Chief Electrical Engineer

The MIT Plasma Science & Fusion Center (PSFC) is world-leader in plasma physics and fusion energy. It is located on the main campus of MIT in Cambridge MA. Combining mid-scale experimental facilities and extensive engineering capabilities with over 150 exceptional faculty, staff, and students, the PSFC has a sixty-year history of relentless innovation, technical achievement, and dedicated education. The PSFC has been central to several recent fusion breakthroughs, including conceiving the SPARC tokamak (link), demonstrating the first large-scale 20 tesla superconducting fusion magnet (link), and analyzing the record-breaking plasma shot at the National Ignition Facility (link). The PSFC is seeking outstanding individuals with a track record of excellence to join our team and the mission of advancing a physical understanding of plasmas and their application to deliver clean, sustainable, societal-scale fusion energy.

The primary purpose of this position is to oversee the extensive electrical and power engineering needs of midscale research experiments and associated electrical infrastructure at the PSFC. The successful candidate will contribute  to innovative research programs in a number of high-power and high-current areas, including radiofrequency heating and transmission, superconducting magnets, particle accelerators, and pulsed power plasma physics. Oversight of the significant electrical infrastructure, including single and three phase 480 V and 13.8 kV distribution systems as well as electronics and electrical shops, is a key part of the position. The successful candidate will be expected to supervise engineers and technicians in the design, procurement, fabrication, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of these systems, including the responsibility for overseeing electrical safety and operational procedures. The candidate will have oversight of the instrumentation and control systems associated with such hardware. The position requires working with faculty, scientists, and students to develop requirements and then the PSFC Engineering team and external vendors to deliver engineering hardware. The candidate will contribute to project schedules, budget estimates, and project documentation.

Qualifications:  A bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a minimum of 5 years work experience are required; higher levels of experience and expertise are encouraged and will be compensated accordingly. Significant working knowledge of megawatt-class power systems, RF systems, and high current power supplies – including their control, operation, and safety aspects – is expected. Familiarity with single and three phase electrical infrastructure, including 480V and 13.8 kV, is strongly encouraged. The position requires good project management skills to estimate scopes, schedules, and budgets and an ability to supervise technical staff in project execution. A willingness to learn and work closely with faculty, staff, and students in a dynamic research-oriented work environment is essential. Evening/night/weekend work may be required.

Salary Range: $110K-$130K