Senior Mechanical Engineer - Remote Maintenance

Commonwealth Fusion Systems • Devens, MA

5d • $110,000 - $185,000 • Remote

About The Position

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer specializing in Remote Maintenance to join their mission of delivering fusion energy. This role is crucial for the design and development of ARC, the world's first commercial fusion power plant. The primary focus will be on creating a robust Remote Maintenance System that enables fast, reliable, and fully remote maintenance due to device activation and commercial uptime requirements. This involves integrating expertise in robotics, remote handling equipment (RHE), plant layout, manufacturing, and tokamak design. The Senior Remote Maintenance Engineer will play a key part in the pre-conceptual design phase, tackling complex multi-disciplinary challenges and driving R&D in novel remote maintenance technologies to support CFS's goal of transitioning to fusion energy.

Requirements

• Structural, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering B.S
• At least 7 years of mechanical engineering experience in the design, fabrication, testing, operations, integration, and commissioning of complex mechanical structures (e.g. fusion, fission, aerospace, marine)
• At least 7 years of technical experience in the design of remote handling equipment (RHE) using robotics or remotely operated precision mechanical structures (e.g. remote welding/cutting, manipulation, alignment, rescue, inspections)
• Experience in leading R&D campaigns of novel technology to increase TRL and unlock new design solutions in remote maintenance fields such as remote welding/cutting, inspections, bolting, manipulation, alignment, sensing, mechatronics, rad hard, and cleanliness
• Experience with standard actuation, guidance mechanisms, sensing, and structural mechanisms
• Proficient in structural analysis via both hand calcs and finite element analysis (Ansys preferred)
• Familiar with CAD, (NX preferred)
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, technical staff, executives, and others
• Ability to clearly express and critique ideas
• Safety conscious

Nice To Haves

• Structural, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering M.S
• Experience in the conceptual design of complex systems involving high level, multi-disciplinary trade studies of both RHE and machine design(e.g. tokamak, fission core, sub-sea hardware, aerospace)
• Experience with the implementation of radiation hardened equipment and methods into RHE design
• Experience with mechatronics or applied robotics
• Experience with rescue or decommissioning RHE
• Experience with site layout design of remotely operated facilities
• Experience with activated waste handling (volume reduction, casking)
• Experience with remote cleanliness methods for UHV environments
• Experience with industrial maintenance facility layout
• Familiarity with basics of sensing, high power, controls, and fluid systems
• Familiarity with ultra high vacuum processes
• Experience with fault tree analysis or fault management and recovery for complex integrated systems
• Knowledge of fabrication methods such as welding and machining
• Knowledge of engineering materials basics for metals and composites
• Proficient in CAD (NX preferred)
• Self-driven and autonomous
• Aptitude to use data to drive decisions
• Familiarity and experience with end-to-end processes with an emphasis on creativity and simplicity
• The ability to thrive in fast-paced, dynamic environments

Responsibilities

• Develop concept of operations for the ARC Remote Maintenance System
• Participate in the pre-conceptual design process of the ARC fusion power plant
• Design ARC’s radiation hardened remote handling equipment (RHE) by incorporating a mix of existing robotic technologies, custom hardware, and remotely operated heavy lift equipment
• Perform maintenance assessments of the tokamak and plant to shape the development of ARC as a remotely maintainable power plant
• Collaborate closely with tokamak engineering teams to assist in designing the ARC tokamak for remote maintainability and finding creative and novel solutions to tokamak joints
• Perform high level multi-disciplinary trade studies of solutions that involve complex trade offs between physics, neutronics, design, maintenance, materials, manufacturing, techno-economics, and other disciplines
• Collaborate with multiple teams and manage projects across different disciplines to help solve tough multi-disciplinary problems
• Identify key R&D needed for the ARC remote maintenance program, and help establish the plans to execute the R&D campaigns internally or with external partners
• Research existing established and cutting edge remote handling solutions to assess their application in the ARC remote maintenance system
• Work with external RHE/robotics organizations and general industry to manage contracted work, collaborate on cutting edge R&D, and transfer knowledge and expertise into CFS
• Establish CFS’s remote maintenance design guidelines for RHE, the Tokamak, and plant

Benefits

• Competitive compensation with equity
• 13 Company-wide Holidays
• Flexible vacation days
• 10 sick days
• Generous parental leave policy
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Professional growth opportunities
• Team-building activities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior