Fusion Plasma Physicist – Diagnostics & Fast-Ion Transport

Thea Energy is leveraging recent breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering to create a faster and simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy. The company is reinventing the stellarator using computer-controlled arrays of planar coils thereby replacing the intricate, complex modular magnets required in all other stellarator architectures. Thea Energy is on a mission to create a limitless source of zero emission energy for a sustainable future.

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Experimental Plasma Physicist to join our research team. In this role, you will design, deploy, and plan operation of cutting-edge plasma diagnostics, spearhead experimental campaigns focused on fast-ion transport dynamics and actively collaborate with external academic and national laboratory partners.

• Design, build, and calibrate advanced plasma diagnostics (e.g., optical emission spectroscopy, laser-based diagnostics, probes, fast-ion loss detectors) tailored to Eos stellarator magnetic configurations.
• Oversee vacuum system integration, high-magnetic-field hardware setup, and signal processing chains.
• Maintain and upgrade diagnostic hardware to ensure reliable, high-resolution data acquisition during experimental runs.
• Design and develop experimental campaigns targeting fast-ion transport, wave-particle interactions, and confinement physics.
• Formulate experimental proposals, set operational parameters, and execute run plans on experimental plasma facilities.
• Analyze complex multi-diagnostic datasets using Python, MATLAB, or modern scientific software to extract physical parameters (e.g., density profiles, velocity distributions, and fluctuation spectrums).
• Serve as a key liaison to external entities, including academic institutions, national laboratories, and international research consortia.
• Co-author peer-reviewed journal articles and represent the organization at major conferences (e.g., APS Division of Plasma Physics).
• Mentor graduate students, junior researchers, and intern cohorts in laboratory safety, experimental protocols, and data analysis pipelines.

• Education: Ph.D. in Plasma Physics, Fusion Science, Applied Physics, or a closely related engineering/scientific discipline.
• Experimental Track Record: Proven hands-on experience working in a plasma physics laboratory setting (e.g., low-temperature magnetized plasma, dusty plasma, or magnetic confinement fusion devices).
• Diagnostics Expertise: Demonstrated experience developing, operating, or analyzing data from plasma diagnostics (spectroscopy, Langmuir/Emissive probes, fast camera imaging, or particle detectors).
• Data Analysis & Modeling: Proficiency with quantitative data analysis tools (Python, MATLAB, Julia) and familiarity with transport modeling software or synthetic diagnostic codes.
• Communication & Teamwork: Strong verbal and written communication skills with a proven track record of cross-institutional scientific collaboration.
• Experience with strongly magnetized plasma environments (e.g., tokamaks, stellarators, superconducting magnet facilities or high-field discharge systems).
• Background in fast-ion loss modeling or validation of fast-ion diagnostic synthetic models.
• Active involvement in scientific outreach, or mentoring programs.

Salary range $100,000 - $120,000

Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)

Employee equity stock options

20 days PTO