R&D Engineer - Magnets

R&D Engineer – Magnets

Full-time / Hybrid

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is a private fusion company building commercially viable fusion power plants. The company raises significant capital and seeks engineers who can solve tough problems and thrive on an aggressive schedule.

• Develop new HTS magnet designs and their associated subsystems, including design and fabrication of R&D test samples, manufacturing processes, and test operations.
• Design, build, and commission test equipment required to accomplish R&D test campaign objectives.
• Perform structural, electrical, and/or thermal analyses in support of R&D sample design and to predict test results.
• Build expertise in testing HTS magnets and in designing and building R&D HTS magnets with associated subsystems (power delivery, cryogenic cooling, and structures).
• Support the production, integration, and commissioning of SPARC NINT coils as issues requiring HTS magnet build and test expertise arise.
• Understand, challenge, and maintain well‑documented requirements and risks for the system or component under test, aligning stakeholders on the necessity of planned tests and essential data.
• Collaborate with I&C engineers to develop necessary instrumentation and data‑acquisition systems.
• Maintain documentation, schedules, and budgets for test campaigns, including design reviews, wiring lists, P&IDs, schematics, CAD assemblies, drawings, BOMs, data‑acquisition systems, and operations software.
• Develop custom tools to analyze generated data.
• Compile test results in presentations for review.
• Prepare and deliver presentations containing trade studies, design reviews, test readiness reviews, and test data reviews to teams of engineers and physicists.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a science field is required; mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or a related field, or an applied physics degree is preferred.
• At least 2years’ experience as an R&D engineer or test engineer designing, building, and commissioning complex electromechanical systems.
• Experience selecting and utilizing instrumentation and control components such as thermocouples, voltage and current sensors, oscilloscopes, pressure transducers, strain gauges, heaters, flow meters, fittings, and valves.
• Experience developing and executing test procedures.
• Proficiency with CAD design in Siemens NX or equivalent CAD software.
• Familiarity with electromagnetic fundamentals – voltage, current, resistance, Ohm’s law, AC/DC, right‑hand rule, solenoids, etc.
• Excellent troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills with great attention to detail.
• Experience developing and presenting comprehensive trade studies comparing the pros and cons of various technical approaches.
• Data reduction and analysis skills for generating anticipated results and processing generated data.
• Effective communication of technical topics to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• High self‑motivation and a drive to execute quickly.
• Collaboration skills, including active listening and facilitating production discourse on problems.
• Willingness to challenge the status quo in search of better, more efficient methods.

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50lbs.
• Perform activities such as typing, climbing, standing, stooping, or sitting for extended periods.
• Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights, weekends, and on‑call shifts.
• Comfortable working in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics.

• Experience with modeling/analysis software, especially ANSYS, COMSOL, and PLECS.
• Experience writing Python or MATLAB data tools for processing and analyzing data.
• Experience with high voltage and high current power equipment design and use – power supplies, water‑cooled cables, insulation.
• Experience debugging electronics hardware and test software.
• Experience with designing and commissioning new test facilities.
• Experience designing fluid systems – P&IDs, component selection, ASME design codes.
• Experience with cryogenic equipment design…