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Senior Mechanical Designer - Positioning Systems

About Pacific Fusion 

Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with the mission to power the world with abundant, affordable, clean energy.

We are rapidly designing and building a pulsed magnetic fusion system to achieve net facility gain (more fusion energy output than stored energy input). In parallel, we are developing the key components required to build affordable fusion systems.

Our plans are ambitious. We have raised over $900M so far from incredible investors, resourcing us to deliver on these plans. We are bringing together the best scientists, engineers, and operators from the fusion community, hard tech industry, and other sectors. We are united by a shared sense of urgency to provide clean power for the world, particularly managing climate change while meeting growing global energy demand. You can read more about us in this letter from our founders

About the Role

Job Overview:

Pacific Fusion is seeking an exceptional Senior Mechanical Designer to join our Positioners Team and create the path to commercial fusion energy. Based in San Leandro, CA, this role will be helping with the design of our large mechanisms that position diagnostic instruments and targets in vacuum for fusion experiments. These devices are essential for understanding the physical processes that will produce fusion energy.

Responsibilities:

  • Design, development, and deployment of large multi-degree of freedom mechanisms that operate in vacuum

  • Lead the implementation of design changes and improvements across our systems

  • Work closely with vendors and manufacturers to ensure designs are practical, cost-effective, and manufacturable

  • Conduct design reviews and provide critical feedback to improve system performance and reliability

  • Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams (including instrumentation, software, and manufacturing engineers) to integrate system-level designs

  • Oversee the creation of detailed design documentation and specifications

  • Participate in risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies

Qualifications:

  • 10+ years of work experience in mechanical design

  • Advanced knowledge of CAD software, such as Creo

  • Extensive experience with GD&T and the generation of assembly and fabrication drawings

  • Extensive experience in the design, testing, and development of multi-degree of freedom mechanisms that adhere to challenging positional and loading requirements

  • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and DFM (Design for Manufacturability)

  • Experience in hands-on engineering design, rapid iteration, and creative problem solving in a laboratory setting

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Nice to Have:

  • Experience using Google Workspace, which we use for communication and collaboration

Benefits:

  • Industry-competitive salary

  • Equity plan

  • 6% employer 401k matching

  • Generous paid time off (including sick leave, vacation, paid family leave)

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Actual base salary offered will be determined by: experience, skills, and work location. This range is for base salary, our total compensation includes equity and benefits. We welcome you to apply even if your expectations are outside our listed range. 

Pacific Fusion is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Pacific Fusion is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures and throughout employment. If you need assistance or any accommodation, please let us know. 

Pacific Fusion does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies without a fully executed recruitment agreement in place. In the absence of such agreement, Pacific Fusion reserves the right to pursue and hire any candidates without an obligation to pay fees. Agencies are requested not to contact Pacific Fusion hiring managers or employees regarding recruiting services.

Average salary estimate

$125000 / YEARLY (est.)
min
max
$100000K
$150000K

If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.

What You Should Know About Senior Mechanical Designer - Positioning Systems, Pacific Fusion

At Pacific Fusion, we're on a trailblazing journey to revolutionize the energy landscape through clean and affordable fusion power. We’re currently looking for an innovative Senior Mechanical Designer to join our Positioners Team based in San Leandro, CA. In this pivotal role, you will be at the forefront of designing large mechanisms that play a crucial role in positioning diagnostic instruments and targets in vacuum environments during fusion experiments. As part of our dynamic team, you will have the opportunity to lead the design, development, and deployment of sophisticated multi-degree of freedom mechanisms that must operate efficiently under challenging conditions. You’ll ensure that our designs are not only cutting-edge but also practical and manufacturable by collaborating with renowned vendors and manufacturers. Your expertise will be instrumental in enhancing system performance and reliability through design reviews and critical feedback. You’ll also work alongside a multidisciplinary team to ensure seamless integration of system-level designs while overseeing detailed design documentation. If you have over 10 years of mechanical design experience and a strong grasp of CAD software like Creo, along with an eye for detail and a knack for creative problem-solving, we would love to speak with you. Join us in making history and powering the future with safe, clean energy!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Senior Mechanical Designer - Positioning Systems Role at Pacific Fusion
What are the main responsibilities of a Senior Mechanical Designer at Pacific Fusion?

The Senior Mechanical Designer at Pacific Fusion is responsible for designing, developing, and deploying large multi-degree of freedom mechanisms for vacuum environments in fusion experiments. This includes leading design changes across systems, collaborating with vendors to ensure manufacturability, conducting design reviews, and integrating designs with multidisciplinary teams.

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What qualifications are required for the Senior Mechanical Designer role at Pacific Fusion?

Candidates must have at least 10 years of mechanical design experience, demonstrate advanced knowledge of CAD software like Creo, and possess extensive experience with GD&T as well as the design of multi-degree of freedom mechanisms. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and excellent communication skills are also crucial for this role.

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Is prior experience in fusion energy necessary for the Senior Mechanical Designer position at Pacific Fusion?

While prior experience in fusion energy is not explicitly required, a deep understanding of mechanical design principles and hands-on engineering experience is essential. The role is highly technical, so familiarity with challenges unique to fusion systems is a strong plus.

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What type of projects will the Senior Mechanical Designer work on at Pacific Fusion?

The Senior Mechanical Designer at Pacific Fusion will work on innovative mechanical systems that position diagnostic instruments and targets for fusion experiments. These projects are central to understanding physical processes behind fusion energy, making this role vital to the company's mission.

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What benefits does Pacific Fusion offer to its Senior Mechanical Designers?

Pacific Fusion offers competitive salaries, an equity plan, generous paid time off, 401k matching, and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance. Moreover, the company promotes a diverse work environment and is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations for employees.

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Common Interview Questions for Senior Mechanical Designer - Positioning Systems
Can you describe your experience with CAD software in mechanical design?

When responding, highlight the specific CAD software you have used, elaborate on the complexity of the projects, and detail how your design efforts contributed to the overall success of your previous workplaces.

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What challenges have you faced in designing multi-degree of freedom mechanisms?

Discuss specific challenges you've encountered, such as overcoming positional constraints or loading requirements, and showcase your problem-solving skills and how you arrived at effective solutions.

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How do you ensure the manufacturability of your designs?

Talk about your collaboration with vendors and manufacturers throughout the design process, incorporating Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and feedback loops to refine your designs.

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Describe a successful project where you led design changes. What was your approach?

Focus on a specific project, detailing your role in identifying the need for design changes, the steps you took to implement those changes, and the impact on project outcomes.

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How do you handle cross-functional collaboration in a multi-disciplinary team?

Provide examples of past experiences where you successfully coordinated with different engineering disciplines, emphasizing effective communication strategies and tools used to facilitate collaboration.

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Can you explain your process for conducting design reviews?

Share your systematic approach to planning and executing design reviews, focusing on your criteria for critical feedback and how you implement suggestions to enhance the design.

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What experience do you have with risk assessment in mechanical design?

Discuss your familiarity with conducting risk assessments, your methodology for identifying potential risks, and your strategies for developing mitigation plans.

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How would you approach a situation where your design didn't perform as expected during testing?

Demonstrate your analytical skills by detailing how you would assess the failure, gather data, and iteratively revise the design, learning from the experience.

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What role does communication play in your work as a mechanical designer?

Emphasize the importance of communication in mechanical design, particularly in articulating complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders and documenting design intentions clearly.

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Why are you interested in working for Pacific Fusion?

Express enthusiasm for the company's mission to revolutionize energy through fusion, linking it to your personal and professional values and how your skills align with their goals.

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Full-time, on-site
DATE POSTED
March 13, 2025

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