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Commonwealth Fusion Systems is seeking a Staff Electrical Engineer to join the R&D and equipment design team in Milpitas, CA. This is a hands-on technical leadership role focused on designing and architecting complete electrical systems for advanced thermal vacuum equipment and R&D machinery used in fusion energy research.
You will own end-to-end electrical system architecture for complex industrial R&D tools, including power distribution platforms, low-voltage DC systems, cable harness design, and power conditioning. Key responsibilities include creating comprehensive electrical schematics per NFPA 79, NEC, and UL 508A standards using AutoCAD Electrical; designing robust grounding, shielding, and isolation schemes for sensitive measurement signals in high-power and high-magnetic field environments; implementing ANSI/RIA 15.06 and OSHA-compliant safety systems including interlocks and emergency stop circuits; and sizing/specifying power supplies, VFDs, servo drives, safety relays, and precision sensors (thermocouples, pressure transducers, vacuum gauges, flow meters).
You will lead hands-on electrical testing, commissioning, and I/O validation on the tool floor; collaborate with controls engineers on EtherCAT/industrial fieldbus configuration and PLC diagnostics; manage external panel build shops and electrical contractors; and direct Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT). This role requires deep expertise in 480VAC 3-phase systems, transformer sizing, short-circuit current ratings, arc flash safety, and demonstrated ability to solve EMI/EMC and grounding challenges in complex electromechanical systems.
Required: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Mechatronics (Master's preferred); 10+ years designing power distribution, electrical cabinets, and hardware architectures for complex industrial or R&D capital equipment; expert proficiency with AutoCAD Electrical; deep understanding of power codes and standards; and strong hands-on troubleshooting and commissioning skills. Bonus experience includes semiconductor/vacuum equipment design, high-current/high-power systems, PLC programming (IEC 61131-3 Structured Text or Python), and SCADA/HMI familiarity. Must be able to lift 25 lbs occasionally and willing to travel or work nights/weekends on-call as needed.
