R&D Engineer
- Location
- Somerville, MA
- Listed
- Today
What you'll do
- Design, analyze, review, procure, and build mechanical assemblies and test equipment. Including structures, fluid systems, pressure vessels, mechanical systems, and electro-mechanical systems. We deal with extreme environments and conditions: tens of tons of load, thousands of amps, kilovolts, cryogenic temperatures etc
- Work with Test Engineers to plan tests for achieving objectives, collecting key data needed and defining instrumentation and controls necessary to obtain this data. Ensure data is reliable and validated
- Understand, challenge, and maintain well-documented requirements and risks for the system or component under test
- Identify and mitigate safety hazards associated with test equipment and prototypes. Produce safety documentation such as job hazard assessments and test readiness reviews
- Maintain documentation and schedule for projects responsible for. Documentation may include: design reviews, wiring lists, P&IDs, schematics, CAD assemblies, and drawings, and technician work instructions
- Perform any needed analysis to create successful designs. Analysis may include structural, thermal, or fluid.
- Analysis to include first principles hand calculations and/or FEA, whichever is warranted.
- Troubleshoot and resolve integration discrepancies during build, and commissioning of new designs
- Iterate on designs, equipment, and operations to improve designs
What we’re looking for
- Bachelors degree in engineering or science field is required; Mechanical engineering or similar, or applied physics degree
- 3+ years experience designing, analyzing, fabricating, and commissioning complex mechanical and electro-mechanical assemblies
- 3+ years using CAD software to design complex assemblies, producing drawings for procurement with a working knowledge of GD&T and tolerance stack-up
- 3+ years experience with analysis of mechanical components, strength of materials and failure criteria. Familiar with use of fasteners, analysis of welds, and bolted joints
- Familiarity with electromagnetic fundamentals - voltage, current, resistance, Ohm's Law, AC/DC, right-hand rule, solenoids, etc
- Excellent troubleshooting/problem- solving skills with great attention to detail
- Effective at communicating technical topics to both technical and non-technical audiences
- High self-motivation and drive to execute quickly
- A can-do attitude and an eagerness to learn and/or teach junior engineers/technicians
- Collaboration skills including active listening and facilitating a productive discourse on problems
- Ability to innovate creative solutions to challenging problems
- Willingness to challenge the status quo in search of better, more efficient methods
Bonus points for
- 5+ years experience designing, analyzing, fabricating, and commissioning complex mechanical and electro-mechanical assemblies
- 5+ years using CAD software to design complex assemblies, producing drawings for procurement with a working knowledge of GD&T and tolerance stack-up
- 5+ years experience with analysis of mechanical components, strength of materials and failure criteria. Familiar with use of fasteners, analysis of welds, and bolted joints
- Experience with structural FEA software, especially ANSYS and COMSOL
- Experience with multi-physics analysis in ANSYS or COMSOL
- Experience using NX and Teamcenter
- Experience with high field magnet testing, traditional or superconducting
- Experience with data processing, analysis, and plotting using Python, MATLAB, or similar
- Experience with high voltage and high current power equipment design and use - power supplies, water cooled cables, insulation
Must-have requirements
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs
- Perform activities such as typing, climbing, standing, stooping or sitting for extended periods of time
- Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call
- Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics
- #LI-Hybrid
- At CFS, we excel in fast-paced environments, driven by our values of integrity, execution, impact, and self-critique. As we grow, we’re eager to bring on mission-driven folks who offer diverse perspectives and fresh ways to tackle challenges.
This role requires compliance with U.S. laws concerning the export of controlled or protected technologies or information (collectively, “Export Control Laws"). Any offer of employment will be contingent on the need for compliance with such Export Control Laws.
About Commonwealth Fusion Systems
Commonwealth Fusion Systems is on a mission to deliver the urgent transition to fusion energy.
Combining decades of research, top talent, and new technologies, we’re designing and building commercially viable fusion power plants. And we're working with policymakers, suppliers, and many others to build the energy industry of the future.
We’re in the best position to make it happen. Since 2018, we’ve raised $4 billion of capital, making us the largest and leading fusion company in the world.
Now we’re looking for more thinkers, doers, builders, and makers to join us. People who’ll bring new perspectives, solve tough problems, and thrive as part of a team.
If that’s you and this role fits, we want to hear from you.
Join the power movement as a R&D Engineer
As an R&D Engineer, you will work dynamically across multiple engineering disciplines and cross-functional teams to execute critical projects and tests on fast-paced timelines in support of CFS’s mission. Our core mandate is to systematically retire technical risks for HTS Cable Magnets by developing experiments, prototypes, and specialized test stands, followed by rigorous testing to generate high-quality data.
Strong foundational knowledge in physics, mechanical engineering, electrical systems, materials science, fluid dynamics, and finite element analysis (FEA) is essential. We are privileged with a high degree of cownership of the risks assigned to us, from initial concept to final validation:
Stakeholder Collaboration & Consensus: Partner across R&D, Design, Manufacturing, and Procurement to critically evaluate requirements, clarify test objectives, and align stakeholders on necessary outcomes and essential data
Design & Build: Engineer and construct targeted hardware, prototypes, and custom test systems required to fulfill objective goals
Testing & Commissioning: Commission setups, run experiments safely and methodically
Sharing the results: Perform rigorous data analysis, and communicate results clearly to the broader organization. Ultimately our output is data and it is our responsibility to stand by it
Equal opportunity and legal notices
We value diversity deeply and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally, regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law.
From Commonwealth Fusion Systems's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on November 13, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
How Rolev.ai helps with this application
Rolev.ai is a job search and application tool for US job seekers. For this R&D Engineer role at Commonwealth Fusion Systems, it shows how your resume fits, tailors your resume to the posting, and prepares the application for you to review.
See how you fit
Openings from employer career sites are ranked against your whole resume—and searchable inside Claude, ChatGPT, and Cursor via Rolev.ai MCP.
Tailor without inventing
Every change to your resume is checked against your original. New experience goes in only with your yes—zero fabricated claims.
Draft the full kit
Tailored and Full Match resumes, role-specific cover letters, and answers to employer screening questions are prepared in seconds.
1-Click Extension Autofill
The Chrome extension fills the employer's Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, or Ashby form in 1 click. You review it and press Submit.
Common questions
Where is the R&D Engineer job at Commonwealth Fusion Systems located?
This R&D Engineer position at Commonwealth Fusion Systems is located in Somerville, MA. Always check Commonwealth Fusion Systems's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
How do I apply for the R&D Engineer position at Commonwealth Fusion Systems?
This listing links directly to Commonwealth Fusion Systems's Lever application page. You can apply directly on Commonwealth Fusion Systems's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Lever application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.