Staff Fuel Cycle & Blanket Test Engineer
Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Quality Assurance
Devens, MA, USA
The Staff Fuel Cycle & Blanket Test Engineer will be a technical leader in the operation, testing, and maintenance of laboratory systems for fusion fuel cycle and molten salt technology development.
The responsibilities of this role will be primarily focused on building new capabilities in the day-to-day operations of the gas handling & molten salt test facilities, and general test leadership for SPARC operations. Development of test plans, commissioning procedures, and integrating the completed systems to bring to a fully operational state are key responsibilities of the position. Job assignments in support of facility commissioning & testing should be completed in a highly independent manner, while also providing test result summaries to the Tritium and Blanket program leads, Director of Fuel Cycle & Blanket Technology, & Test Manager for general awareness of system state(s). This position will directly contribute to or lead major system test campaigns, while also working with the Test Manager to support training & development of new operators in tritium handling systems, operation of balance of plant & general lab equipment.
What you'll do:
- Own infrastructure support, commissioning activities, and execution of test plans
- Build expertise within a growing team, helping scale operations by contributing to training programs, workflows, and best practices
- Contribute to team leadership while working closely with the Tritium Program lead and Blanket Program lead to design, commission and run test campaigns
- Operation & general upkeep of gas handling & molten salt facility systems & laboratory equipment
- Contribute to integrated system commissioning & build expertise in hazardous material facility operations at a technical level
- Own preventative maintenance on assigned lab equipment as needed & trend maintenance needs across the gas handling & molten salt testing facilities
- Contribute to, revise, & author operations procedures
- Document facility learnings & contribute to a culture of continuous improvement
What we’re looking for:
- MS in Engineering (chemical, mechanical, aerospace, materials), physics, chemistry, or a related field, with 10 years of experience
- Experience building and executing testing in an R&D setting
- Experience working collaboratively in a laboratory setting with techs and senior scientists
- Experience with rigorous data management
- Experience writing clear lab reports and similar documentation
- Generation of formal presentations & ability to succinctly summarize findings for a range of audiences
- Attention to detail, safety, and organization to execute tests with good controls
- Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, technical staff and others
- Ability to clearly express and critique ideas
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Independent problem solving ability, & able to approach new problems with creativity
Bonus points for:
- 10+ years work experience in a laboratory setting
- Experience working with high purity gases
- Glovebox operations & PPE use for hazardous material handling.
- Experience with analytical equipment and building high vacuum systems
- Confluence, JIRA tools
- Ability to interpret P&ID layouts & HMI indications for plant status
Must-have Requirements:
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs occasionally
- Operate chainfalls & rigging equipment for repair/maintenance operations for gas processing equipment
- Perform activities such as typing, standing, and 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 occasionally or do required nights/weekends/on-call
- Operations will eventually span multiple shifts - must be flexible on working hours during peak operations
130000 - 200000 USD a year