Accelerator Physicist (Lead)

The Acceleron Fusion Accelerator Physicist plays a key role in the design and optimisation of muon production systems for the company’s fusion technology. Acceleron Fusion is developing muon-catalysed fusion, a path to clean, abundant energy, building on research sponsored by the U.S. DOE.

Acceleron Fusion has raised over $20M in its Series A venture capital round and has logged 100+ hours of muon-catalysed fusion in tests at the Paul Scherrer Institute. Its collaborators include PSI, Oak Ridge, Argonne, Fermilab and several universities. The Acceleron Fusion Accelerator Physicist role is a senior individual contributor position with technical leadership responsibilities, owning the technical strategy and programme plan for accelerator-driven muon production and associated beamlines, and helping to build and mentor a small team as scope grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the technical strategy and programme plan for accelerator-driven muon production and associated beamlines, including design, schedule, risk and interface management
• Participate in the design and optimisation of accelerator systems and beamlines for muon focusing and cooling, and perform and review beam dynamics simulations
• Lead or supervise contractors and vendors for preconceptual linac design and related subsystems, and establish technical specifications and acceptance criteria
• Specify and architect the RF power chain, including MW-class RF power conversion, distribution, waveguides and couplers, and coordinate with cryogenics on thermal load budgets (kW-level at cryogenic temperatures)
• Drive preliminary engineering design, evaluate feasibility and trade-offs, lead design reviews, and coordinate cross-functional deliverables across RF, cryogenics, targetry, controls and safety
• Author technical papers, contribute to the company’s scientific publications, present research at scientific conferences and represent the programme with external collaborators
• Establish working standards for modelling, data management and verification and validation, in collaboration with the broader physics and engineering teams

Requirements

Essential:

• PhD in physics, electrical engineering or a related field, with a focus on accelerator physics (or equivalent experience)
• Deep understanding of beam dynamics and accelerator systems, with hands-on experience with beamlines, synchrotrons or storage rings
• Proficiency with accelerator and EM simulation tools (for example MAD-X, OPAL, elegant, GPT, CST/HFSS, COMSOL), CAD software (for example SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and scientific computing (Python/Matlab)
• Broad familiarity with adjacent accelerator engineering, including high-power RF systems, cryogenics, radiation shielding and safety, and high-voltage interlocks
• Proven ability to lead complex technical programmes as a senior individual contributor, setting architecture, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams, making schedule and technical trade-offs, and driving to results
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, and the ability to influence across functions and with external partners
• Comfort operating in a fast-moving, resourceful startup environment

Desirable:

• National lab experience or collaborations (strongly preferred)
• Muon physics or muon beamline design experience (a plus)

The role is full-time and on-site at Acceleron Fusion’s facility in Cambridge, MA. The application asks whether candidates are legally authorised to work in the United States, whether they will now or in future require sponsorship, and whether they can work from the Cambridge office.