Proxima Fusion · Zurich
Instrumentation and Test Engineer
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 ...
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.