Senior Mechanical Engineer | Structures
Oxfordshire
Stellarator Design /
Full-time /
On-site
At Proxima Fusion, we're driven by a bold mission – to redefine the future of sustainable energy. Our unique concept, built upon the groundbreaking W7-X stellarator and the latest advances in technology, paves the way for commercially viable fusion power plants.
Our work in stellarator optimization, powered by cutting-edge computation and machine learning, is propelling us into uncharted territories of fusion technology. New higher performance design points are unlocked by high temperature superconducting magnets and we're leveraging this technology with advanced computational design capabilities.
We're on a journey to redefine the energy landscape, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
At Proxima Fusion, we are advancing stellarator technology to build machines that will contribute to a sustainable energy future. Our current focus is Proxima Alpha, an intermediate step toward a full fusion power plant, with completion targeted for 2031. This project represents a significant leap in engineering and plasma physics, following in the footsteps of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator prototype and will have a comparable scale. Proxima Alpha is a large-scale engineering challenge that demands efficient, thoughtful design, detailed planning, and timely execution.
We are concluding the preliminary concept phase and moving into the conceptual design phase of Proxima Alpha. As a Senior Structural Mechanical Engineer, you will play an integral role in shaping the engineering design of support structures, the vacuum vessel, thermal shields, and gravity supports.
If you:
- Hold a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, with a focus on structural design;
- Have 7+ years of professional experience performing finite element analysis as part of multidisciplinary product development teams;
- Possess solid expertise in computational structural mechanics, including non-linear materials, plasticity, fatigue, solver convergence, and contact mechanics;
- Bring experience with thermo-mechanical analyses, ideally involving cryogenic components;
- Are proficient in CAD tools and finite element analysis software (experience with CATIA and ANSYS is beneficial but not essential);
- Have experience in simulation-driven design;
- Work effectively with broad project scopes and under general guidance;
You will:
- Contribute to the engineering design of structurally significant systems for our prototype stellarator, focusing on simplified CAD models to evaluate feasibility and optimize system simplicity;
- Conduct technology trade-offs, material selection, and feasibility studies;
- Perform thermal and structural analyses to validate engineering choices;
- Simulate safety-critical failure scenarios to enhance system reliability;
- Collaborate with the stellarator optimization team to streamline overall system design;
- Work with suppliers to ensure efficient manufacturability and quick project progression.
In return, you will get:
- Fulfilling Mission: Work on harnessing the universe's fundamental energy source that powers the stars. If you want to contribute directly to transforming the way we produce energy in the world, Proxima is the place to be.
- Incredible Team: Join a mission-driven, team-oriented, excellence-seeking team from all over the globe. We're working on fusion to change the world and we thrive in a supportive and rewarding environment.
- World-Leading Partners: We are supported by internationally renowned groups, industrial companies and technical advisors with experience built on groundbreaking fusion experiments.
- Shared Success: Live the success of the company by taking part in a generous stock options program. We aim for every team member to feel a shared sense of ownership, responsibility, and pride.
- Healthy Environment: We take care of each other, while pushing ourselves to our best - we are on a marathon, not a sprint. We offer language courses for team members and their families.
Proxima Fusion is firmly committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment. We embrace the principles of equality and stand against discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, or sexual orientation.
Our organizational culture values and promotes equal opportunities for everyone, recognizing that a diverse team brings a richness of perspectives and contributes to our overall success. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates with various backgrounds, talents, and potential. Our selection process is solely based on individual merit, ensuring fair and impartial consideration for all applicants.
