Staff Process Engineer

cfsenergy; Harvard (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is seeking a Staff Process Engineer to design and scale complex industrial processes for fusion energy systems. The role focuses on translating fundamental requirements into practical, safe, and scalable plant designs across cryogenics, power, and vacuum systems, with hands-on start-up and commissioning responsibilities.

You will own process design bases from scratch, develop heat and material balances, size equipment, and guide multidisciplinary teams through

Qualifications

• Deep chemical engineering fundamentals with hands-on industrial experience.
• Experience scaling up, commissioning, and operating large systems in industrial facilities.
• Ability to translate ambiguous requirements into practical, safe designs.

Responsibilities

• Lead design from FEL through detailed engineering, procurement, construction, and operation.
• Own P&IDs and sizing of equipment.
• Lead HAZOPs and support start-up and commissioning.

Skills

Chemical engineering fundamentals

Scale-up experience

HAZOP leadership

Process design

Education

Chemical Engineering degree

Tools

P&IDs

HAZOPs

Heat and mass balances

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, suppliers, and many others to build the energy industry of the future. We're in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we've raised $4 billion of capital, making us the largest and leading 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.

Join the power movement as a Staff Process Engineer

CFS is looking for a Staff Process Engineer with deep chemical engineering fundamentals and extensive experience scaling up, commissioning, and operating systems in large industrial facilities (e.g., power generation, LNG, petrochemicals, or cryogenics). You excel at navigating loosely-defined outcomes, translating fundamental requirements into practical industrial systems, and guiding complex designs from early concepts through Front-End Loading (FEL), detailed engineering, construction, and operation. Fusion power plants bring together technologies that traditionally span multiple industries. At CFS, you will work across cryogenics (nitrogen and helium), power generation (steam), molten salts (FLiBe), fueling (deuterium-tritium), gas processing, vacuum systems, and utilities. Acting as a domain expert, you will apply real world, hands-on experience to build process design bases from scratch for ambiguous projects, develop heat and material balances, size equipment, own P&IDs, lead HAZOPs, support start-up, and troubleshoot operating systems. #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.

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.