Scientist III

General Atomics•San Diego, CA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies. Under general supervision with limited review, this position is responsible for determining and developing effective approaches for resolving a range of difficult scientific problems in edge plasma physics for magnetic fusion energy and have primary responsibility for the core SPRED diagnostic on DIII-D tokamak. Assignments are normally outlined in terms of overall objectives and anticipated results. The scientist will document findings, communicate results to scientific staff, and make technical presentations as required. The scientist may coordinate segments of a specific project. The scientist may provide direction to design or technical staff and may provide direction to less experienced professional staff. This position performs edge plasma research within the Mitigating ELMs program, managed by General Atomics on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy. The scientist will lead experimental and/or modeling efforts focused on understanding pedestal-SOL-wall interaction and detachment in naturally no-ELM or small-ELM regimes. The scientist will collaborate closely with experimental plasma physicists, computational modelers across the Mitigating ELMs team and external institutions. In addition, the scientist will work with software developers for the American Science Cloud project on developing AI tools to perform most of the daily monitoring of impurities on DIII-D for machine protection, as well as members of the DIII-D Operations Division on maintaining SPRED.

Requirements

A rigorous understanding of scientific concepts, principles, and theory in at least one of the following areas pedestal physics, divertor physics or impurity transport in fusion plasmas.
Experience demonstrating broad application of those concepts to experimental and/or computational boundary physics problems.
Understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately in an evolving research environment.
Organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases across experimental campaigns and modeling tasks.
Determine the appropriate technical approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
Strong communication, computer, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
The ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
The ability to perform complex tasks in one scientific area while interfacing effectively with adjacent disciplines.

Nice To Haves

Development or application of state-of-art boundary simulation codes (e.g., SOLPS‑ITER, UEDGE).
Experience with spectrometers and analyzing impurity (high Z) spectra in high temperature plasmas.
Experience in developing AI tools for physics problems.
Original work(s) published in professional scientific journals or formal technical equivalents in relevant areas are highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Identify key physics mechanisms that drive power and particle exhaust and heat load in will be identified naturally no-ELM or small-ELM scenarios through simulation and validate against experimental data.
Improve the understanding of impurity control (both high-Z and low-Z) in naturally no-ELM or small-ELM scenarios through integrated modeling of plasma-wall interaction.
Plan, execute, and analyze DIII‑D experiments aimed to achieve detachment in no-ELM or small-ELM scenarios while maintaining good confinement.
Work with other scientists to develop control tools and/or AI models for detachment in no-ELM or small-ELM scenarios.
Maintains hardware and software, operates, refurbishes and upgrades the core SPRED diagnostic on DIII-D with the help of other staff scientists.
Provides expert analysis of core SPRED data during DIII-D operations, especially for spectra that are too complex and difficult for the AI tools.
Prepare technical reports and presentations summarizing methods, results, and impacts; contribute to peer‑reviewed publications; and present results at scientific meetings.
Responsible for observing all laws, regulations, and other applicable obligations wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the Company.
Expected to work in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices.
Performs other duties as assigned or required.
Lead a team of less experienced professional employees on semi‑routine tasks and coordinate with technical staff on experimental hardware and diagnostics.