Senior RF Test Engineer
Devens, MA - USA
Job Summary
SPARC sustains fusion reactions by feeding >25MW of 120MHz RF power into the tokamak to heat the plasma to 100 million Kelvin. We need an RF Test Engineer to play a pivotal role in validating and testing the electronics and control systems that power the most ambitious RF plant in the world.
At this level you are a hands-on executor and technical problem solver. You will be directly responsible for taking newly architected RF and power electronics from the benchtop to full-scale operation. Your day-to-day will span board-level bring-up operating high-power RF transmitters and integrating hardware with software controls to ensure SPARC achieves net energy.
For more information on the SPARC RF plant see the SPARC journal papers here:
- Execute Board-Level Bring-Up: Lead the initial power-on debugging and validation of custom printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) embedded digital controllers and low-level electronics focusing heavily on the integration of these boards into working modular solid-state RF systems
- Operate RF Transmitters & High Voltage Systems: Safely run and test high-power RF transmitters with a primary focus on validating and troubleshooting complex RF behaviors. You will also safely interface with and occasionally troubleshoot the supporting high-voltage infrastructure and large-scale supercapacitor banks
- Drive Hardware/Software Integration: Bridge the gap between physical electronics and control software ensuring that measurement circuits timing systems and sensors interface seamlessly with SPARCs central data collection and control networks
- Oversee FAT Fixturing & Operation: Design assemble and manage the fixturing for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT). You will oversee the execution of these tests to validate that incoming hardware meets stringent performance and safety criteria
- Develop Procedures & Hand-Off: Translate complex engineering validation steps into clear repeatable test procedures ultimately training and handing off routine testing and steady-state operations to engineering technicians
- Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Physics or a related field
- 7 years of hands-on experience testing high-power RF systems radar particle accelerators electric vehicles or heavy industrial power electronics
- Proven hands-on experience safely working with high voltage components energy storage (e.g. supercapacitors) and troubleshooting complex analog and digital circuits at the component level
- Exceptional skills in reading RF circuit designs (Altium or similar) and setting up automated test environments to validate sensitive timing and RF detection circuits within extreme high-power high-noise environments (EMI/EMC mitigation)
- Proficiency in C and Python with the ability to read code and thoroughly understand software deployments before testing them
- Proven intuition for high-power RF environments
- Experience designing test fixtures writing comprehensive FAT protocols and setting up automated data acquisition systems in high-noise environments utilizing EMI/EMC mitigation techniques to ensure circuits operate reliably
- Hands-on experience measuring forward and reflected RF power diagnosing RF arcs and validating the timing and electronics designed to mitigate them
- Proven experience writing custom test software to automate lab equipment and validate system functionality
- A strong systems-level understanding of modern high-performance embedded digital controllers high-speed communications and fundamentals of mechanical/thermal design to safely execute tests and interface effectively with cross-functional teams
- Ability to lift up to 50lbs
- Perform activities such as stooping climbing standing typing or sitting for extended periods of time
- Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
- Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat cold noise fumes strong magnets lead (Pb) high voltage high current pressure systems and cryogenics
Required Experience:
Senior IC