What are the responsibilities and job description for the Embedded Systems Engineer position at Thea Energy?
About Thea Energy:
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:
Thea Energy is seeking a skilled and motivated Embedded Systems Engineer to lead the development of control and protection systems for high-power power supply systems deployed in the Integrated Stellarator Eos. This position focuses on enabling safe and precise operation of superconducting coil power supplies and high-voltage heating systems.
This role will involve designing and implementing embedded control systems using ARM microcontrollers, FPGAs, SoC and DSPs, as well as real-time modeling of power supply behavior. You will interface with internal system owners, power electronics vendors, and control software developers to ensure reliable and high-performance integration across the full range of mission-critical power subsystems.
• Develop embedded firmware for ARM-based microcontrollers (e.g., STM32, NXP), FPGA and SoC (Xilinx), DSP (TI) for low-latency control, feedback regulation, and interlock logic.
• Implement quench detection and fast protection logic for superconducting magnets using embedded or FPGA-based platforms.
• Simulate and validate control schemes using MATLAB/Simulink, including HIL or SIL configurations.
• Program and integrate FPGA and DSP hardware as required for fast, deterministic control of power conversion systems.
• Collaborate with Plasma Control and Supervisory Systems to ensure accurate interface protocols and control sequencing.
• Specify and validate analog and digital I/O, high-speed communication links, and protection interfaces between PSUs and control systems.
• Participate in FAT/SAT, commissioning, and system validation, including low- and high-power test operations.
• Support system documentation, interface control documents (ICDs), and structured control validation plans.
Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Embedded Systems, Power Electronics, or a related field.
• 5 years of experience in control and embedded development for high-power systems in R&D, industrial, or scientific environments.
• Hands-on experience with:
o ARM Cortex-M/A series microcontrollers (e.g., STM32, NXP)
o Embedded C/C for bare-metal or RTOS (e.g., FreeRTOS, Zephyr)
o FPGA, SoC (Xilinx) or DSP (TI)-based control logic development
o Quench detection, crowbar logic, or magnet protection schemes
o Current and voltage regulation, PID control, and waveform generation
• Proficiency with simulation tools such as Simulink, MATLAB, or PLECS for modeling PSU behavior.
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (e.g., UART, SPI, CAN, Modbus, OPC UA, EtherCAT).
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience designing control systems for fusion devices, particle accelerators, or large magnet systems
• Knowledge of superconducting magnet characteristics, ramp-up constraints, and discharge handling
• Exposure to gyrotron power supply design, including triode control and anode/bias supply regulation
• Integration experience with SCADA, EPICS, or plant-wide supervisory control systems
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC mitigation techniques for control electronics in high-power environments
Tools & Platforms:
• Languages: C/C , MATLAB/Simulink, Python, Verilog/VHDL (preferred)
• Platforms: ARM Cortex-M/A (STM32, NXP), TI DSP (C2000), Xilinx FPGAs and SoC, NI PXIe, CompactRIO (Optional)
• Tools: STM32CubeIDE, Keil, PlatformIO, MATLAB/Simulink, LabVIEW (optional), PTP/White Rabbit for timing
• Protocols: OPC UA, Modbus TCP, EtherCAT, CANopen
- Salary range $110,000-$150,000
- Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)
- Employee equity stock options
- 20 days PTO
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.
- Ability to perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time.
- Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call.
- Ability to work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics.
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.
Salary : $110,000 - $150,000