Scientist - Disruption Mitigation
San Diego, CA

Job Description

Job ID#: 23876BR

Company: General Atomics

Job Title: Scientist - Disruption Mitigation

Job Category: Scientists

City: San Diego

State: California

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time Salary

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world's leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

The DIII-D National Fusion Facility is the U.S.'s principal magnetically confined fusion research facility, focusing om the exciting science of the burning plasma state and its control in preparation for ITER, and developing the path to self-driven fully non-inductive operation for future fusion reactors. It has a strong focus on underlying science, and the application of this to improve fusion performance.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Scientist to explore the physics and techniques of disruption mitigation, developing robust solutions for ITER and future fusion reactors. Mitigating the deleterious effects of disruptions in tokamak fusion reactors remains a major challenge and rich area of study. Work will involve diagnostic development, experiments, and analysis on DIII-D and other international facilities via collaboration.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Under general supervision with limited review develop and maintain DIII-D Gamma Ray Imager (GRI) diagnostic for runaway electron diagnosis.
* Develop and maintain DIII-D halo current and vessel motion monitors for diagnosing the effects of vertically unstable disruptions.
* Plan, execute, and analyze disruption mitigation experiments on DIII-D in conjunction with the DIII-D Disruption Mitigation Group.
* Participate in experimental operation and support of DIII-D.
* Principle work will be on the DIII-D facility, but work may also entail short engagements at international facilities such as EAST, JET, KSTAR, or MAST-U.
* Publish in recognized scientific journals and present work at national and international levels.
* Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Job Qualifications

* Typically requires a Bachelors degree, Masters degree or PhD in scientific or related technical field and progressively complex scientific experience as follows; four or more years experience with a Bachelors degree and two or more years experience with a Masters degree. Equivalent scientific experience may be substituted in lieu of education.
* Must have (1) a thorough understanding of plasma diagnostic instrumentation and techniques; (2) a working knowledge of x-ray spectroscopy and relevant hardware in particular; (3) experience demonstrating a broad application of those concepts; (4) rigorous understanding and demonstrated experience in tokamak stability and/or disruption mitigation physics.
* Must possess the ability to independently (1) understand new concepts quickly; (2) apply them accurately throughout an evolving environment; (3) organize, schedule, and coordinate work phases; and, (4) determine the appropriate approach at the task level or, with assistance, at the project level to provide solutions to a range of complex problems.
* Must have strong communication, computer, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills, ability to work independently and as part of a team; able to perform complex tasks in one scientific area; and, lead a team of less experienced professional employees on semi-routine tasks.
* Facility in moving rapidly from one task area to another, and ability to work extended hours and travel as required.
* Numerical methods and scientific programming knowledge, including experience with one or more signal processing and system analysis environments such as Matlab, IDL, or Python.
* Ability to communicate effectively with the scientific and engineering communities of DIII-D and collaborators, including written and oral technical presentations.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

* Experience using and debugging real-time data acquisition, digitizers, signal conditioning, and data interpretation.
* History of publication of original work(s) in professional scientific journals or formal technical equivalents.

Travel Percentage Required : 0% - 25%

Clearance Required? No