Computational plasma physicist - transport modeling

Thea Energy is leveraging recent breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering to create a faster and simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy. The company is reinventing the stellarator using computer-controlled arrays of planar coils thereby replacing the intricate, complex modular magnets required in all other stellarator architectures. Thea Energy is on a mission to create a limitless source of zero emission energy for a sustainable future.

Position Overview

As a transport modeling physicist at Thea Energy, you will be an architect of our plasma performance projections. You will apply advanced kinetic and fluid models to characterize heat, particle, and momentum transport in highly-optimized stellarator geometries. Your objective is to transform fundamental physics into actionable constraints, guiding our equilibrium+coil optimization and operational scenarios to ensure the success of our next generation fusion devices.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform/analyze integrated modeling simulations to predict performance and develop scenarios for Thea Energy's Eos and Helios stellarators.
• Utilize gyrokinetic, fluid, and/or reduced transport solvers to provide projections of confinement, heat, particle, and momentum transport.
• Maintain and extend existing gyrokinetic and transport frameworks
• Build reproducible simulation pipelines and data analysis tools to streamline the design-to-validation loop.
• Use insights from turbulence and transport analysis to guide equilibrium and coil optimization.
• Collaborate with the physics and engineering team to develop scenarios and interpret results from current hardware.

Required Experience & Skillsets

Qualifications

• PhD in Plasma Physics, Computational Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field. (Candidates with a Master's degree and 3+ years of direct experience in transport/turbulence modeling will be considered).
• Strong understanding of gyrokinetic theory and transport processes
• Expertise in developing scientific simulation codes using Python, C++, or Fortran.
• Proven experience working in Linux-based HPC environments with a focus on code scalability and performance.

Preferred Skills

• Direct experience running core (e.g. GENE, stella, CGYRO, GX) and/or edge (GENE-X, XGC, Gkeyll) gyrokinetic codes.
• Experience with stellarator-specific equilibrium and stability codes such as VMEC, STELLOPT, DESC, and/or TERPSICHORE.
• Familiarity with advanced numerical methods, GPU programming, and/or developing surrogate/reduced models.
• A track record of peer-reviewed publications and the ability to present complex physics to multi-disciplinary engineering teams.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to manage complex projects from theory to implementation with minimal supervision.
• A passion for fusion energy and a desire to work in a fast-paced, collaborative startup environment.
• Rigorous approach to code verification and physics validation.

Company Benefits

• Salary range $100,000 - $140,000
• Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)
• Employee equity stock options
• 20 days PTO

It's not necessary to meet all of the skillsets outlined above. Please feel free to send us a note and tell us why you would still be a great fit for this role or Thea Energy.

Diversity and Inclusion

Thea Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a company of diverse backgrounds. By creating a diverse environment, we will bring new ideas and approaches to solving some of the world's hardest (and most important) problems. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, family or marital status, age, disability, veteran's status, or other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.