Mechanical Engineer, RF Systems

About the role

Join the power movement as an Mechanical Engineer, RF Systems SPARC sustains fusion reactions by feeding >25MW of 120MHz RF power into the tokamak to heat the plasma to 100 million Kelvin. We need a Mechanical Engineer to design the critical physical infrastructure that routes this massive power, from coax transmission lines that span the entire plant to the intricate cooling plates required for high-power electronics. At this level, you will own the physical design and integration of robust mechanical systems, translating requirements into manufacturing-ready hardware. You will design everything from large-scale utility interfaces and custom bellows to sheet metal parts and custom heat sinks, taking designs from ideation and CAD modeling through fabrication and direct plant integration.

Responsibilities

• Design specialized RF Heating plant components working closely with RF Engineers. These include large-diameter coaxial transmission lines and devices such as stub tuners and RF testing loads
• Decompose high-level system requirements into actionable mechanical specifications, owning the mechanical designs for the RF Heating system
• Collaborate daily with a dedicated CAD drafting team, providing clear guidance to detail, rigorously reviews, and releases
• Partner cross-functionally with RF engineers, electronics engineers, process engineers, and other disciplines
• Architect thermal management solutions by integrating complex water and air cooling loops directly into high-power electronics enclosures and plant systems
• Develop large sheet metal components, precise mounting hardware for custom printed circuit board assemblies, cold plates, and more
• Perform structural loads analysis and thermal analyses to ensure design viability

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field
• 5+ years of hands-on mechanical design experience in industrial, heavy machinery, high-power electronics, electric vehicle, or aerospace environments
• Demonstrated experience as the primary creator and owner of mechanical design architectures, operating as a core design engineer
• Direct experience performing structural loads analysis and thermal analyses to validate mechanical designs
• High proficiency in 3D CAD software and creating detailed manufacturing drawings utilizing GD&T standards
• Possess a strong fundamental understanding of heat transfer, structural mechanics, and fluid dynamics
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs
• Perform activities such as stooping, climbing, standing, typing or sitting for extended periods of time
• Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
• Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics

Qualifications

• Experience using Siemens NX for 3D modeling and Teamcenter for product lifecycle management and drawing release workflows
• Background decomposing complex system requirements into clear mechanical hardware specifications
• Experience designing large-scale pipe routing, coaxial transmission lines, flanges, bellows, or active water and air cooling systems
• Experience with complex electronics assemblies and the thermal management of such assemblies
• Deep familiarity with sheet metal fabrication processes, machining capabilities, and communicating directly with contract manufacturers

Benefits

• Competitive compensation with equity
• 13 Company-wide Holidays
• Flexible vacation days
• 10 sick days
• Generous parental leave policy
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Professional growth opportunities
• Team-building activities