R&D Test Engineer - Electrical Power Systems

Commonwealth Fusion Systems•Devens, MA

27d•$90,000 - $145,000•Onsite

About The Position

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) is seeking an R&D Test Engineer specializing in Electrical Power Systems to join their mission of delivering fusion energy. This role is crucial for testing and mitigating risks associated with CFS's HTS magnets. The engineer will be responsible for the design, analysis, build, commissioning, and maintenance of high current and high voltage electrical equipment. This position requires a fundamental understanding of various engineering disciplines, with a strong emphasis on electrical power systems. The engineer will collaborate with multiple teams, including manufacturing, R&D, procurement, and SPARC, to achieve test campaigns. A key aspect of the role involves challenging requirements, risks, and test objectives to ensure essential data is collected for successful outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering or science field is required; electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or similar, or applied physics degree
5+ years experience designing/building/commissioning specialized electrical apparatus or equipment
2+ years using electrical analysis software such as PLECS, LTSPICE, ETAP, Simulink or similar
Aptitude for applying electromagnetic fundamentals to understand system behavior, such as: parasitic inductance/capacitance, EMI coupling, dielectric breakdown, etc
Familiarity with electrical standards such as building codes (NEC/NFPA 70), personnel safety (OSHA, NFPA 70E), equipment safety standards (IEC, IEEE, etc)
Experience working with high-power electronics, such as rectifiers, DC/DC converters, inverters, etc
Experience working with stored energy devices such as batteries and supercapacitors
Excellent troubleshooting/problem-solving skills with great attention to detail
Strong desire to improve efficiency and throughput of processes
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
Willingness to challenge the status quo in search of better, more efficient methods
Experience with designing and commissioning new test facilities
Experience with developing and executing test procedures
Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
Perform activities such as stooping, climbing, typing, 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

Nice To Haves

Experience with thermal or electromagnetic FEA software.
Experience using NX and Teamcenter to manage CAD assemblies
Experience with schematic or PCB design software such as AutoCAD, SkyCAD, Altium, etc
Experience with high field magnet testing traditional or superconducting

Responsibilities

Design, analyze, review, procure and build test equipment for energizing superconducting magnets
Contribute to ground-up design of electrical testing infrastructure in new testing facilities
Develop test plans highlighting the test objectives, key data that are needed and the instrumentation and controls necessary to obtain this data. Ensure data is reliable
Understand, challenge and maintain well-documented requirements and risks for the system or component under test
Identify and mitigate safety hazards associated with test equipment. Produce safety documentation such as job hazard assessments and test readiness reviews
Maintain documentation, schedule and budgets for the test campaign. Documentation includes: design reviews, wiring lists, P&IDs, schematics, CAD assemblies, drawings, and operations software
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
Execute plans for future expansion, including capital equipment and floor layouts, always having a vision for scalability of systems into a larger context. Provide visions for multi-use test infrastructure that can be scaled for multiple applications