R&D Cryogenic Engineer
Devens, MA
R&D – SPARC R&D /
Full-time /
Hybrid
The role of a R&D Cryogenic Engineer is to develop novel cryogenic and other fluids systems for R&D test stands. HTS magnets and other CFS hardware must be tested at temperatures ranging from 4K to 100K to simulate the operating conditions of the tokamak. The R&D cryogenic engineer should be resourceful, combining industry best practices, off the shelf and customized hardware, and creativity to deliver these fluid systems on tight timelines. They are expected to select instrumentation that allows safe operation of their systems. In addition to designing and building these systems, the engineer is expected to also operate as a test engineer as it relates to commissioning, operating and designing automation with a team of test and software engineers. They must work collaboratively across manufacturing, R&D, procurement, and the SPARC team to successfully deliver their projects.
Various projects will call upon this engineer to flex outside fluids engineering and into other engineering disciplines, such as structures and materials, to effectively execute tests and projects as needed by SPARC and ARC risk retirement. Ideally the engineer also has experience in molten salt fluid systems.
This team member will:
- Bring seasoned, practical experience in LN2 and LHe system design to the test team
- Design fluid systems for test stands that meet test objectives/requirements. Challenge requirements as necessary to achieve simplicity in design.
- Perform hand calculations and system level analyses demonstrating sufficient margin for fluid system requirements; build and run Ansys structural and thermal simulations on components and assemblies.
- Procure off-the-shelf process fluid components, manage relationships with vendors, draft specifications for specialty parts and design fluid system components as needed.
- Manage build and commissioning of fluid systems and coordinate engineers and technicians as necessary to safely bring systems to operational status.
- Design system instrumentation and automation for safe operations.
The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Process Engineering, or similar
- 5+ years of experience in the engineering of large-scale, integrated systems
- Experience using the following engineering tools: ANSYS, COMSOL, 1D compressible flow code, P&ID generation
- Strong engineering fundamentals in thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid mechanics
- Experience designing fluid systems, selecting components, creating work packets and managing builds to deliver large-scale thermofluid systems, from conceptual design through field commissioning
- Experience developing requirements, Process Flow Diagrams, P&IDs, and specifications for thermofluid components, e.g. pumps, tanks, control valves
- Large-scale fluids process engineering
- Hands-on design, install, operation of systems with tanks, process piping, pumps, valves, heat exchangers
- Vendor management
- Fluid system operation
- Instrumentation design and troubleshooting experience
Additional preferred experience and/or qualifications:
- Ambient and elevated temperature fluid system design, build and commissioning
- Hands-on design, install, operation of systems with compressors, purification systems, & circulators
- Analysis using python or MATLAB
- Ability to learning new technologies quickly, leveraging available resources, getting things done, and making efficient decisions
- Effectively communicating cross-functionally, especially with those not familiar with cryogenics
- Working in a fast-paced, dynamic R&D environment
- Data analysis and model calibration
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
- Perform activities such as typing, stooping, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time
- Dedication to safety to mitigate industrial hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, and cryogenics
- #LI-Hybrid
