Instrumentation and Test Engineer

About the role

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 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.

Responsibilities

• 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:
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Requirements

• 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 experienc

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Company Intel

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