Heating Systems Group Lead

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory•Princeton, NJ

13d•$152,900 - $244,300•Onsite

About The Position

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), a U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory managed by Princeton University, is seeking a Heating Systems Group Lead. The position provides technical expertise and managerial leadership for staff and systems assigned to the Heating Systems Group, including multi-megawatt neutral beam injection systems and radiofrequency (RF) auxiliary heating and pre-ionization systems. The role is responsible for the technical integrity, safe operation, maintenance, and strategic development of the assigned staff and systems. The Group Lead primarily supports PPPL’s flagship experiment, the National Spherical Torus eXperiment Upgrade (NSTX-U), especially its heating and current-drive systems, and may support other PPPL experiments. Responsibilities span heating and current-drive engineering, group management, and engineering operations support. The role includes technical leadership for system operations and upgrades, staff supervision and mentoring, and training for operational roles such as NSTX-U Chief Operations Engineer and Neutral Beam Operations Supervisor. Most work takes place in PPPL shops and laboratories, with vendor visits possible. Work is generally first shift, although second- or mid-shift work may be required based on facility schedules. On-call duties may require occasional off-hours responses to emergencies or alarms. The work can involve extended or irregular control-console operation and industrial hazards, including oxygen deficiency, high noise, confined spaces, elevations, radiation, and energized electrical or mechanical equipment. Protective clothing and equipment are routinely required. Visa support and relocation may be available for the right candidate.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or a related field with 12 or more years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree with 10 or more years of related experience.
Progressive supervisory, technical, and project-management responsibilities, with the ability to work and make decisions with limited supervision.
Extensive technical experience with high-power plasma heating technologies, such as neutralized positive-ion neutral beam injection systems, megawatt-class RF heating (tetrode-based ICRF/HHFW), and/or klystron-based ECH pre-ionization systems.
Experience with high-voltage pulsed DC power systems (50–120+ kV), high-power modulator or switch systems, and fast equipment protection or arc detection.
Working knowledge of high-heat-flux component water cooling and high-voltage insulating gas practices.
Experience developing and executing preventive-maintenance programs, testing plans, and operational procedures for complex, high-energy research systems.
Experience preparing technical documentation, including operational, maintenance, and installation procedures, electrical schematics, and one-line diagrams.
Knowledge of Lock-Out/Tag-Out (LOTO), confined-space entry protocols, and oxygen-deficiency hazard controls.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Proficiency with office suites such as MS Office and MS Excel or Google Workspace.
Full or fully corrected vision, with correct depth and color perception; ability to perform occasional close work and work in low-light conditions.
Ability to frequently lift or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds.
Full hand, arm, and leg mechanical dexterity and coordination.
Ability to work near static magnetic fields without medical restrictions.
Ability to climb ladders and walk, stand, or sit continuously.
Ability to work around industrial hazards, wear required protective clothing and equipment, and maintain full mental concentration during extended or irregular control-console operation.

Nice To Haves

Visa support and relocation may be available for the right candidate.

Responsibilities

Provide technical leadership for operations, maintenance, and configuration management of experimental systems.
Lead the specification of system upgrades, life extension, and modernization, including management of scope, budget, and schedule.
Provide design support for corrective maintenance of ion sources, beamlines, tetrode- and klystron-based power supplies, transmission lines, and matching networks.
Prepare and maintain engineering calculations and system models supporting control and automation, performance-limit analysis, operational-limit documentation, and alarm thresholds.
Maintain operating and maintenance procedures, including maintenance and inspection plans.
Evaluate testing, commissioning, and operational data and recommend design or operational improvements.
Lead, manage, and mentor engineers and technical support staff, including setting goals and conducting performance appraisals.
Manage budgets, resources, schedules, documentation, and procedural standards.
Plan, organize, and supervise daily work; estimate personnel needs and schedule work to meet project deadlines.
Foster responsibility, delegation, active mentoring, and professional communication.
Promote staff safety, monitor potential hazards in restricted and dangerous areas, and ensure compliance with environmental, safety, health, and quality requirements.
Train for operational roles such as NSTX-U Chief Operations Engineer and Neutral Beam Operations Supervisor.
Coordinate startup, routine operation, and shutdown of high-power pressure, vacuum, and electrical systems.
Coordinate NSTX-U device operations, including initiating each pulse.
Keep operations within facility safety-basis parameters, respond to NSTX-U faults and safety-envelope conditions, and ensure effective operations-team communications.
Provide first- and mid-shift coverage support for experimental operations and maintain routine communication and supervision with assigned staff.
Respond occasionally outside regular work hours to emergency or alarm conditions.