Experimental Plasma Physicist

OpenStar Technologies

OpenStar Technologies is on a mission to capture the power of the Sun. By mastering fusion, the process that powers the stars, we can generate safe, clean, carbon-free, baseload electricity in a way that is economically scalable to the challenge of mitigating climate disaster and giving birth to the next industrial revolution. The team is currently made up of 63 talented engineers and physicists, based in Wellington, New Zealand.

At OpenStar Technologies, our culture is founded on a commitment to making a positive impact on the world. We empower every member of our team with meaningful responsibility, fostering an environment where creativity and innovation thrive in pursuit of our collective mission.

Job Description

As an Experimental Plasma Physicist, you will lead the initialization, planning, and execution of experimental campaigns, contributing to the design, testing, and calibration of diagnostic and measurement systems. This hands-on role will require a blend of technical expertise and innovative problem-solving skills.

We encourage people with broad experience to apply for this position. This position offers a unique opportunity to work on interdisciplinary projects and collaborate across the whole experiment. There is some flexibility in this role, and we will mould the position around the right candidate.  

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, fabricate, test, and calibrate experimental setups, integrating advanced diagnostic and measurement systems.


• Design and operate experiments utilizing spectroscopic techniques, plasma probes, and vacuum equipment.


• Analyze and interpret experimental data using Python


• Prepare comprehensive technical reports and deliver oral and written presentations.
  


• Conduct occasional travel for collaborative projects, conferences, and experimental campaigns.

Requirements

• An MSc relevant to experimental plasma physics with at least 2 years of relevant experience, or a PhD relevant to experimental plasma physics.


• Proficiency in Python for data analysis and visualization.


• Strong technical writing and presentation skills.


• Hands-on experience with experimental setups, diagnostics, and instrumentation.


• Familiarity with spectroscopic techniques, plasma probes, and vacuum systems.

Employment Details

Employment type: Full-time - permanent employment

Compensation: Competitive cash salary + employee stock option plan

Leave: 25 days per annum

Health Insurance: Location Dependent

Location: This role has the scope to be located either in Wellington, New Zealand or Boston, MA.

At OpenStar, we believe in our employees' ability to structure their work in a way that works best for them. We are flexible on hours and working from home. However, given the critical nature of this role and its impact on company culture, it must be undertaken primarily with the rest of the team, in office.

This opportunity boils down to the chance to work on something truly meaningful. The scariest thing about the climate crisis today is that, for all of our bluster and protest, there are very few of us who actually have a chance to do meaningful work solving this problem. Carbon-free energy is an absolute necessity if we want to be able to recognise the world that our children and grandchildren inherit. Please join us in making this a reality!