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Summer Internship 2024/2025 Experimental Plasma Physicist

OpenStar

OpenStar

Wellington, New Zealand
Posted on Jun 11, 2024

Only applicants who are eligible to work in New Zealand and meet our requirements will be considered for this position.

This position is available between November 2024 and January 2025 - there will be a long lead time for applications, so please do not be disheartened if you do not hear back from us immediately.

Equal Opportunity Statement - Applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to apply. OpenStar Technologies is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where innovation thrives.

Who are we?

OpenStar Technologies is on a mission to repeat the feats of Maui and capture the power of the Sun. By mastering fusion, the process that powers the stars, we can generate safe, clean, carbon free, baseload electricity in a way that is economically scalable to the challenge of mitigating climate disaster and giving birth to the next industrial revolution. The team is currently made up of 42 talented engineers and physicists, based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), Aotearoa.

Culture Comment: At OpenStar Technologies, our culture is founded on a commitment to making a positive impact on the world. We empower every member of our team with meaningful responsibility, fostering an environment where creativity and innovation thrive in pursuit of our collective mission.

Job Description

The successful candidate will join OpenStar’s plasma team. OpenStar’s goal is to operate its first experimental plasma device over the summer. Each diagnostic used for measuring properties of the plasma needs to be designed, built, tested, and calibrated. This role specifically will entail research and development of these experimental plasma diagnostics. Given each diagnostic will be in various stages of development, the ability to be adaptable and flexible on any given day is necessary. Work will be conducted within a team, but the successful candidate must also be able to take initiative and conduct quality work independently. Both creativity and execution are needed for success in this role.

Responsibilities

Plasma physics

Understanding or learning the basic plasma physics which inform the data required from each diagnostic.

Diagnostic design and development

Designing and developing the appropriate diagnostics for acquiring said measurements.

Calibration and experimental deployment of diagnostics

Once built, the diagnostics must be calibrated and deployed in the relevant experimental environments to take measurements.

Iteration

Each diagnostic will require fine-tuning, and the candidate will iterate the above processes in a repeatable and efficient manner.

Requirements

Must have

The applicant has completed either their 3rd or 4th undergraduate year studying any of the following disciplines: electrical engineering, electronics engineering, physics, or mechatronics engineering.

Applicants must have experimental physics (lab work) or an engineering background.

Nice to have

Plasma physics knowledge.

Employment Details

Employment Type: Fixed-term internship.

Compensation:

  • $27.80 per hour - 400 hours.
  • 3% employer kiwisaver contributions.
  • 8% pay-as-you-go holiday pay.

Location:

This internship must be undertaken at OpenStar Technologies' facilities in Ngauranga, Wellington, New Zealand. Candidates must be able to work on-site to fully engage with our team and technology.