Senior Pulsed Power Engineer

Pacific Fusion; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity plan

6% employer 401k matching

Generous paid time off

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Job summary

Pacific Fusion in Fremont, California is seeking a Senior Pulsed Power Engineer to design, build, operate, and advance our pulsed power systems for the fusion platform. This role is hands-on and multi‑disciplinary, requiring leadership of R&D workflows, expertise in high‑voltage, high‑current architectures, controls, diagnostics, and data analysis.

You will collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and plasma physics teams, drive reliability improvements, and own subsystem roadmaps from concept

Qualifications

• 5+ years of demonstrated experience designing and operating pulsed power systems and related experiments.
• Proven ability to deliver complex R&D projects from concept to prototype to validation.
• Experience building and managing multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists.
• Expertise in pulse power and plasma diagnostics, including voltage, current, and optical instrumentation.
• Strong background in electronic design, control systems, and PLC software development.
• Experience with vacuum systems design, operation, and diagnostics.
• Proficiency in circuit simulations and data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent tools.
• Familiarity with CAD software and engineering modeling tools.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate pulsed power systems, including high‑voltage and high‑current architectures.
• Design, build, and operate control systems for pulsed power operation, safety, and automation.
• Operate pulsed power systems during testing and data acquisition campaigns, including occasional work outside regular business hours.
• Ensure safe, reliable operation of high-energy systems in accordance with company safety protocols.
• Acquire, process, and analyze data from pulsed power experiments to evaluate system performance and stability.
• Develop tools and workflows for data collection, visualization, and interpretation.
• Translate experimental results into actionable insights for next‑generation pulser design.
• Take ownership of pulsed power subsystem advancement and roadmap execution.
• Lead design reviews, experimental planning, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and plasma physics teams to iterate and improve designs.
• Drive continuous improvement in reliability, efficiency, and diagnostic capability.

Skills

Pulsed power design

High-voltage systems

Controls & PLC software

Diagnostics & data analysis

Team leadership / R&D leadership

Circuit simulations

Python / MATLAB data analysis

CAD/CAE tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Advanced degree (M.S./Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering or Applied Physics

Tools

SPICE

PSCAD

COMSOL Multiphysics

SolidWorks / CAD

ANSYS

Python

MATLAB

Job description

About Pacific Fusion

Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with the mission to power the world with abundant, affordable, clean energy.

About Pacific Fusion

Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with the mission to power the world with abundant, affordable, clean energy.

We are rapidly designing and building a pulser-driven inertial fusion system to achieve net facility gain (more fusion energy output than stored energy input). In parallel, we are developing the key components required to build affordable fusion systems.

Our plans are ambitious. We have raised over $900M so far from incredible investors, resourcing us to deliver on these plans. We are bringing together the best scientists, engineers, and operators from the fusion community, hard tech industry, and other sectors. We are united by a shared sense of urgency to provide clean power for the world, particularly managing climate change while meeting growing global energy demand. You can read more about us in this letter from our founders.

Why This Role Matters

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Pulsed Power Engineer to design, build, operate, and advance our pulsed power systems — the core of our experimental fusion platform. This role is deeply hands‑on and multidisciplinary, requiring expertise across high‑voltage systems, controls, diagnostics, and data analysis. The ideal candidate combines strong technical depth with the ability to lead R&D workflows, collaborate across disciplines, and take ownership of system performance and development.

What You’ll Do

• Design, build, and operate pulsed power systems, including high‑voltage and high‑current architectures.
• Design, build, and operate control systems for pulsed power operation, safety, and automation.
• Operate pulsed power systems during testing and data acquisition campaigns, including occasional work outside regular business hours.
• Ensure safe, reliable operation of high-energy systems in accordance with company safety protocols.
• Acquire, process, and analyze data from pulsed power experiments to evaluate system performance and stability.
• Develop tools and workflows for data collection, visualization, and interpretation.
• Translate experimental results into actionable insights for next‑generation pulser design.
• Take ownership of pulsed power subsystem advancement and roadmap execution.
• Lead design reviews, experimental planning, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and plasma physics teams to iterate and improve designs.
• Drive continuous improvement in reliability, efficiency, and diagnostic capability.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience designing and operating pulsed power systems and related experiments.
• Proven ability to deliver complex R&D projects on schedule, from concept to prototype to validation.
• Experience building and managing multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists.
• Expertise in pulse power and plasma diagnostics, including voltage, current, and optical instrumentation.
• Strong background in electronic design, control systems, and PLC software development.
• Experience with vacuum systems design, operation, and diagnostics.
• Proficiency in circuit simulations (e.g., SPICE, PSCAD, COMSOL, or similar) and data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent tools.
• Familiarity with engineering modeling and CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, ANSYS, or COMSOL Multiphysics).

Bonus Points For

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field.
• Prior experience with high-voltage pulsed systems for fusion, plasma research, or accelerator applications.
• Hands‑on experience integrating diagnostics and controls for high‑energy experiments.
• Knowledge of safety standards and best practices in high‑voltage or high‑energy environments.

Pay Range

$170,000—$210,000 USD

Total Compensation & Benefits For Eligible Employees

• Industry-competitive salary
• Equity plan
• 6% employer 401k matching
• Generous paid time off (including sick leave, vacation, paid family leave)
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Actual base salary offered will be determined by: experience, skills, and work location. This range is for base salary, our total compensation includes equity and benefits. We welcome you to apply even if your expectations are outside our listed range.

Pacific Fusion is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Pacific Fusion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures and throughout employment. If you need assistance or any accommodation, please let us know.

Pacific Fusion does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies without a fully executed recruitment agreement in place. In the absence of such agreement, Pacific Fusion reserves the right to pursue and hire any candidates without an obligation to pay fees. Agencies are requested not to contact Pacific Fusion hiring managers or employees regarding recruiting services.