Physics Operator

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) is the surest path to limitless, clean fusion energy. Our mission is to enable world-wide clean energy for everyone, creating a sustainable environment for current and future generations. We have created a credible path to an operating fusion power plant in 15 years which leverages our novel collaboration with MIT and funding from strategic and financial investors who share our vision. This begins by developing a new class of high-field superconducting magnets that will enable the SPARC tokamak to demonstrate net energy from fusion for the first time. To execute this plan, we are now looking to add talented people to the team who are mission-driven and treat people well, improve our team by adding diverse perspectives and new ways of solving problems, have demonstrated exceptional results through a range of different pursuits, and have skillsets and experience that relate to this role.Generating net energy plasmas in the SPARC tokamak will involve a skilled team of physicists and engineers operating various aspects of the tokamak. The Physics Operator will develop plasma scenarios to inform SPARC, prepare scenarios for SPARC operation, and give inputs to the plasma control system from the perspective of a user. The Physics Operator will be a critical member of the team that will operate SPARC, working with other members of the physics and engineering teams to run SPARC plasmas.

This team member will:

• Develop plasma scenarios for the SPARC tokamak in various simulation environments (TSC, TokSys, or other tools)
• Coordinate with power system, magnet, and fuelling engineering teams to determine the detailed operating conditions of these systems during various plasma discharges
• Create equilibrium and time-dependent inputs to the SPARC physics team for detailed analysis of divertor heat fluxes, detachment, turbulence, alpha transport, and other physics investigations
• Inform the development of the Plasma Control System from the perspective of a user
• Develop plasma scenarios for the first generation of fusion power plants based on the ARC design
• Operate net fusion energy plasmas in SPARC

The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements:

• A PhD in plasma physics or a closely related field
• Experience working with and/or operating tokamaks
• Experience developing new plasma scenarios, either on an operating tokamak or through simulation
• Experience as a Physics Operator (or equivalent position) at another tokamak (preferred)
• A working knowledge of electrical power systems, tokamak magnet systems, and tokamak fueling systems (preferred)
• Familiarity with tokamak plasma control systems (preferred)
• Experience with EFIT (preferred)
• Experience with MDSplus (preferred)

Additional experience and/or qualifications:

• Experience working with Tokamak Simulation Code (TSC), TokSys, or another tokamak scenario development tool
• A general knowledge of the physics and engineering governing tokamak plasma generation and control
• Experience with Python
• Extended activities such as typing and sitting for long periods of time
• Ability to do regular travel, required nights, weekends, or on-call

CFS team members thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and have demonstrated exceptional results through a range of different pursuits. We all tightly align with our company values of integrity, execution, impact and self-critique. As we grow, we are looking to add talented people who are mission driven and bring diverse perspectives and new ways of solving problems.At CFS, we deeply value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally for employment. We do not discriminate on the basis 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, ordinance, or regulation.