Alpha Cryogenics Engineer

About the role

Proxima Fusion develops the cryogenic plant for the Alpha stellarator, advancing the Wendelstein 7-X platform toward the first commercial stellarator fusion power plant. This role focuses on designing and validating integrated cooling systems and leading external collaboration. You will own the specification and verification of the cryogenic processes that enable the Alpha superconducting magnets, translating high-level engineering requirements into robust thermal and fluid control strategies. You will partner with mechanical, electrical, and systems engineers to ensure that the cryogenic infrastructure meets strict availability, reliability, and safety targets for a fusion power plant. A central part of this position is driving external collaboration with technology providers and research institutions to align component design, testing, and delivery with the project schedule. You will lead root cause analysis for any cooling system anomalies, coordinating tests and data reviews to keep the development timeline on track. This role requires clear documentation of methods and results so that technical decisions are traceable and reproducible across the team. You will contribute to the development of operational procedures and standards that govern cryogenic performance throughout the Alpha system lifecycle.

Key facts

What you'll do

Define and validate the end-to-end cryogenic cooling architecture for the Alpha stellarator, ensuring compatibility with the W7-X derived superconducting magnet design.

Lead the development of thermal and fluid models that predict cryogenic plant performance under pulsed and transient operating conditions relevant to fusion experiments.

Design and implement test protocols that verify the thermal stability, pressure control, and flow distribution of the cryogenic circuits across the magnet and coldhead systems.

Coordinate with external suppliers and research partners to align component specifications, interface requirements, and test data with the overall fusion system architecture.

Establish measurement strategies using sensors and data acquisition systems to monitor key cryogenic parameters during integration and commissioning activities.

Drive the creation of failure mode analyses and corrective action plans that address potential disruptions in cryogenic cooling or heat load events.

Develop standard operating procedures and engineering work instructions that document cryogenic system setup, calibration, and troubleshooting steps.

Support the integration of cryogenic hardware with adjacent systems such as vacuum, power, and control infrastructure to enable stable experimental campaigns.

Perform trade studies to evaluate alternative refrigerants, distribution schemes, and coldhead configurations against project constraints and lifecycle costs.

Contribute to the preparation of technical deliverables for regulatory reviews, safety assessments, and stakeholder briefings related to cryogenic operations.

Collaborate with software teams to implement control algorithms that regulate cryogenic temperatures and pressures in response to real-time diagnostics.

Champion continuous improvement initiatives that incorporate test results, field data, and lessons learned into updated design and verification practices.

Represent the cryogenic discipline in cross-functional design reviews, ensuring that cooling requirements are clearly communicated and consistently addressed.

Support the development of a knowledge base that captures cryogenic engineering decisions, enabling teams to scale the technology for future stellarator platforms.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience in cryogenics, thermal engineering, or a closely related discipline gained through academic or professional projects.

Strong understanding of cryogenic temperatures, phase equilibria, and heat transfer mechanisms in engineering systems relevant to large-scale magnets.

Familiarity with the thermal and mechanical challenges of superconducting magnets and the role of cryogenic cooling in their operation.

Proven ability to develop and validate engineering models, translating requirements into quantitative predictions of system performance.

Experience coordinating with external partners and managing technical interfaces in a hardware development or research environment.

Solid written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to multidisciplinary audiences.

Comfort working within a structured product development process that includes planning, reviews, and iterative design cycles.

Commitment to maintaining detailed documentation and traceability between requirements, tests, and results in a regulated fusion energy context.

Nice to have

Experience with the Wendelstein 7-X platform or prior exposure to stellarator magnetic systems and their engineering challenges.

Background in the development of cryogenic systems for large scientific facilities or high-energy physics experiments.

Familiarity with control system integration and data acquisition in complex experimental environments.

Practical notes

This is a full time role based in Oxford.

The position may involve travel to partner sites, test facilities, and conferences as required by project needs.

Employment eligibility checks will be conducted in accordance with local regulations.

Candidates must meet all security and compliance standards required for work on regulated fusion energy projects.