Accelerator Physicist (Lead)

Acceleron Fusion • Cambridge, MA

8d • $120,000 - $160,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Acceleron Fusion is developing muon-catalyzed fusion as a potential source of clean, abundant energy. The company is seeking a senior individual contributor to lead technical work on the design and optimization of muon production systems and associated beamlines. The role includes technical leadership and an expectation to help build and mentor a small team as the program grows.

The position owns the technical strategy and program plan for accelerator-driven muon production, including design, schedule, risk, and interface management. It contributes to accelerator and beamline design, beam dynamics simulation, RF system architecture, preliminary engineering, and cross-functional design reviews. The role also involves coordinating contractors and vendors, establishing modeling and verification standards, publishing and presenting scientific work, and representing the program to external collaborators.

This is a full-time, onsite role based at the company's facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Travel, including international travel, is required a few weeks per year to partner laboratories and vendors.

Requirements

• PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with a focus on accelerator physics, or equivalent experience.
• Deep understanding of beam dynamics and accelerator systems.
• Hands-on experience with beamlines, synchrotrons, or storage rings.
• Proficiency with accelerator and electromagnetic simulation tools such as MAD-X, OPAL, elegant, GPT, CST/HFSS, or COMSOL; CAD software such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD; and scientific computing such as Python or Matlab.
• Broad familiarity with adjacent accelerator engineering, including high-power RF systems, cryogenics, radiation shielding and safety, and high-voltage interlocks.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical programs as a senior individual contributor, including setting architecture, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, making schedule and technical tradeoffs, and driving results.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to influence across functions and with external partners.
• Comfort operating in a fast-moving, resourceful startup environment.
• Ability to travel, including internationally, a few weeks per year to partner laboratories and vendors.

Nice To Haves

• National laboratory experience or collaborations.
• Muon physics or muon beamline design experience.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical strategy and program plan for accelerator-driven muon production and associated beamlines, including design, schedule, risk, and interface management.
• Participate in the design and optimization of accelerator systems and beamlines for muon focusing and cooling; perform and review beam dynamics simulations.
• Lead or supervise contractors and vendors for preconceptual linac design and related subsystems; establish technical specifications and acceptance criteria.
• Specify and architect the RF power chain, including MW-class RF power conversion, distribution, waveguides, and couplers, and coordinate with cryogenics on thermal load budgets at kW levels at cryogenic temperatures.
• Drive preliminary engineering design, evaluate feasibility and tradeoffs, lead design reviews, and coordinate deliverables across RF, cryogenics, targetry, controls, and safety.
• Author technical papers, contribute to scientific publications, present research at conferences, and represent the program with external collaborators.
• Establish working standards for modeling, data management, and verification and validation in collaboration with physics and engineering teams.
• Help build and mentor a small team as the scope of the program grows.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Retirement savings with company contribution
• Stock options
• Paid time off
• Company holidays
• Potential eligibility for additional compensation such as bonuses, equity, or other benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree