RF Engineer

Type One Energy Group•Knoxville, TN

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a motivated RF Engineer to join our Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH) team and take a central role in the design and development of a quasi-optical (QO) transmission line system. This is a hands-on engineering position at the intersection of high-power microwave engineering, optical beam propagation, and fusion system integration. You will work alongside highly motivated physicists and engineers to design, analyze, and validate the QO transmission line that delivers high-power millimeter-wave beams from gyrotron sources to the plasma vessel. This role offers significant opportunity for growth and requires a willingness to develop expertise across a broad set of microwave and optical engineering disciplines.

Requirements

Doctoral degree/Masters in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a closely related field
Demonstrated experience in microwave or millimeter-wave engineering, including RF component design, analysis, or testing
Working knowledge of Gaussian beam optics and free-space wave propagation at millimeter-wave or sub-millimeter-wave frequencies
Proficiency with at least one electromagnetic/multi-physics simulation tool (e.g., CST Microwave Studio, HFSS, COMSOL, or similar)
Hands-on experience with microwave measurement techniques and laboratory instrumentation (VNAs, power meters, beam profilers)
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate system-level requirements into component-level specifications
Genuine curiosity and a demonstrated willingness to learn new technical domains; this role spans multiple disciplines and rewards intellectual breadth
Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with high-power gyrotron systems or ECH transmission line architectures used in fusion research
Experience with QO or antenna range measurements, including near-field to far-field transformations
Exposure to fusion devices (tokamaks or stellarators) and the role of ECH systems in plasma heating
Experience with engineering design tools such as CAD (SolidWorks, CATIA) for mechanical integration of microwave components

Responsibilities

Lead and contribute to the design of QO transmission line components, including waveguides, mirrors, polarizers, and beam shaping elements for high-power millimeter-wave delivery
Perform Gaussian beam optics analysis and diffraction simulations to characterize beam propagation, spillover losses, and mode purity through the QO transmission line
Use electromagnetic simulation tools (e.g., CST, HFSS, COMSOL, or equivalent) to model QO component performance and validate designs against system requirements
Specify and coordinate fabrication of precision microwave components, working closely with machinists, vendors, and metrology teams to ensure design tolerances are met
Conduct low-power microwave bench measurements to characterize component performance, including beam pattern mapping, insertion loss, and polarization purity
Support high-power conditioning and commissioning activities for the QO transmission line in coordination with the broader ECH team
Develop and maintain engineering documentation including design drawings, analysis reports, interface control documents, and test procedures
Stay current with advances in QO and millimeter-wave engineering and proactively apply new techniques to improve system performance
Interact with other engineering and physics disciplines including thermal, mechanical, and neutronics