Proxima Fusion is a Munich-based spin-out from the Max Planck Institute developing high-temperature-superconductor stellarator reactors to deliver commercial fusion energy.
WHO WE ARE Proxima Fusion is Europe’s fastest-growing fusion company and the continent’s best-funded fusion player, as well as the first spin-out from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP). Backed by over €650M and powered by a growing team across Munich, Zurich, and Oxford, we are developing the hardware and infrastructure needed to deliver the world’s first commercial stellarator fusion power plant. Our concept advances the most mature fusion technology out there, the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, through two next-generation machines: Alpha and Stellaris. Our work combines stellarator optimization, advanced computation, machine learning, and high-temperature superconducting magnets to unlock higher-performance designs that were previously out of reach. Turning these designs into a functioning fusion power plant requires excellence and ownership across every discipline, from physics and engineering to software, manufacturing, law, and business functions. TEAM AND ROLE - Architect a breakthrough energy technology – Play a defining role in designing and integrating the systems that will power the world’s first commercial stellarator fusion plant, influencing decisions that shape the future of clean energy. - Solve some of the most complex engineering challenges in fusion – Work across magnet design, HTS technology, manufacturing, structural integration, and controls, turning cutting-edge science into real hardware - Move fast and build what matters – Join a highly ambitious, multidisciplinary team that combines cutting-edge simulation with hands-on engineering, turning bold ideas into real hardware on the path to commercial fusion. 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. YOUR IMPACT At Proxima Fusion, we are designing the first generation of fusion power plants to provide the world with clean, carbon-free energy. The heart of our reactor lies in its superconducting coils. These magnets must operate in extreme environments - near absolute zero temperatures and under massive mechanical stress. We are looking for a versatile engineer to join our team at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). You will be responsible for developing the instrumentation and testing infrastructure that allows us to validate our magnet prototypes. Whether you are selecting a sensor for a cryogenic environment or coding the real-time dashboard for a test run, your work will directly accelerate the path to commercial fusion. WHAT YOU WILL DO 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: 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. WHO YOU ARE 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 experience)