Senior Mechanical Engineer - Remote Maintenance

Commonwealth Fusion Systems•Devens, MA

3d•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. CFS is designing ARC, the world's first commercial fusion power plant, which requires a novel Remote Maintenance System for fast, reliable, and fully remote maintenance. This system integrates robotics, remote handling equipment (RHE), plant layout, manufacturing, and tokamak design. The Remote Maintenance team is responsible for designing this system. As a Senior Remote Maintenance Engineer, you will develop ARC's maintenance scheme, design RHE, and collaborate with tokamak and plant engineering teams to ensure the power plant is maintainable. You will be involved in ARC's pre-conceptual design phase, tackling complex multi-disciplinary problems across various engineering fields and conducting R&D in remote maintenance technologies.

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
Perform activities such as typing and 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. Travel expected up to 15%

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