Research Scientist (Experimental)

Zap Energy•Everett, WA

91d•$100,000 - $150,000

About The Position

As a Research Scientist (Experimental), you’ll be at the heart of our mission—designing, running, and analyzing experiments that push the boundaries of plasma physics and fusion technology. Your work will help us understand complex systems, validate models, and uncover insights that move us closer to sustainable energy. Zap Energy is building a low-cost, compact and scalable fusion energy platform that conﬁnes and compresses plasma without the need for expensive and complex magnetic coils. Zap’s sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch technology offers the shortest potential path to commercially viable fusion and requires orders of magnitude less capital than traditional approaches. Zap Energy has over 60 employees in two facilities near Seattle and is backed by leading ﬁnancial and strategic investors.

Requirements

Masters in plasma physics, fluid dynamics, turbulence, combustion or closely related field
Strong foundation in plasma physics, applied physics, or related fields
Hands-on experience with experimental design and data analysis
Creative problem solver who thrives in fast-paced, collaborative environments
Clear communicator who enjoys turning complex ideas into actionable insights

Nice To Haves

PhD in plasma physics, fluid dynamics, turbulence, combustion or closely related field
Fusion plasma diagnostics
Pulsed power systems
High-voltage instrumentation
Liquid metal systems
Computational plasma modeling

Responsibilities

Lead or support experimental campaigns on advanced fusion devices
Design and deploy plasma diagnostics (e.g., Thomson scattering, interferometry, spectroscopy, magnetics, neutronics)
Analyze experimental and computational data, including error propagation and interpretation
Collaborate with engineers to integrate systems and optimize experimental setups
Share findings through publications and presentations