Proxima Fusion is Europe's fastest-growing fusion company and the continent's best-funded fusion player, and the first spin-out from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP). Founded in Munich in April 2023, the company is developing the hardware and infrastructure needed to deliver the world's first commercial stellarator fusion power plant. 

Proxima's concept advances the most mature fusion technology available today — the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator — through two next-generation machines: Alpha, a scientific-breakeven demonstrator, and Stellaris, Proxima's first-of-a-kind commercial power plant, targeted for operation in the 2030s. The work combines stellarator optimization, advanced computation, machine learning and high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets to unlock higher-performance designs than were previously possible.

Backed by over €650M, Proxima employs a growing team of roughly 100 people across Munich (HQ), Zurich and Oxford (Culham), with headcount planned to grow roughly 5x over the coming years. Turning stellarator designs into a functioning power plant requires excellence across every discipline — physics, mechanical/electrical/controls engineering, computation and software, manufacturing and industrial operations, and business functions such as partnerships, procurement, communications and people.

For Politecnico di Milano students and recent graduates in engineering, design and architecture, Proxima offers hands-on exposure to first-of-a-kind hardware, a fast-moving deep-tech startup culture, and the chance to work directly on one of the defining engineering challenges of this century.


Below are the open positions at Ephos:

1. Laser Diagnostician
2. Plasma Spectroscopy Diagnostician
3. Plasma Microwave Modelling Physicist (ECRH, Gyrotrons)
4. Electrical Control Engineer
5. Computational Engineer
6. Numerical Modeling Engineer
7. Mechanical Design Engineer
8. Plasma Edge Transport Physicist
9. Computational Physicist
10. Manufacturing Engineer

 

1- Laser Diagnostician

Munich, Germany (also Oxford) | Full time | On-site | L2/L3

Design and build the Thomson Scattering and plasma-density laser diagnostics for the Alpha stellarator, owning the full lifecycle from concept to operation.

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead design and build of the Thomson Scattering diagnostic 
• Lead design and build of the laser-based plasma density diagnostic 
• Develop detailed diagnostic specifications to meet performance requirements 
• Manage the full lifecycle: design, procure, build, test, install, commission, operate 

What We're Looking For

• Master's degree or higher in physics, engineering or equivalent experience
• Experience with class IV lasers (high-energy pulsed and/or high-power CW infrared) 
• Prior work on a laser-based diagnostic on a large infrastructure machine 
• Working knowledge of Python and modern tool chains 

 

2- Plasma Spectroscopy Diagnostician

Munich, Germany (also Oxford) | Full time | On-site | L2/L3

Design and build the spectroscopic diagnostics — charge exchange, X-ray crystal spectrometer, wide-band systems — that measure ion temperature, impurity concentration and flow on Alpha.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead design and build of spectroscopic diagnostics across the visible-to-XUV range 
• Develop detailed specifications for each spectroscopic system 
• Establish robust implementation with the Alpha engineering team 
• Manage the full lifecycle from design through operation and maintenance 

What We're Looking For

• Master's degree or higher in physics, engineering or equivalent experience 
• Experience with high-resolution spectrometers 
• Prior work on a spectroscopic diagnostic on a large infrastructure machine 
• Working knowledge of Python 

 

3. Plasma Microwave Modelling Physicist (ECRH, Gyrotrons)

Munich, Germany | Full time | PF2

Own the physics simulation pipeline connecting gyrotron sources to plasma performance — modelling propagation, polarization and absorption of millimeter waves in the Alpha stellarator.

Key Responsibilities

• Run ray- and beam-tracing EC wave simulations (e.g. TRAVIS, RAYTRAX) 
• Couple wave-deposition models to transport codes for scenario optimization 
• Build Python post-processing pipelines for scenario scanning 
• Model Electron Cyclotron Current Drive and its effect on equilibrium 

What We're Looking For

• PhD (or equivalent) in plasma physics, applied physics or a related field 
• Hands-on experience with an EC propagation/absorption code 
• Proficient in Python; comfortable reading/modifying legacy Fortran or C/C++ 
• Systems-thinking mindset, translating physics into engineering requirements 

 

4. Electrical Control Engineer

Zurich, Switzerland (also Munich) | Full time | On-site | L2

Shape the control architecture for next-generation integrated plant systems — moving from isolated equipment toward fully coordinated, plant-wide operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop control architectures for electrical/automation systems 
• Implement and optimize advanced control algorithms 
• Lead integration and coordination of multiple subsystems 
• Implement diagnostics and monitoring for predictive maintenance 

What We're Looking For

• University degree in Control Systems, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, CS or equivalent 
• Strong background in electrical engineering / control systems with industrial hands-on experience 
• Comfortable working with PLC/PAC/IPC systems 
• Knowledge of superconductors is a plus 

 

5- Computational Engineer

Munich, Germany | Full time | On-site | L1 — early career

Define stellarator components in code — parametric design, differentiable models and fully automated analysis pipelines. Explicitly framed by Proxima as an early-career role: internships, student teams or strong independent projects count as relevant background.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect integrated systems using powerful computational tools 
• Create parametric representations of reactor components in code 
• Automate the CAD-to-mesh-to-simulation-to-postprocessing pipeline in the cloud 
• Build JAX-based differentiable geometry and physics models 
• Write new algorithms for custom 3D geometries 

What We're Looking For

• An exceptionally capable early-career engineer who reaches for code to solve problems 
• Strong fundamentals in linear algebra and geometry 
• Experience using Python for engineering or scientific problems 
• Comfort with Git and well-tested, maintainable code 

 

6. Numerical Modeling Engineer

Zurich, Switzerland | Full time | On-site | L3

Build high-fidelity simulation tools — electromagnetic, thermal, quench — that predict and de-risk the behaviour of Proxima's superconducting magnets.

Key Responsibilities

• Model high-field magnet EM behaviour: current distribution, inductance, AC losses 
• Simulate thermal behaviour and coupled EM-thermal transients, including quench dynamics 
• Develop custom solvers and reduced-order models for design iteration 
• Correlate simulations with experimental data to refine predictive capability 

What We're Looking For

• MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Computational Engineering or related 
• Strong foundation in electromagnetics and physics-based numerical modelling (FEM) 
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, C++ or similar 
• Comfortable in a startup where tools and standards are still evolving 

 

7. Mechanical Design Engineer

Munich, Germany (also Oxford, Zurich) | Full time | Hybrid | L2/L3/L4

Design, analyse, validate and realise the Alpha stellarator's mechanical, structural and thermal systems, from concept through prototyping and manufacture.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop detailed mechanical designs for critical Alpha systems 
• Carry out thermal and structural analysis, feeding back design improvements 
• Conduct technology trade-offs, material selection and feasibility studies 
• Support prototyping and verification; work with external suppliers on manufacture 

What We're Looking For

• Experience designing and analysing mechanical components/assemblies, CAD-proficient 
• Experience with materials for high-temperature, cryogenic, EM or vacuum applications 
• Ability to manage external suppliers in fast-paced, multidisciplinary teams 
• Python proficiency is a plus, not essential 

 

8. Plasma Edge Transport Physicist

Munich, Germany | Full time | L3

Tackle one of the defining challenges of stellarator reactors — controlling the plasma edge and exhaust in a complex 3D magnetic topology — to enable robust heat and particle exhaust under reactor-relevant conditions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and apply theoretical/computational models of the edge and Scrape-Off Layer 
• Close key gaps in turbulent transport, ExB flows and impurity behaviour modelling 
• Ground design strategy in experimental validation 
• Work closely with engineers on device-design compatibility 

What We're Looking For

• Postgraduate degree in plasma physics 
• Strong experience in edge transport, with a practical exhaust-strategy focus 
• Proficient in Python, Julia, C++ and/or Fortran 

 

9. Computational Physicist

Munich, Germany | Full time | On-site

Design and validate simulation tools for fusion plasma behaviour, applying state-of-the-art numerical models and modern software engineering practices.

 

10. Manufacturing Engineer

Munich, Germany | Full time | On-site 

Develop and industrialize manufacturing processes for high-temperature superconducting magnet coils — tooling, fixtures, assembly sequences, process controls, inspection and quality systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead prototype builds and New Product Introduction (NPI) campaigns 
• Run process trials and root-cause analysis 
• Own supplier qualification and engineering change control 
• Lead the transition from prototype to serial production 

What We're Looking For

• Top skills referenced: CAD, CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, FMEA, GD&T, HTS magnets, Lean Six Sigma, MES, PLM, SolidWorks, SPC, Tulip