Fusion Plasma Physicist – Diagnostics & Fast-Ion Transport

About the Role

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, replacing the intricate, complex modular magnets required in all other stellarator architectures. We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Experimental Plasma Physicist to join our research team.

Responsibilities

• 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

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Plasma Physics, Fusion Science, Applied Physics, or a closely related engineering/scientific discipline
• Proven hands-on experience working in a plasma physics laboratory setting (e.g., low-temperature magnetized plasma, dusty plasma, or magnetic confinement fusion devices)
• Demonstrated experience developing, operating, or analyzing data from plasma diagnostics (spectroscopy, Langmuir/Emissive probes, fast camera imaging, or particle detectors)
• Proficiency with quantitative data analysis tools (Python, MATLAB, Julia) and familiarity with transport modeling software or synthetic diagnostic codes
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with a proven track record of cross-institutional scientific collaboration

Preferred Qualifications

• 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

Benefits

• Salary range $100,000 - $120,000
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• Employee equity stock options
• 20 days PTO

It’s not necessary to meet all the skillsets outlined above. We encourage you to apply if you believe you would be a great fit for this role or Thea Energy.