Lead Particle Control Scientist

Job Details

Do Epic Science TAE is the world’s first private fusion energy company, founded in 1998 to commercialize the cleanest, safest, most affordable, and sustainable form of carbon‑free power. We are applying science and engineering to design transformational technologies.

Whether it’s harnessing fusion through the science of stars, making exponential leaps in power efficiency, or innovating medical care with a novel cancer treatment, we’re turning the promise of science into reality.

We’re looking for candidates who are passionate about realizing our mission: A future where all people have affordable access to reliable, abundant, and environmentally friendly fusion‑generated electricity.

• Lead the development, operation, and continuous improvement of plasma fueling systems (e.g., cold gas injection, pellet injection), including fueling system topology and best practices.
• Develop and maintain wall conditioning systems for particle recycling control, including titanium gettering and glow discharge cleaning systems.
• Design and execute experiments focused on particle transport, wall conditions, and plasma–material interactions.
• Provide regular analysis and reporting of system data (e.g., vacuum conditions, fueling efficiency, wall conditioning effectiveness) and contribute to scientific publications.
• Organize and manage the Particle Control Group for high technical performance, clear communication, and collaboration.
• Provide planning and guidance to group activities aligned with goals set by the Head of Experimental Systems.
• Manage team staffing, development, and performance (e.g., hiring, promotions, mentorship, performance reviews).
• Maintain responsibility for any test stands under the group’s scope, ensuring alignment with experimental objectives.
• Participate in planning and design of future fusion devices, such as Da Vinci, with a focus on fueling and plasma–wall interface strategies.
• Collaborate with other technical groups across the organization in a matrixed project environment.
• Represent TAE in external settings such as conferences, collaborations, or recruiting events.
• Promote and embody TAE’s Core Values, Rules of the Road, and Culture of Safety.
• Foster technical and leadership growth within the group, encouraging scientific rigor, teamwork, and accountability.

• At least 5 years of experience in plasma scientific research including laboratory experiments, diagnostics, and data analysis.
• Experience with various plasma fueling systems such as puff valves, pellet injectors, neutral beams.
• Experience with wall conditioning techniques such as glow discharge cleaning, evaporable gettering, machine baking.
• Familiarity with plasma–wall interactions.

• Experience managing high level technical personnel as direct reports.
• Experience managing large‑scale scientific projects and/or collaborations.

• Understanding of the application of tools, test equipment, and process control such as high voltage power supplies, voltmeters, oscilloscopes, ionization gauges.
• Utilization of pneumatics and high speed gas valves.
• Experience with cryogenics is preferred.

• MS Office Suite.
• Experience with project collaboration platforms and document management systems preferred.
• Experience with scientific analysis languages (Python, Matlab, IDL, etc.) preferred.

• Required:
  
  M.S. degree in Physics or a closely related field.
• Preferred:
  Ph.D. degree in Physics or a closely related field.

At TAE Technologies, we consider a wide range of factors when making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and job‑related knowledge, training; licenses and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements depending on the position offered (non‑Sr., Sr., Lead or Manager). $140,000 - $170,000.

• Generous benefits such as Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation + sick time, company‑wide December holiday, wellness program, parental leave.
• Payment rewards:
  For referring talent, novel research,…