Scientist – Wall Conditioning

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 Manager - Scientist – Wall Conditioning

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is currently building the SPARC tokamak, which aims to be the first magnetic confinement device to achieve net energy and is predicted to have up to Q=11 in DT, producing up to 140 MW of fusion power. Control of impurities and fueling in SPARC will require regular wall conditioning to improve plasma startup reliability and reduce core plasma radiation. SPARC has a first wall made entirely of either pure tungsten or tungsten heavy alloy (WHA). Wall conditioning systems include glow discharge, Ion Cyclotron Discharge Cleaning (ICDC), and high temperature (up to 350 C) bakes. SPARC will use these systems to remove impurities from the tokamak walls, boronize the first wall as needed, and manage main ion wall inventory, including tritium. Exploring high-performance operation with wall conditioning relevant to the ARC fusion power plant will also be a key aspect of this role. The Scientist – Wall Conditioning will lead the scientific and operational aspects of wall conditioning on SPARC, providing input to finalize system designs and leading planning for use of these systems during SPARC operation. During SPARC campaigns, the scientist will directly lead wall conditioning operations and will also be a key member of the scientific team on SPARC.

What you'll do:

• Provide scientific input to finalize the design of the glow discharge and Ion Cyclotron Discharge Cleaning systems
• Develop operational plans and procedures for wall conditioning with glow discharge and Ion Cyclotron Discharge Cleaning
• Develop operational plans for boronization and metrics to determine when it is necessary as well as the effectiveness of the coatings
• Develop and maintain estimates of tritium retention in the tokamak vacuum vessel structures
• In collaboration with the fueling team, develop a framework and procedure for gas balance measurements on SPARC
• Estimate tritium recovery efficacy and duration for various methods, including baking and ICDC
• Initiate and manage external scientific collaborations focused on wall conditioning and hydrogenic retention
• Participate more broadly in the scientific mission of SPARC and the design of ARC

What we’re looking for:

• PhD in experimental plasma physics or a closely related field
• 3+ years experience (post degree) in plasma physics or fusion research
• Experience planning and executing experiments on tokamaks, stellarators, or similar plasma confinement devices
• Experience developing and executing wall conditioning procedures on plasma confinement devices
• Experience with boronization of a plasma confinement device
• Experience in fusion hardware design and build, including diagnostics or something similar
• Deep knowledge of wall conditioning science and operation on plasma confinement devices
• A desire for active participation in tokamak design and operations
• Ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment
• Ability to work with collaborations from a variety of academic institutions

Bonus points for:

• Experience with gas balance measurements and inventory tracking
• Experience with Python

Essential Requirements:

• Perform extended activities such as typing, standing, sitting, etc.
• Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call regularly
• 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-Hybrid