Program RF Engineer

The Program RF Engineer I will provide engineering support for the RF transmitter, associated power supplies, controls, and microwave systems supporting the High-Field-Side Lower Hybrid Current Drive experimentally based research project at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility in San Diego. The position supports the implementation, operation, maintenance, testing, and improvement of RF transmitter systems, high-voltage power supplies, low-level RF systems, controls, and microwave diagnostics.

The Program RF Engineer I will contribute to engineering design, modeling, analysis, system integration, troubleshooting, quality assurance, documentation, and technical recommendations to improve system performance and reliability. The position will work as part of a multidisciplinary team of physicists, engineers, technicians, students, General Atomics personnel, external collaborators, and vendors. The position may contribute to technical presentations, conference proceedings, and peer-reviewed publications.

— Provide RF engineering support for the HFS LHCD system.

• Support the design, implementation, testing, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of the RF transmitter and associated microwave transmission systems.
• Develop engineering designs and support them through modeling, simulation, analysis, and technical documentation.
• Participate in design reviews and contribute technical analysis and recommendations.
• Identify potential design, operational, or performance issues and contribute to practical engineering solutions.
• Maintain up-to-date technical expertise in relevant RF and microwave engineering methods, components, and instrumentation.
• Exercise independent judgment in evaluating technical options, troubleshooting system issues, and recommending design or operational improvements, under general guidance from the Principal Investigator or designated senior engineering staff.

— Provide instrumentation, controls, and low-level RF support for the HFS LHCD system.

• Support the development, testing, operation, and maintenance of low-level RF systems, controls, timing, interlocks, data acquisition, and related instrumentation.
• Assist with integrating instrumentation and control systems with RF transmitters, power supplies, and microwave diagnostics.
• Conduct engineering analyses of system performance data and implement methodology or configuration changes based on analysis outcomes.
• Develop and maintain documentation for controls, signal pathways, calibration procedures, and operating protocols.
• Consult with scientists, engineers, and technical staff to adapt methodologies and system configurations to meet experimental requirements.

— Support operation, testing, and maintenance of the high-voltage power supply system.

• Support operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and testing of high-voltage power supply systems associated with the HFS LHCD RF transmitter.
• Assist in identifying technical issues related to power supply performance, reliability, safety, controls, and integration with RF systems.
• Contribute to solutions and recommendations for upgrades, repairs, improved reliability, and safe operation.
• Follow established laboratory, facility, and safety protocols, policies, and procedures for high-voltage and RF systems.

— Support the operation, maintenance, and development of microwave-based plasma diagnostics.

• Support microwave diagnostic systems used for plasma measurements at DIII-D.
• Assist in the design, testing, calibration, operation, troubleshooting, and improvement of microwave transmission and receiver systems.
• Conduct analysis of diagnostic performance data and support interpretation of results in collaboration with scientists and engineers.
• Contribute to the development or adaptation of diagnostic techniques to support specific experimental requirements.
• 10% — Document engineering activities and maintain quality assurance for procurements and fabricated components.
• Prepare technical documentation, engineering notes, drawings, specifications, test plans, test reports, progress summaries, and operating procedures.
• Support quality assurance for procured and fabricated components, including review of vendor documentation, inspection records, and acceptance testing results.
• Work with vendors and internal technical staff to resolve fabrication, procurement, or performance issues.
• Maintain records necessary to support safe, reliable, and traceable engineering operations.

— Collaborate with scientists, engineers, students, technicians, and external partners to support research activities at DIII-D and PSFC.

• Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary research and engineering team.
• Coordinate with MIT faculty, scientists, engineers, technicians, students, General Atomics personnel, external collaborators, and vendors.
• Support research planning, experimental operations, technical reviews, and post-experiment analysis.
• May prepare and deliver presentations at group meetings, technical reviews, departmental seminars, and scientific conferences.
• May contribute text, figures, data, or technical content for reports, conference papers, and peer-reviewed publications.

Other duties as needed or required.

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field
• minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in RF engineering, microwave systems, or a closely related engineering field.
• Experience designing, testing, operating, and troubleshooting microwave transmission and receiver systems.
• Experience with RF transmitters, microwave components, transmission lines, diagnostics, instrumentation, controls, or related systems.
• Proficiency with CAD, circuit simulation, and RF analysis software.
• Ability to conduct engineering analysis, interpret technical data, identify potential problems, and contribute to practical solutions.
• Ability to prepare technical documentation, engineering reports, specifications, test plans, and operating procedures.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary research environment with faculty, scientists, engineers, technicians, students, external collaborators, and vendors.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to follow and implement established laboratory, facility, safety, and quality assurance protocols, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, or non-standard hours as needed to support experimental operations, system testing, maintenance outages, or project deadlines.
• Deals with confidential information and/or issues using discretion and judgment, as applicable.
• List qualifications/skills needed to handle the responsibilities of the position. Be as specific as possible.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• D. in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Plasma Physics, Nuclear Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience with high-power RF systems, lower hybrid current drive systems, electron cyclotron systems, ion cyclotron systems, radar, accelerator RF systems, or related high-power microwave technologies.
• Experience with high-voltage power supplies, pulsed-power systems, interlocks, timing systems, and machine protection systems.
• Experience with low-level RF controls, RF feedback systems, data acquisition, and experimental control systems.
• Experience with microwave plasma diagnostics or diagnostic systems for fusion experiments.
• Experience working at a national laboratory, user facility, fusion experiment, accelerator facility, or other large-scale research facility.
• Familiarity with DIII-D operations, General Atomics procedures, or collaborative experimental campaigns.
• Experience with quality assurance practices for engineered components, procurements, fabrication oversight, acceptance testing, and configuration control.
• Evidence of potential for original or collaborative scholarship, including technical presentations, conference contributions, or co-authored publications.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

The Program RF Engineer I will report to the Principal Investigator or designated senior engineering staff. The position will receive general supervision and guidance on research and engineering priorities, project objectives, safety expectations, and technical scope. The employee will exercise independent judgment in carrying out engineering assignments, analyzing technical problems, recommending solutions, and coordinating day-to-day technical activities within the scope of the HFS LHCD project.

None.

The Program RF Engineer I does not have formal supervisory responsibility. The position may provide technical guidance to students, technicians, or other research personnel on routine RF engineering methods, instrumentation, testing, documentation, and operational procedures, as appropriate.