Scientist - Boundary Particle Transport

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has the fastest, lowest cost path to commercial fusion energy.

CFS collaborates with MIT to leverage decades of research combined with groundbreaking new high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. HTS magnets will enable compact fusion power plants that can be constructed faster and at lower cost. Our mission is to deploy these power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. To that end, CFS has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by the world’s leading investors, CFS is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. To implement this plan, we are looking to add dedicated people to the team who treat people well, improve our work by adding multifaceted perspectives and new ways of solving problems, have achieved outstanding results through a range of pursuits, and have skills and experience related to this role.

The CFS Tokamak Operations group is searching for a scientist with expertise in the fields of fueling and/or impurity transport in the edge and scrape-off-layer. 

CFS is preparing to operate the SPARC tokamak, which aims to achieve break-even in its early campaign and up to Q=11 in later campaigns. The results from SPARC’s experimental campaigns will inform the design of the first ARC fusion power plant, which is currently being designed.

SPARC and ARC will operate at unprecedentedly high absolute densities, temperatures, and unmitigated heat fluxes. This will have a significant effect on the edge and scrape-off-layer, changing where main ions are ionized, how impurities (both low and high Z) are transported in the SOL and screened in the pedestal, the sources and sinks of sputtered particles, and the dynamics of neutral gas during gas injection and pumping. CFS is searching for a scientist who can help to predict these effects on SPARC and ARC via a combination of numerical modeling and extrapolation of results from existing devices. The principal goal is to inform scenario design and real-time-control algorithms, and to interpret experimental results as they become available.

Candidates are encouraged to apply from a diverse range of backgrounds and with varying levels of experience. A PhD in plasma physics or related field is required. Other useful skill sets include demonstrated excellence in the fields of tokamak scrape-off-layer physics, either numerical or experimentally, and in particular for the challenging fields of particle fueling and impurity transport. 

• Work closely as part of the boundary physics and operations team at CFS to predict and interpret particle transport in the edge and scrape-off-layer
• Develop high-fidelity models for predicting edge and scrape-off-layer particle and impurity transport and fueling for planning SPARC operations
• Inform real-time-capable models of particle and impurity transport and fueling for the SPARC plasma control system
• Manage, maintain, and compare to numerical high fidelity modeling results from various codes for plasma/neutral interaction and material migration
• Work with the SPARC diagnostics set to develop inverse models for material migration/sputtering
• Develop and manage international collaborations focused on fueling and particle transport relevant to SPARC and ARC

• PhD in plasma physics or related field
• Demonstrated expertise in particle fueling and/or impurity transport in the SOL of tokamaks or other fusion-relevant experiments
• Demonstrated expertise in developing (analytical or numerical) models and validating these with experimental results
• Experience working in rapidly evolving projects and adapting to change
• Thorough background knowledge of research and literature in magnetic-confinement fusion

• Experience applying models to describe edge and SOL/diverter physics for detachment
• Experience interpreting particle exhaust or transport experiments from tokamaks 
• Collaborative software-engineering skills (i.e. using git, code review, CI/CD)
• Experience managing collaborative technical projects
• Perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time
• Dedication to safety to mitigate industrial hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, and cryogenics
• Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
• #LI-Hybrid

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.