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 working with policymakers and suppliers to build the energy industry of the future.
We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised over $2 billion in capital – more than any other fusion energy company in the U.S.
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.
If that’s you and this role fits, we want to hear from you.
Join the power movement as a Molten Salt Engineer
ARC will be the first machine to produce electricity from fusion energy, serving as the cornerstone to a new industry. ARC will strongly leverage the work that’s been done for SPARC in developing HTS magnets and other key tokamak systems. However, because of its mission to deliver power to the grid, the ARC tokamak has a few systems not included on SPARC, such as the Blanket System, which uses FLiBe to breed tritium and capture heat. The Blanket System group within R&D is a growing team that is delivering key scientific and engineering results to push the technical readiness level of these new enabling technologies higher.
Salt chemistry is a known driver of corrosion, hydrogen speciation and transport, and salt behavior under irradiation. As the Blanket System team develops and builds larger systems, maintaining strong controls on our salt and its chemistry becomes increasingly important. The Blanket System team is looking for a Molten Salt Engineer to grow our in-house salt analytical capabilities to enable rigorously quantify and predict salt behavior. This position does not require extensive experience directly with molten salts, but will require experience in electrochemical systems and analytical chemistry.
The Blanket System team has a strong practice of carrying engineering risk where appropriate while attentively and aggressively managing safety risk, and is looking for an engineer who will actively contribute to this culture.
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.
What you'll do:
- Assist in the creation of new in-house experimental setups, including determination of requirements, fabrication, testing, and operation
- Perform salt characterization testing and work to improve the repeatability and robustness of these processes
- Perform calibration exercises for various tests, including electrochemical ones
- Analyze and synthesize heterogeneous sets of data to thoroughly characterize salt quality
- Contribute to creation of chemical system requirements and material requirements
- Support experiments and in-loop testing for salt-compatible components (e.g. pumps, valves, heat exchangers)
- Work with external vendors to procure new equipment and materials
- Work closely with other CFS teams including:
- - safety team to manage chemical hazards (including beryllium) in existing and new experimental test articles
- - ARC Design Team
What we’re looking for:
- BS in Chemistry, Chemical, Materials or Nuclear Engineering or a related field
- 3+ years of experience in an R&D environment
- Experience with R&D work in a chemical laboratory
- Experience in experimental design and analysis with the explicit goal of driving to higher component and system TRLs
- Experience working with safety systems for hazardous chemicals
- Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, technical staff and others
- Ability to clearly express and critique ideas
- Great communication and organizational skills
- Strong problem solving skills, ability to approach new problems with creativity
Bonus points:
- Experience with modeling tools, such as Calphad, FactSage, Comsol, or similar (preferred, not required)
- PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or related field
- Experience with electrochemistry or electrochemical engineering
- Experience with radiochemistry
- Experience with molten salt systems, particularly fluoride salt systems
- Experience with high temperature and/or corrosive systems
- Experience with gas handling systems and gas analysis
- Experience modeling chemical systems (e.g. reaction, transport, thermodynamic, radiochemical)
- Experience in setting up new laboratory facilities or new analysis equipment (e.g. GCs)
Essential Requirements:
- Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics
- #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.
