Scientist V

General Atomics

San Diego, CA

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JOB DETAILS

SKILLS

Affirmative Action, Aircraft Piloting, Analysis Skills, Campaigns, Communication Skills, Composite Materials, Cross-Functional, Documentation, Experiment Design, Federal Laws and Regulations, Genetics, Interpersonal Skills, Laser Science, Leadership, Material Science, Materials Testing, Medical Conditions, Military, Physics, Plasma, Publications, Reporting Skills, Scientific Principles, Scientific Publications, Spectroscopy, Stress Testing, Team Lead/Manager, Technical Presentation, Technical/Engineering Design, Thermal Analysis, Transportation Modeling, United States Citizen, United States Department of Energy (DOE), Willing to Travel, Wireless Communications

LOCATION

San Diego, CA

POSTED

Today

55310BR

Company:

General Atomics

Job Summary:

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

Under general supervision with limited review, this position is responsible for determining and developing effective approaches for resolving a wide range of difficult scientific problems in plasma‑materials interactions (PMI) for magnetic fusion energy. Assignments are normally outlined in terms of overall objectives and anticipated results. The scientist will document findings, communicate results to scientific staff, and make technical presentations as required. The scientist may coordinate segments of a specific project. The scientist may provide direction to design or technical staff and may provide direction to less experienced professional staff.

This position performs PMI research within the Comprehensive Investigation of Tokamak Impurities and Understanding of Surfaces (CITIUS) program, managed by General Atomics on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy. The scientist will lead experimental and/or modeling efforts focused on plasma‑facing material survivability and tungsten impurity source modeling in tokamak environments, with emphasis on one or more of the following topics:

+ Stress-testing advanced tungsten alloys and composites

+ Evaluation of re-deposited tungsten layers and slag‑like deposits

+ Spectroscopic inference of net tungsten erosion

+ Preferential sputtering and surface evolution of tungsten alloys

The scientist will collaborate closely with materials scientists, computational modelers, and experimental plasma physicists across the CITIUS team and external institutions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The scientist will perform one or more of the following essential functions:

+ Plan, execute, and analyze DIII‑D DiMES and, where applicable, tile‑scale experiments to evaluate advanced materials under divertor‑relevant heat and particle fluxes.

+ Coordinate fabrication, qualification, and exposure of tungsten‑based materials (e.g., additively manufactured W, dispersion‑strengthened W, W heavy alloys, Wf/W composites) to assess thermal shock resistance, crack formation thresholds, net erosion, surface morphology evolution, and hydrogenic fuel retention.

+ Design and interpret experiments on re-deposited tungsten layers and mixed material deposits to quantify gross and net erosion, effective sputtering yields, and dust/slag production using in‑situ spectroscopy, imaging diagnostics, and post‑mortem analysis.

+ Lead DiMES experiments that correlate W-I/W-II/W-III line emission with net tungsten erosion, including during ELMs and inter‑ELM phases, and integrate spectroscopic data with RBS/NRA and other post‑mortem measurements to derive validated relationships between emission and net erosion.

+ Implement and apply homogeneous mixing models (HMM) and related PMI tools (e.g., RustBCA, ERO2.0) to predict preferential sputtering, surface composition evolution, and effective erosion of tungsten alloys and heavy alloys for divertor and main‑chamber‑relevant conditions.

+ Coordinate with collaborators for pre‑ and post‑exposure characterization and incorporate these results into PMI and impurity source models.

+ Prepare technical reports and presentations summarizing methods, results, and impacts; contribute to peer‑reviewed publications; and present results at scientific meetings.

+ Stay informed about advances in fusion materials science, PMI diagnostics, and impurity modeling, and propose improvements to experimental protocols, diagnostics, and modeling workflows.

+ Perform other duties as assigned or required.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job ID#:

55310BR

Job Category:

Scientists

Travel Percentage Required:

0% - 25%

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time Salary

State:

California

Pay Range Low:

116,480

City:

San Diego

Clearance Required?:

No

Pay Range High:

208,505

Recruitment Posting Title:

Scientist Sr

Job Qualifications:

+ Typically requires a Bachelors degree, Masters degree or PhD in a scientific or related technical field and progressively complex scientific experience as follows; nine or more years experience with a Bachelors degree, seven or more years experience with a Masters degree, and four or more with a PhD. Equivalent scientific experience may be substituted in lieu of education.

Must have:

+ A rigorous understanding of scientific concepts, principles, and theory in at least one of the following areas: plasma‑materials interactions, fusion plasma physics, or advanced materials for extreme environments.

+ Experience demonstrating broad application of those concepts to experimental and/or computational PMI problems (e.g., tokamak or linear device exposures, erosion/retention studies, impurity transport modeling).

Must possess the ability to:

+ Understand new concepts quickly and apply them accurately in an evolving research environment.

+ Organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases across experimental campaigns and modeling tasks.

+ Determine the appropriate technical approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.

+ Must have strong communication, computer, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills; the ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team; and the ability to perform complex tasks in one scientific area while interfacing effectively with adjacent disciplines.

+ Must be able to lead a team of less experienced professional employees on semi‑routine tasks and coordinate with technical staff on experimental hardware and diagnostics.

+ Able to work extended hours and travel as required.

+ Original work(s) published in professional scientific journals or formal technical equivalents in relevant areas are highly desirable.

Demonstrated experience in at least two of the following is highly desirable:

+ Plasma exposure experiments on plasma‑facing materials (tokamak or linear device).

+ Development or application of PMI / impurity transport codes (e.g., ITMC‑DYN, RustBCA, SDTrimSP, GITRm, ERO2.0, SOLPS‑ITER, SOLEDGE3X, EMC3‑EIRENE).

+ Modeling of surface evolution, preferential sputtering, or homogeneous mixing in alloys and composites.

+ Spectroscopic diagnostics and analysis for impurity erosion and transport.

US Citizenship Required?:

No

Experience Level:

Senior (8+ years)

Relocation Assistance Provided?:

Yes

Workstyle:

Onsite
General Atomics is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, transitioning status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, medical condition, mental disability, physical disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. In accordance with applicable federal law, General Atomics takes affirmative action to employ and advance the employment of qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. We also prohibit compensation discrimination under all applicable laws. U.S. Citizenship is required for certain positions. To learn more, please review the EEOC’s "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster.

About the Company

General Atomics

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