite

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.