Burning Plasma Scientist

**About Thea Energy:**

Thea Energy is leveraging recent breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering to create a faster and simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy. The company is reinventing the stellarator using computer-controlled arrays of planar coils thereby replacing the intricate, complex modular magnets required in all other stellarator architectures. Thea Energy is on a mission to create a limitless source of zero emission energy for a sustainable future.

**Position Overview:**

Thea Energy is looking for a highly motivated Burning Plasma Scientist to join our Physics team, focusing on modeling energetic particle confinement and transport. In this role, you will run high-fidelity simulations and pioneer the use of Machine Learning surrogates to accelerate our design cycles. You will work directly with our optimization team to ensure our magnetic topologies manage fast-ion loss and heat loads effectively.

### Key Responsibility Areas

• Execute and analyze high-fidelity simulations using particle-following codes to assess alpha particle and neutral beam ion confinement in 3D magnetic geometries
• Investigate Alfvén Eigenmode (AE) stability using kinetic-MHD hybrid codes and assess their impact on energetic particle transport
• Develop reduced-order models and ML surrogates trained on simulation databases to enable real-time prediction of pressure profiles
• Collaborate with the engineering team to iterate on coil designs and divertor configurations to minimize fast-ion losses
• Develop synthetic diagnostics (e.g. Fast-Ion Loss Detectors, Neutron Cameras) to bridge the gap between our models and future experimental campaigns

### Ideal Experience & Skillsets

• PhD in Plasma Physics, Computational Physics, or related field (or Master’s / Bachelor’s with equivalent research experience)
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in scientific computing (e.g. Python, Fortran, C++, or MATLAB)
• Creative problem solving and proven ability to thrive in collaborative environments such as startups or research groups
• Willingness to collaborate with a diverse team of scientists and engineers within the company and externally
• Passion for advancing the field of fusion energy research
• Familiarity with kinetic, MHD or particle-following codes
• Experience developing Machine Learning surrogates for physical systems
• Familiarity with energetic particle diagnostics

### Company Benefits

• Salary range $135,000-$210,000
• Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)
• Employee equity stock options
• 20 days PTO