Manager, R&D Test Engineering

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 person in this role is responsible for leading a developing a small multi-discipline test team in efficiently and effectively operating test stands for acceptance testing production hardware on aggressive schedules that support Commonwealth Fusion System’s mission.  These test stands combined high-power electrical systems, cryogenics and vacuum systems so this leader must have a fundamental understanding of mechanical, electrical, materials, fluids and software engineering, or some combination thereof.  He/She/They will be responsible for the understanding and enhancing the test stand design, completing the build and commissioning of the test stands and operating and maintaining the test stands, ensuring a high-quality data product as a result of the test.  This person must work collaboratively across Production, R&D, Procurement, and the SPARC teams to achieve these goals. It is also the role of the test engineer to constantly push and challenge the requirements, risks, and test objectives that they are given to help the combined stakeholders come to a consensus on why the planned test is required and what data is deemed essential for the outcome to be achieved.

• Perform as a technical expert, a project lead and people leader as necessary to meet the unique project demands
• Mentor and develop team of test engineers
• Lead test campaigns for production test articles, inclusive of:
• *Understand, challenge and maintain well documented requirements and risks for the system or component under test
• *Develop, coordinate and collaborate on multi-month test support schedules
• *Develop and maintain test plans and procedures, highlighting the test objectives, key data that is needed and the instrumentation and controls necessary to obtain this data- Ensure data is reliable
• *Design, analyze, review, procure and build test equipment including structures, cryogenic and fluid systems, mechanical systems, instrumentation and control (I&C) system and electrical systems
• *Brief the test plan as part of a Test Readiness Review (TRR)
• Troubleshoot and resolve integration and test discrepancies during build, commissioning and operation
• Iterate on designs, equipment and operations for repeat tests to improve test efficiency
• Perform analyses for the system predicting results and develop custom tools to analyze generated data - Compile test results clearly for review
• Lead anomaly investigations and their resolution, and present results to a team of physicists and engineers

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or science field is required; electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or similar, or applied physics degree preferred
• 10 years' experience as a test engineer on complex electromechanical systems inclusive of
• *Test plan and procedure development
•   *Test operations
• *Experience with selecting and utilizing instrumentation and control components such as thermocouples, voltage taps, pressure transducers, strain gauges, heaters, flow meters, and solenoid valves
• *Experience testing, troubleshooting, and debugging electronics hardware and test software
• *At least 1 year of experience as a people manager
• Demonstrated ability to lead a complicated multidisciplinary project/project team from conception to completion
• Strong desire to improve efficiency and throughput of processes
• Familiarity with electromagnetic fundamentals – voltage, current, resistance, Ohm’s Law, AC/DC, solenoids, etc.
• Excellent troubleshooting/problem-solving skills with great attention to detail
• Experience developing and effectively presenting comprehensive trade studies comparing the pros & cons of various technical approaches
• Effective at communicating technical topics to both technical and non- technical audiences
• High self-motivation and drive to execute quickly
• A can-do attitude and an eagerness to learn
• Collaboration skills including active listening and facilitating a productive discourse on problems
• Ability to innovate creative solutions to challenging problems
• Experience with designing and commissioning new test facilities
• Experience with developing and executing test procedures

• Experience with designing or operating fluid systems – P&IDs, component selection, ASME design codes
• Experience with designing or operating cryogenic equipment design and use for liquid nitrogen and supercritical helium use – vacuum jacketed equipment, cryocoolers, phase separators, cold traps
• Experience with designing or operating high vacuum equipment design and use – roughing pumps, turbopumps, ion gauges, residual gas analyzers
• Experience with designing or operating high voltage and high current power equipment design and use – power supplies, water cooled cables, insulation
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
• Perform activities such as typing, stooping, 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-Onsite

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.