Tritium Breeding Blanket Manufacturing Engineer

Gauss Fusion is a European fusion company focused on industrialising stellarator fusion, founded in 2022 by Frank Laukien together with European high-tech companies with capabilities in magnetic-confinement fusion and component production for experiments such as ITER. Tritium and deuterium are the two hydrogen isotopes that will fuel fusion power plants, and because the supply of tritium is limited it must be produced in the fusion facility, using breeding blankets containing lithium compounds and a fully closed fuel cycle. This Tritium Breeding Blanket Manufacturing Engineer supports the qualification of the tritium breeding blanket (TBB) and its main interfacing systems, working mainly with industry and national and international laboratories. The role supports the design, development, building and testing of representative mock-ups and prototypes, with the main responsibility of ensuring the final component can be manufactured on an industrial scale and cost effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Review engineering and manufacturing deliverables, including procedures, reports and manufacturing routes
• Control and verify manufacturing project requirements
• Manage and control documentation, and follow up on engineering activities and technical documentation through the engineering and production phases
• Identify design issues, propose solutions and contribute to updates of the associated design description documents
• Provide design-for-manufacturing (DfM) guidance throughout concept evolution
• Support mechanical design with engineering verification assessments against criteria defined in standards, regulations and codes
• Define and develop manufacturing and assembly strategies and activities, with a focus on manufacturability assessment, mock-up and prototype development, and liaison with industrial partners to produce the manufacturing mock-ups
• Review design analysis and the development of test prototypes for breeding blankets, including technical design and construction of prototypes, CAD modelling and finite element modelling
• Support and review the development of mock-ups and full-scale prototypes
• Attend activities at partner and collaborator premises
• Work closely with Nuclear Safety and Export Control experts given the sensitive nature of tritium

Requirements

Essential:

• Good master’s degree or equivalent in physics, mechanical engineering, materials engineering or nuclear engineering
• At least 5 years of experience in manufacturing engineering roles, with demonstrated involvement in prototyping, pilot production and qualification phases in the fusion, nuclear or aerospace industries
• Hands-on experience following up the manufacturing of mechanical components under a Quality Management System, involving some of forging, sanding or surface coating, drilling, welding, machining, or electrical/TIG welding
• Knowledge of at least one code and standard used in the design and manufacturing of mechanical components (ASME III, ASME VIII, RCC-MR, RCC-MRx, Eurocodes, EN standards and similar)
• Experience verifying the compliance of mechanical components with at least one such code and standard
• At least basic knowledge of nuclear safety and export control
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes and routes, including machining, forming, assembly, surface treatments and special processes relevant to the industry
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and a proactive, solution-oriented mindset
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, interfacing with design, materials and quality
• Proficiency in English

Desirable:

• Industrial experience in welding activities (International Welding Engineers, ideally) and non-destructive testing techniques (radiographic, ultrasonic, visual, liquid penetrant), in particular for stainless steels
• Familiarity with design analysis and the development of test prototypes
• Familiarity with manufacturing readiness, process qualification and production ramp-up activities
• Experience working with suppliers or industrial partners on technical deliverables
• Familiarity with magnetic fusion and/or nuclear power-plant systems
• Ability to read and communicate in German and/or French