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Commonwealth Fusion Systems is seeking a Senior RF Test Engineer to play a pivotal role in validating and testing the electronics and control systems for SPARC, their fusion power plant project. SPARC sustains fusion reactions by feeding over 25MW of 120MHz RF power into the tokamak to heat plasma to 100 million Kelvin. You will be a hands-on executor and technical problem solver, directly responsible for taking newly architected RF and power electronics from benchtop to full-scale operation.
Key responsibilities include:
• Execute board-level bring-up: Lead initial power-on, debugging, and validation of custom PCBAs, embedded digital controllers, and low-level electronics, with heavy focus on integrating boards into modular solid-state RF systems.
• Operate RF transmitters and high-voltage systems: Safely run and test high-power RF transmitters, validating and troubleshooting complex RF behaviors. Interface with and occasionally troubleshoot supporting high-voltage infrastructure and large-scale supercapacitor banks.
• Drive hardware/software integration: Bridge physical electronics and control software, ensuring measurement circuits, timing systems, and sensors interface seamlessly with SPARC's central data collection and control networks.
• Oversee FAT fixturing and operation: Design, assemble, and manage fixturing for Factory Acceptance Testing. Oversee test execution to validate incoming hardware meets stringent performance and safety criteria.
• Develop procedures and hand-off: Translate complex engineering validation steps into clear, repeatable test procedures. Train and hand off routine testing and steady-state operations to engineering technicians.
Your day-to-day will span board-level bring-up, operating high-power RF transmitters, and integrating hardware with software controls to ensure SPARC achieves net energy.
REQUIREMENTS:
Must-have:
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related field
• 7+ years of hands-on experience testing high-power RF systems, radar, particle accelerators, electric vehicles, or heavy industrial power electronics
• Proven hands-on experience safely working with high-voltage components, energy storage (e.g., supercapacitors), and troubleshooting complex analog and digital circuits at component level
• Exceptional skills reading RF circuit designs (Altium or similar) and setting up automated test environments to validate sensitive timing and RF detection circuits within extreme high-power, high-noise environments (EMI/EMC mitigation)
• Proficiency in C++ and Python, with ability to read code and thoroughly understand software deployments before testing
• Proven intuition for high-power RF environments
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
• Ability to perform activities such as stooping, climbing, standing, typing, or sitting for extended periods
• Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
• Ability to work in facility with industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead, high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics
Bonus:
• Experience designing test fixtures, writing comprehensive FAT protocols, and setting up automated data acquisition systems in high-noise environments with EMI/EMC mitigation
• Hands-on experience measuring forward and reflected RF power, diagnosing RF arcs, and validating electronics designed to mitigate them
• Proven experience writing custom test software to automate lab equipment and validate system functionality
• Strong systems-level understanding of modern high-performance embedded digital controllers, high-speed communications, and fundamentals of mechanical/thermal design
