Alpha Cryogenics Engineer

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 Your work will be critical to the success of Alpha, Proxima’s scientific breakeven stellarator. Alpha relies on superconducting magnet systems that must operate at cryogenic temperatures to generate the magnetic fields required to confine plasma. As a Cryogenic Engineer, you will design, analyse and validate the cryogenic systems that enable these magnets to perform reliably. Applying expertise in thermal engineering, fluid dynamics, and cryogenic system design, you will develop advanced cooling solutions for a first of a kind fusion machine. This role requires a unique combination of advanced systems thinking, simulation and modelling skills, and hands-on technical judgement. You will move between analysis and implementation, turning complex designs into reliable cryogenic systems through testing, troubleshooting, and validation. WHAT YOU WILL DO * Specify, design, and analyze specific cooling system to meet cryogenic performance requirements, ensuring model accuracy is verified by testing protocols; * Provide hands-on technical leadership during the construction, commissioning, and long-term operation of the cryogenic plant and its subsystems; * Conduct performance analysis, testing, and troubleshooting of cryogenic systems; * Collaborate closely with electromagnetic, mechanical and electrical engineers, magnet experts, and physicists; * 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 * A team player who enjoys tackling difficult challenges, exploring new approaches, and continuously improving through iteration ; * An engineer who combines strong modelling skills with hands-on experience building and operating cryogenic systems * Experience in cryogenic hardware design, commissioning, and operation; * Proven track record in specifying and designing cryogenic cooling systems using both multi-physics tools (ie Simcenter Amesim, Comsol) and reduced-order modelling approaches; * 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.

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 * 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 Working with us, you have the chance to: * Translate state-of-the-art numerical tools directly into hardware design decisions with reactor-scale consequences. * Contribute to the European initiative leading the critical path to a fusion power plant. * Work alongside talented, mission-driven experts in a supportive, ambitious environment that is building real devices, not just reactor concepts YOUR IMPACT In a fusion reactor, the plasma-facing components - divertor targets, first wall panels, and baffles - are the first line of defense against extreme heat and particle loads, requiring them to endure complex plasma-surface interactions. Developing materials and component solutions that withstand these conditions is one of the most significant challenges in fusion science and engineering, determining device lifetime, maintainability, and overall viability. As a Plasma-Facing Materials engineer at Proxima, you will lead efforts to model, understand, and validate the performance of PFC materials and assemblies under reactor-relevant conditions. Your work will directly inform the operational window of Proxima’s future stellarators. The work will span both detailed plasma-material interaction simulation, building towards full physics assessments of Tungsten migration, as well as targeted experimental validation of material architectures to ensure that PFC designs meet demanding reliability and engineering criteria. This role offers a rare opportunity to directly influence the design and qualification of components at the heart of a commercial stellarator. Your work will determine how long Proxima’s core components last, how clean our plasma remains, and how economically our power plant can operate. WHAT YOU WILL DO * Own the solution to critical plasma-material engineering challenges that govern the lifetime and optimal performance of steady state fusion reactors. * Define and advance the impurity migration and plasma material interaction modeling framework used for specifying reactor-relevant stellarator exhaust solutions. * Work closely with engineers to ensure that net erosion and core impurity contamination from plasma facing components, particularly the divertor and first wall, are compatible with intended reactor relevant operational scenarios. * Lead development, validation and application of advanced edge physics models for plasma material interaction studies in order to guide the divertor subsystem and first wall design. * Quantify plasma-surface interaction constraints to ensure plasma-facing components remain within engineering limits. * Collaborate with academic partners to develop and apply workflows that characterise divertor and edge impurity migration. * Identify, initiate, and lead R&D projects, working closely with industry and scientific partners. WHO YOU ARE * Hold a postgraduate degree in plasma physics. * Have strong experience in impurity transport and a clear interest in translating physics understanding into a practical plasma exhaust strategy. * Bring experience using simulation and modeling to inform the geometry and operational limits of high-heat-flux systems. * Be comfortable working across disciplines, collaborating directly with engineers to frame open-ended design challenges, proposing solutions, testing ideas, and iterating quickly. * Bring expertise in simulation modeling and the design of high-heat-flux systems or plasma-facing components. * Be proficient in scientific programming languages (Python, Julia, C++, and/or Fortran). * Take initiative, communicate clearly, and be motivated by building systems that will define the future of fusion energy. INTERVIEW PROCESS * Recruiter Interview (30-60 min) * Technical Screening (30 min) * Technical Panel (3x60 min) *This role sits at L2 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.