Senior System Engineer

About the role

Avalanche is a Seattle-based start-up developing compact fusion machines for clean, energy-dense power generation at a scale you can hold in your hands.  Our unique approach allows us to build, test, break, learn and iterate in days.  The modular design is designed to provide power to applications from austere environments to deep sea vehicles and maritime transport to lunar power.

We know we have an incredibly ambitious mission, and that it requires a wide combination of skills, attitude, and grit to make it happen. If you have a passion for abundant energy, and how we can improve life with it, we want to have a chat with you.

Avalanche might be fit for you if: You are self-motivated, energized by problem solving and working closely with hardware. You enjoy hands-on, creative collaboration with a small, tight-knit team you can work with, laugh with, and learn with on a wide variety of topics.  You can learn and pivot between priorities when necessary and you can slide the headphones on, focus, and auger deep into a single topic as needed.  You thrive in an atmosphere of development, and you are an ardent learner who’s always looking for ways to grow and improve.

About the Role

Avalanche Energy is hiring a Senior Systems Engineer to join our PMO and Systems Engineering team. This is a hands-on individual contributor role focused on systems engineering and technical program integration across Avalanche's fusion development programs.

You will work closely with plasma physicists, mechanical, EE/DAQ, nuclear, test infrastructure engineers to turn scientific objectives into executable technical work. Many of the problems you encounter will initially be incomplete, uncertain, or poorly structured.

The role requires someone who can move comfortably between system level thinking and detailed execution. One day may involve working with scientists to define what an experiment needs to demonstrate. Another may involve tracing an interface between a device, diagnostic, facility, and control system, preparing a technical review, or turning a developing architecture into requirements and an integrated device roadmap.

This role reports to the Head of PMO and Systems Engineering and operates as an embedded systems engineer and technical integrator within program teams.

Responsibilities:

This role serves as Systems Engineer and Technical Integrator across two core programs: the Orbitron Science Program and the FusionWERX infrastructure build-out.

Orbitron Science Program

- Lead systems engineering and technical integration for new Orbitron devices and major test capabilities from early concept through commissioning.

- Translate scientific and experimental needs into system requirements, architecture, interfaces, development plans, and verification approaches across hardware, diagnostics, controls, high voltage, and test infrastructure.

- Coordinate work across scientific and engineering disciplines, driving technical reviews, trade studies, interface resolution, and system-level decisions needed to deliver an integrated test capability.