Cryogenics Engineer

Proxima Fusion

WHO WE ARE Proxima Fusion is Europe’s fastest-growing fusion company and the continent’s best-funded fusion player, as well as the first spin-out from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP). Backed by over €650M and powered by a growing team across Munich, Zurich, and Oxford, we are developing the hardware and infrastructure needed to deliver the world’s first commercial stellarator fusion power plant. Our concept advances the most mature fusion technology out there, the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, through two next-generation machines: Alpha and Stellaris. Our work combines stellarator optimization, advanced computation, machine learning, and high-temperature superconducting magnets to unlock higher-performance designs that were previously out of reach. Turning these designs into a functioning fusion power plant requires excellence and ownership across every discipline, from physics and engineering to software, manufacturing, law, and business functions. TEAM AND ROLE * Architect a breakthrough energy technology – Play a defining role in designing and integrating the systems that will power the world’s first commercial stellarator fusion plant, influencing decisions that shape the future of clean energy. * Solve some of the most complex engineering challenges in fusion – Work across magnet design, HTS technology, manufacturing, structural integration, and controls, turning cutting-edge science into real hardware * Move fast and build what matters – Join a highly ambitious, multidisciplinary team that combines cutting-edge simulation with hands-on engineering, turning bold ideas into real hardware on the path to commercial fusion. WHY JOIN PROXIMA FUSION Impact: Your simulations will directly shape the magnets that enable commercial fusion energy. Ownership: As part of a small, highly technical team, you will define modeling standards and influence core design decisions. Frontier Engineering: Work at the intersection of high-field electromagnetics, cryogenics, and advanced numerical methods. Collaboration: Join a team combining deep superconducting expertise with advanced computational capability to solve one of the hardest engineering challenges of our time. YOUR IMPACT At Proxima Fusion, we are designing the first generation of fusion power plants to provide the world with clean, carbon-free energy. The heart of our reactor lies in its superconducting coils. These magnets operate at cryogenic temperatures, generate extreme magnetic fields, and must remain stable under complex electromagnetic and thermal transients. We are looking for a Numerical Modeling Engineer to develop high-fidelity simulation tools that predict and de-risk the behavior of our superconducting magnets. Your work will span electromagnetic, thermal, and transient multiphysics modeling - including quench dynamics - and will directly inform design decisions for conductors, coils, and protection systems. This role is not about running black-box simulations. It is about building robust numerical frameworks - combining commercial multiphysics tools with in-house developed models - to enable fast, reliable, physics-driven engineering decisions. WHAT YOU WILL DO Your work will combine physics modeling, numerical implementation, and close collaboration with magnet designers and experimental teams. You will contribute across three primary domains: 1. ELECTROMAGNETIC & THERMAL MULTIPHYSICS MODELING You will develop predictive models of superconducting magnet behavior across steady-state and transient regimes. * Electromagnetic Simulation: Model high-field magnet systems including current distribution, inductance, AC losses, and nonlinear material behavior. * Thermal Modeling: Simulate heat generation, conduction, and cryogenic cooling performance under operational and fault conditions. * Multiphysics Coupling: Develop coupled EM-thermal models to capture transient events such as current redistribution and localized heating. * Quench Modeling: Implement and validate numerical frameworks to simulate quench initiation, propagation, and protection strategies. * Model Validation: Correlate simulations with experimental data from conductor and coil tests to continuously refine predictive capability. 2. IN-HOUSE TOOL DEVELOPMENT & NUMERICAL INFRASTRUCTURE Beyond commercial software, you will help build Proxima’s internal modeling backbone. * Custom Solvers & Reduced-Order Models: Develop fast, scalable modeling tools for system-level studies and design iteration. * Automation & Parametric Studies: Build robust pipelines for design sweeps, optimization, and uncertainty quantification. * Code Development: Contribute to internal Python- or C++-based frameworks for magnet modeling and data post-processing. * Verification & Benchmarking: Establish numerical best practices, validation procedures, and cross-comparison between tools. * Scalability: Ensure models can scale from conductor-level physics to full magnet assemblies. Experience with COMSOL or similar commercial multiphysics tools (ANSYS, Opera, etc.) is valuable, but building reliable, physics-based in-house tools is equally (if not more) important. 3. DESIGN INTEGRATION & ENGINEERING DECISION SUPPORT Your models will not live in isolation — they will directly shape hardware. * Design Feedback: Provide quantitative guidance on conductor layout, stabilization strategies, and protection schemes. * Risk Assessment: Identify failure modes and quantify margins under realistic operating scenarios. * Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with magnet engineers, quench protection specialists, and test engineers. * Documentation & Communication: Translate complex physics into clear engineering recommendations. WHO YOU ARE We are looking for a rigorous numerical thinker who enjoys bridging fundamental physics and practical engineering. Background: * Degree (MSc or PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Computational Engineering, or a related field. Core Expertise: * Strong foundation in electromagnetics and physics-based numerical modeling (e.g., FEM, nonlinear coupled systems), with the ability to implement and extend models programmatically * Experience with multiphysics and transient simulations (e.g., electromagnetic–thermal coupling, fast transients). * Proficiency in at least one scientific programming language (Python, MATLAB, C++, or similar), with interest in developing internal modeling tools and workflows. Valued Experience (not all required): * Electromagnetic numerical modeling * COMSOL or other commercial FEM tools. * Modeling of high-current or high-field devices. * Thermal modeling and heat transfer in complex systems. * Experience building internal engineering tools rather than relying purely on GUI-based workflows. Mindset: * You question assumptions and validate results critically. * You are comfortable building models from first principles. * You thrive in a startup environment where tools, processes, and standards are still evolving. Prior experience with superconductors or HTS magnets is a plus - but strong electromagnetic and numerical expertise is the primary requirement. INTERVIEW PROCESS * Recruiter Interview (30-60 min) * Technical Screening (30 min) * Technical Panel (3x60 min) *This role sits at L3 of our framework, please inquire during the recruitment process for further information. At Proxima Fusion, our mission is bold: making limitless clean energy a reality. To get there, we need a high-performing, diverse team that brings different perspectives, challenges assumptions, and builds together with purpose. We know that diversity of thought and experience leads to better ideas, stronger execution, and a more resilient team. We don’t look at how you identify, what you look like, who you choose to worship or what ethnicity you are. We care about what you can bring to the table.

Proxima Fusion

WHO WE ARE Proxima Fusion is Europe’s fastest-growing fusion company and the continent’s best-funded fusion player, as well as the first spin-out from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP). Backed by over €650M and powered by a growing team across Munich, Zurich, and Oxford, we are developing the hardware and infrastructure needed to deliver the world’s first commercial stellarator fusion power plant. Our concept advances the most mature fusion technology out there, the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, through two next-generation machines: Alpha and Stellaris. Our work combines stellarator optimization, advanced computation, machine learning, and high-temperature superconducting magnets to unlock higher-performance designs that were previously out of reach. Turning these designs into a functioning fusion power plant requires excellence and ownership across every discipline, from physics and engineering to software, manufacturing, law, and business functions. TEAM AND ROLE * Architect a breakthrough energy technology – Play a defining role in designing and integrating the systems that will power the world’s first commercial stellarator fusion plant, influencing decisions that shape the future of clean energy. * Solve some of the most complex engineering challenges in fusion – Work across magnet design, HTS technology, manufacturing, structural integration, and controls, turning cutting-edge science into real hardware * Move fast and build what matters – Join a highly ambitious, multidisciplinary team that combines cutting-edge simulation with hands-on engineering, turning bold ideas into real hardware on the path to commercial fusion. WHY JOIN PROXIMA FUSION * Impact: Work on the literal frontier of energy science. * Environment: Be embedded within the PSI ecosystem, collaborating with some of the world’s leading experts in superconductivity. * Flexibility: As an early hire in this department, you will have a significant say in the tools we use and the culture we build. YOUR IMPACT At Proxima Fusion, we are designing the first generation of fusion power plants to provide the world with clean, carbon-free energy. The heart of our reactor lies in its superconducting coils. These magnets must operate in extreme environments - near absolute zero temperatures and under massive mechanical stress. We are looking for a versatile engineer to join our team at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). You will be responsible for developing the instrumentation and testing infrastructure that allows us to validate our magnet prototypes. Whether you are selecting a sensor for a cryogenic environment or coding the real-time dashboard for a test run, your work will directly accelerate the path to commercial fusion. WHAT YOU WILL DO Your role combines conceptual design, development of modeling and analysis tools, and hands-on experimental work. You will contribute to instrumentation, testing, and software development activities across three primary domains: 1. Instrumentation Design for Superconducting Devices You will support the implementation of our testing protocols, helping instrument coils, set up measurement systems, and execute tests to ensure reliable and precise data collection. * Concept to Execution: Develop instrumentation concepts for testing tapes, conductors and coils for QA purposes as well as in nominal and off-nominal conditions. * Sensor Selection: Identify and source sensing technologies (temperature, strain, voltage taps) capable of surviving high magnetic fields and cryogenic temperatures. * Hands-on Implementation: Lead the delicate installation of sensors onto prototypes. You’ll be responsible for the schematics, wiring standards, and procedures that ensure data integrity in extreme conditions. 2. Test Stand Software & Hardware Development Building the magnet is only half the battle; building the system that listens to it is the other. * Framework Architecture: Design a scalable, modular test framework using DAQ hardware to automate experiments. * Systems Integration: Integrate and maintain the test-stand control and measurement stack, including PSUs, DAQ systems, and synchronization hardware. This includes developing communication interfaces, coordinating device operation, and ensuring reliable interaction between hardware and software. * Data Strategy: Implement standardized data formats and live visualization tools (e.g., Grafana) so our physics team can analyze results in real-time. * Commissioning: Oversee the full lifecycle of test-stand hardware, from initial wiring and calibration to final commissioning. 3. Advanced Sensor Innovation You will push the boundaries of how we "see" inside a high-field magnet. * Next-Gen Solutions: Research and develop sensor solutions necessary to qualify coil performance. * Signal Integrity: Analyze measurement error sources such as linearity, drift, and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) to understand measurement uncertainty and improve signal quality through appropriate calibration, filtering, and acquisition strategies. * High-Field Testing: Design and execute tests in high-field environments (exceeding 20 T). Support the development of fast analog signal acquisition or FPGA-based and processing systems used to capture and analyze experimental data. WHO YOU ARE We are looking for an engineer who enjoys the bridge between the digital and physical worlds. * Background: Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Physics, or a related field. * The "Maker" Mindset: You are comfortable with a soldering iron in one hand and a Python script in the other. * Technical Breadth: Ideally, you have experience in at least two of the following: Sensors/Electronics, Data Acquisition, Cryogenics, or FPGA/Real-time systems. * Adaptability: You thrive in a startup environment where the scope of activities can shift. If you have a unique skill (like fiber optic splicing or high-vacuum experience), we can adjust the role to leverage it. INTERVIEW PROCESS * Recruiter Interview (30-60 min) * Technical Screening (30 min) * Technical Panel (3x60 min) *This role sits at L3 of our framework, please inquire during the recruitment process for further information. At Proxima Fusion, our mission is bold: making limitless clean energy a reality. To get there, we need a high-performing, diverse team that brings different perspectives, challenges assumptions, and builds together with purpose. We know that diversity of thought and experience leads to better ideas, stronger execution, and a more resilient team. We don’t look at how you identify, what you look like, who you choose to worship or what ethnicity you are. We care about what you can bring to the table.

Proxima Fusion

WHO WE ARE At Proxima Fusion, we're driven by a bold mission – to redefine the future of sustainable energy. Our unique concept, built upon the groundbreaking W7-X stellarator and the latest advances in technology, paves the way for commercially viable fusion power plants. What’s more, our work in stellarator optimization, powered by cutting-edge computation and machine learning, is propelling us into uncharted territories of fusion technology. New higher performance design points are unlocked by high temperature superconducting magnets. To fully grasp this huge opportunity, we’re building a team of extremely dedicated and passionate people who come together driving something extraordinary, radically transforming technology in the world. WHY JOIN PROXIMA FUSION * You will get to work on some of the most complex tech challenges to bring abundant, safe, clean energy to the world * You'll get to join and learn from an exceptional selection of accomplished and driven individuals * Do your life’s best work and enjoy the journey * Get to show that big things are possible in Europe when you assemble the best talent YOUR IMPACT Develop the cryogenic plant and cooling systems for Proxima’s scientific breakeven stellarator, Alpha. This role demands systems thinking, simulation and modelling skills, technical judgement, and the ability to make impactful design decisions. Your deep expertise in thermal analysis and cryogenic plant design will be critical to integrate the advanced cooling systems required to realize Alpha within the ambitious Proxima timelines. WHAT YOU WILL DO * Design and analyze integrated cooling systems for the Alpha stellarator and wider cryogenic plant, conducting trade studies between components. * Use first principles reasoning and simulation to detail and validate the design of Alpha cryogenic systems. * Collaborate closely with electromagnetic, mechanical and electrical engineers, magnet experts, and physicists. * Conduct performance analysis and troubleshooting of cryogenic systems. * Identify and act as an expert customer for projects with external suppliers and partners to specify and co-design cryogenic systems with the highest quality and speed. WHO YOU ARE * Team players who love challenges and are not afraid to experiment, take risks and learn from mistakes. * Experience in cryogenic plant design, commissioning, and operation. * Proven track record in specifying and designing cryogenic cooling systems using both multi-physics and reduced-order modelling. * Experience validating cryogenic systems through a combination of simulations, testing, and prototyping. * Demonstrated ability to lead external work packages and manage procurement projects. INTERVIEW PROCESS * Recruiter Interview (30-60 min) * Technical Screening (30 min) * Technical Panel (3x60 min) * CEO call (30 min) This role sits at L2/L3 of our framework, please inquire during the recruitment process for further information At Proxima Fusion, our mission is bold: making limitless clean energy a reality. To get there, we need a high-performing, diverse team that brings different perspectives, challenges assumptions, and builds together with purpose. We know that diversity of thought and experience leads to better ideas, stronger execution, and a more resilient team. We don’t look at how you identify, what you look like, who you choose to worship or what ethnicity you are. We care about what you can bring to the table.