Stellarator Systems Architect

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 * Shape the architecture of the world’s first commercial fusion power plant – Own system-level decisions that determine how a first-of-a-kind energy technology is designed, integrated, and ultimately deployed at scale. * Solve some of the most complex engineering challenges in industry – Work across tightly coupled disciplines (plasma physics, magnets, cryogenics, manufacturing, controls, and more) to resolve critical trade-offs and turn cutting-edge science into a functioning product. * Build real hardware with a pragmatic, fast-moving team from all over the world – Combine advanced simulation and systems thinking with a strong execution mindset, focusing on practical engineering solutions that accelerate the path to commercial fusion energy. 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. ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT Systems Architecture defines which machines Proxima builds, and why. The department owns the architecture of the Alpha stellarator: the set of systems that make up the machine, how the whole is dimensioned, and the top-level requirements that flow down to every subsystem. It also leads plasma engineering for Alpha and Stellaris — coil and plasma shape optimization — sitting at the bridge between science and technology, physics and engineering. YOUR IMPACT Help translate ambition into systems that last. You will work directly with the Chief Scientist as the operational and strategic backbone of Systems Architecture. You interface across all Sys. Arch. teams and contribute to external-facing work: board reporting, strategy offsites, stakeholder engagement. Your instinct is to build systems that outlast your involvement, creating durable processes rather than personal dependencies, and leaving things in better shape than you found them. Your technical background gives you the judgment to operate credibly in a deeply technical environment and to design internal infrastructure that's coherent, low-friction, and built to last. When cross-cutting initiatives arise, special projects that need a clear owner and draw on expertise from multiple teams you're the person who picks them up and sees them through. WHAT YOU WILL DO * Support the Chief Scientist on projects within their scope, and help draft and communicate the department's strategy, plans, and priorities * Build and maintain systems across Sys. Arch. teams that support rapid development: coherent reporting formats, decision-making processes, and operational cadences * Coordinate cross-team special projects for example, aligning Proxima with an external stakeholder and converging on a clear direction and consolidate information across teams into decision-ready form * Interface with external stakeholders on high-priority topics; contribute to board reporting and prepare the department's quarterly strategy sessions * Scope and drive strategic projects and organisational change, proactively identifying bottlenecks before they slow the department down * Support budget planning for the department * Own the people side of the department: improving onboarding, sourcing candidates through your domain network, to guiding hires from first contact to onboarding WHO YOU ARE * You have a technical background and can move comfortably between "plasma beta" and "316LN steel", * You are comfortable in high-growth teams * You take things to the finish line, not the 80% mark, hands-on, accountable, and driven by impact and urgency * You switch cleanly between strategic thinking and execution mode, navigating multi-stakeholder environments with ease and bringing professionalism to everything you touch * You are an excellent written communicator and presenter, capable of producing board-ready materials that land with both technical and non-technical audiences * You are willing to question the status quo, put in the hours when it matters, and take on new challenges with urgency * A Master's degree in a technical field such as physics or engineering is an advantage, though we consider equivalent professional experience equally. 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 & ROLE * Shape the architecture of the world’s first commercial fusion power plant – Own system-level decisions that determine how a first-of-a-kind energy technology is designed, integrated, and ultimately deployed at scale. * Solve some of the most complex engineering challenges in industry – Work across tightly coupled disciplines (plasma physics, magnets, cryogenics, manufacturing, controls, and more) to resolve critical trade-offs and turn cutting-edge science into a functioning product. * Build real hardware with a pragmatic, fast-moving team from all over the world – Combine advanced simulation and systems thinking with a strong execution mindset, focusing on practical engineering solutions that accelerate the path to commercial fusion energy. 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 Our approach to stellarator design is rooted in parametric design defined in code, differentiable models, and fully automated analysis pipelines. It is a departure from how complex machines have historically been engineered. As a Computational Engineer, you will be a key contributor to this approach. You will own the software that defines stellarator geometry, automates multi-physics analysis, and makes complex 3D shapes optimisable. You'll use your combined understanding of engineering and computation to push the boundaries of what can be designed. You will develop new geometric representations, formulate optimisation problems, and find solutions to engineering challenges that don't have textbook answers. Sitting at the intersection of mathematics, software, and mechanical engineering, you will have direct influence over the design of the machine itself. WHAT YOU WILL DO * Define stellarators in code. Create parametric representations of reactor components; covering everything from plasma-facing walls to superconducting cables. * Automate engineering analysis. Own the code path from parametric description to CAD (e.g. CadQuery) to mesh (e.g. Gmsh) to simulation to post-processing, all running in the cloud. * Architect integrated systems. Use your ability to develop and leverage powerful computational tools to understand the trade-offs across sub-systems. * Make designs differentiable. Build JAX-based geometric and physics models so that you can optimise quantities like coil clearances, structural loads, and manufacturing constraints with gradient-based methods. * Implement algorithms for our custom 3D geometries (e.g. signed distance functions, kd-tree spatial queries, adaptive sampling, and collision detection). * Work across teams and disciplines. Collaborate directly with other mechanical engineers and simulation specialists to understand how your work can unlock them. WHO YOU ARE * Strong fundamentals in mathematics and engineering: linear algebra, geometry, numerical methods, mechanics. * Experience solving engineering or scientific problems in Python. Comfort with Git and an appreciation for well-tested, well-typed code. * The ability to communicate across disciplines. You'll work daily with plasma physicists, mechanical engineers, and software engineers, translating between domains is a core part of the job. * Curiosity and a bias toward action. We value people from all backgrounds who are motivated by hard technical problems and want to see their work have real impact. * Familiarity with computational geometry, CAD-as-code, or parametric modelling. Experience with B-splines/NURBS, Fourier representations, mesh generation, or finite element methods is valuable but not required. * Exposure to automatic differentiation (JAX, PyTorch, or similar), or a genuine interest in learning. We define geometry entirely in code and differentiability is central to how we optimise. * Demonstrated problem solving ability and learning velocity. INTERVIEW PROCESS * Recruiter Interview (30-60 min) * Technical Screening (30 min) * Case Study & Review * Technical Panel (2x60 min) *This role sits at L1 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 * Shape the architecture of the world’s first commercial fusion power plant – Own system-level decisions that determine how a first-of-a-kind energy technology is designed, integrated, and ultimately deployed at scale. * Solve some of the most complex engineering challenges in industry – Work across tightly coupled disciplines (plasma physics, magnets, cryogenics, manufacturing, controls, and more) to resolve critical trade-offs and turn cutting-edge science into a functioning product. * Build real hardware with a pragmatic, fast-moving team from all over the world – Combine advanced simulation and systems thinking with a strong execution mindset, focusing on practical engineering solutions that accelerate the path to commercial fusion energy. YOUR IMPACT We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Plasma Physicist to join our stellarator design team at Proxima Fusion. We are designing a net-energy stellarator as a research and engineering platform on the path toward a fusion power plant. This role is crucial to driving our mission to design, build, and operate the device. As a Plasma Physicist, you will lead the conceptualization and development of key scientific analysis workflows and contribute to novel research in magnetic confinement fusion. Proxima Fusion is committed to publishing its scientific results to accelerate the entire fusion ecosystem, openly collaborating with academic partners, and contributing to public trust in fusion energy. 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. WHAT YOU WILL DO * Contribute to the definition of requirements and conceptualize the design of critical stellarator components such as heating systems and divertors. * Develop and enhance our physics and engineering simulation stack. * Collaborate with partners from public institutions to foster innovation and knowledge exchange. * Mentor team members and guide them in achieving project milestones. WHO YOU ARE * We are looking for high performers who love challenges and see these as learning opportunities. * It is important not to be afraid to experiment, take risks and learn from mistakes. We believe in continuous iterations and getting things done. * Hold a PhD in Plasma Physics, Nuclear Engineering, or a related field, with a focus on magnetic confinement fusion—preferably on a toroidal confinement device. * Have demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: core transport, plasma heating, MHD, edge physics, or scenario development. * Possess strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make informed decisions in a fast-paced environment. * Have excellent communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team. 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.