High-Power RF Engineer

Role Summary You will design, build, and operate the odd-parity rotating magnetic field (RMFo) system that is the primary plasma heating, current drive, and formation method for our PFRC-class device. This is not a communications RF role. The RMFo system operates in the ion-cyclotron range of frequencies, drives tens to hundreds of kilowatts into a compact plasma load whose impedance changes on microsecond timescales, and must maintain precise phase and amplitude control across multiple antenna segments to preserve the odd-parity field topology. The coupling between RF and plasma is the single most critical interface in the entire machine. If this system does not work well, nothing else matters.

What You Will Own The complete RMFo RF chain: signal generation, power amplification, impedance matching networks, transmission lines, and the multi-segment antenna array around the vacuum vessel. Real-time impedance matching as the plasma forms and evolves. The load changes from vacuum to dense plasma within microseconds; your matching network must track this or the power never reaches the plasma. Antenna design and optimization for odd-parity field generation: ensuring the field flips direction about the midplane symmetry axis, maintaining the critical BR/Be ratio below the threshold that would open field lines and destroy confinement. EMI management across the entire machine. Your RF system radiates strongly at the operating frequency; every diagnostic, control system, and data acquisition channel must be protected without compromising measurement fidelity. Diagnosis of RF system performance: forward/reflected power measurement, antenna current monitoring, and correlation with plasma behavior to distinguish RF coupling issues from plasma physics problems.

What We Are Really Looking For You have designed and operated high-power RF systems (tens of kW or more) that couple into plasma loads. ICRF heating, helicon source, or industrial plasma processing experience at relevant power levels all count. You understand impedance matching at a deep level, not just using a network analyzer, but designing matching networks that can handle rapid load transients during plasma formation. You can design RF antenna structures from electromagnetic first principles, including field pattern calculation, mutual coupling between antenna segments, and interaction with nearby conducting structures (flux conservers, vacuum vessel). You have solved serious EMI problems in environments where strong RF fields coexist with sensitive measurements. You know the difference between conducted and radiated interference, and you have practical solutions for both. You are comfortable with high-voltage, high-current RF systems and understand the safety and engineering discipline required to operate them reliably.

Who Should Not Apply Your RF experience is limited to low-power signal processing, communications, or antenna design for free-space radiation. Plasma loads are fundamentally different from resistive or radiating loads. You have never worked with RF power above 1 kW. The engineering challenges of high-power RF, thermal management, arcing, component failure modes, are qualitatively different from bench-scale work. You expect clean, stable loads. A forming FRC plasma presents a wildly varying impedance that changes faster than most matching networks can track. If this frustrates you, this is not your role. You view the RF system as isolated from the rest of the machine. Here, the RF system is the machine's heart, and you must understand its interaction with plasma physics, diagnostics, and mechanical design simultaneously.

Experience Range

MS or PhD in electrical engineering, RF engineering, applied physics, or equivalent experience. 3–12 years of experience designing and operating high-power RF systems for plasma applications. Strong candidates from ICRF/ICRH programs, high-power helicon sources, or industrial plasma RF systems will be considered. Experience with rotating magnetic field systems is rare and highly valued.

Compensation

Compensation will be globally competitive and benchmarked against strong U.S. and European standards for exceptional talent.

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