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Breakthrough Energy Fellows Portfolio Job Board

Research Electrical Engineer

Marathon Fusion

Marathon Fusion

Other Engineering
San Francisco, CA, USA
USD 115k-170k / year + Equity
Posted on Jul 29, 2025

Location

San Francisco

Employment Type

Full time

Location Type

On-site

Department

R&D

Off the back of our recent publication, we are hiring for technical roles across a wide variety of disciplines and backgrounds. Due to an unusually high level of interest during this time, we may be slow to respond.

About Marathon Fusion

Since our founding in 2023, we've developed fuel cycle technologies to deliver fusion energy more quickly with better economics. Marathon Fusion was founded by Adam Rutkowski, previously a Propulsion Engineer at SpaceX and PhD candidate in Plasma Physics at Princeton University, and Kyle Schiller, previously a Fellow in science policy at Schmidt Futures. We believed then, and now more than ever, that fusion is humanity's best pathway to abundant, clean and reliable energy.

We've secured over $10m in funding from the US Department of Energy and leading investors including 1517 Fund and Strong Atomics. We have letters of intent from leading fusion companies including Helion Energy, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, and Thea Energy.

We've built plasma centrifuges for isotope separation, superpermeable pumps for rapid fuel recycling in fusion power plants. We're on a quest to commercialize alchemy, accelerate the deployment of fusion energy, and open a new frontier in scientific discovery.

Culture at Marathon Fusion

We are a startup environment characterized by a need for focus, adaptability and prioritization in a shifting landscape. Thriving in this environment requires excellent proactive communication across roles and backgrounds, the ability to build and maintain trust between team members, and the willingness to learn and develop new skills on the job. We place particularly high weight on each team member's ability to be self-directed.

Role Description

We are seeking an Electrical Engineer with hands-on experience in high-power and control systems. You’ll work closely with mechanical engineers, physicists, and technicians, to prototype, test, and deploy solutions in the pursuit of advancing the development of the fusion fuel cycle and stable isotope production.

This role requires a blend of practical engineering skills and systems level thinking. You will play a pivotal role in integrating and supporting power systems, developing safe and robust control architectures, and standardizing data collection across experimental test stands.

What You’ll Do

  • Collaborate closely with mechanical engineers and technicians to rapidly prototype and test experimental systems

  • Design, integrate, and support high-power and pulsed power systems with a focus on safety, reliability, and performance

  • Develop, standardize, and maintain data acquisition systems across multiple test setups

  • Define, implement, and document control system architectures, including hardware selection, wiring diagrams, and functional logic

  • Coordinate with panel shops or internal technicians to layout, build, and validate custom control panels

  • Contribute to the safe design and operation of high-voltage, high-current equipment

  • Support testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning of control systems and power electronics

What We’re Looking For

  • B.S. or higher in Electrical Engineering or related field with more than 5 years of experience in a relevant industry

  • Experience with high-power electrical systems, including power conversion, protection, and switching.

  • Experience with pulsed power systems

  • Proficiency in designing and maintaining data acquisition (DAQ) systems, including GUI design (e.g., LabVIEW, PLC programming, Python, etc.)

  • Familiarity with industrial control systems, including PLCs, sensors, relays, and safety interlocks.

  • Demonstrated experience collaborating with panel shops or technicians to bring designs into physical reality.

  • Knowledge of safe design practices for high-voltage or high-energy environments.

  • Strong mechanical intuition and comfort working around experimental systems.

Preferred Experience, But Not Required

  • Prior experience in the fusion energy or related high-energy industries

  • Hands-on experience with supercapacitors

  • Developing control logic using ladder logic programming

  • Designing or deploying SCADA systems for monitoring and control.

  • Experience working in a highly ambiguous fast-paced startup or research environment.

Compensation and Benefits

Our compensation for this role is a wide range, determined by an evaluation of your experience and qualifications. All compensation packages for full-time employees include equity ownership in Marathon Fusion.

Annual Base Pay

$115,000 to $170,000

Benefits

We offer the following benefits, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

  • Medical and dental insurance

  • Generous paid time off and sick leave

  • 401(k) plan

  • Commuter benefits

  • Stocked office kitchen

Marathon Fusion considers all qualified applicants equally for employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the interview process, please let us know.