Embedded Systems Engineer

Thea Energy•Kearny, NJ

4d•$110,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

Thea Energy is seeking a skilled and motivated Embedded Systems Engineer to lead the development of control and protection systems for high-power power supply systems deployed in the Integrated Stellarator Eos. This position focuses on enabling safe and precise operation of superconducting coil power supplies and high-voltage heating systems. This role will involve designing and implementing embedded control systems using ARM microcontrollers, FPGAs, SoC and DSPs, as well as real-time modeling of power supply behavior. You will interface with internal system owners, power electronics vendors, and control software developers to ensure reliable and high-performance integration across the full range of mission-critical power subsystems.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, Power Electronics, or a related field.
5+ years of experience in control and embedded development for high-power systems in R&D, industrial, or scientific environments.
Hands-on experience with: ARM Cortex-M/A series microcontrollers (e.g., STM32, NXP)
Hands-on experience with: Embedded C/C++ for bare-metal or RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr)
Hands-on experience with: FPGA, SoC (Xilinx) or DSP (TI)-based control logic development
Hands-on experience with: Quench detection, crowbar logic, or magnet protection schemes
Hands-on experience with: Current and voltage regulation, PID control, and waveform generation
Proficiency with simulation tools such as Simulink, MATLAB, or PLECS for modeling PSU behavior.
Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (e.g., UART, SPI, CAN, Modbus, OPC UA, EtherCAT).
Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.
Ability to perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time.
Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call.
Ability to work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing control systems for fusion devices, particle accelerators, or large magnet systems
Knowledge of superconducting magnet characteristics, ramp-up constraints, and discharge handling
Exposure to gyrotron power supply design, including triode control and anode/bias supply regulation
Integration experience with SCADA, EPICS, or plant-wide supervisory control systems
Familiarity with EMI/EMC mitigation techniques for control electronics in high-power environments
Verilog/VHDL (preferred)
NI PXIe, CompactRIO (Optional)
LabVIEW (optional)
PTP/White Rabbit for timing

Responsibilities

Design and implement real-time control logic for HTS magnet power supplies (low-voltage/high-current) and gyrotron HVPS systems.
Develop embedded firmware for ARM-based microcontrollers (e.g., STM32, NXP), FPGA and SoC (Xilinx), DSP (TI) for low-latency control, feedback regulation, and interlock logic.
Implement quench detection and fast protection logic for superconducting magnets using embedded or FPGA-based platforms.
Simulate and validate control schemes using MATLAB/Simulink, including HIL or SIL configurations.
Program and integrate FPGA and DSP hardware as required for fast, deterministic control of power conversion systems.
Collaborate with Plasma Control and Supervisory Systems to ensure accurate interface protocols and control sequencing.
Specify and validate analog and digital I/O, high-speed communication links, and protection interfaces between PSUs and control systems.
Participate in FAT/SAT, commissioning, and system validation, including low- and high-power test operations.
Support system documentation, interface control documents (ICDs), and structured control validation plans.