OpenStar Technologies

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 63 talented engineers and physicists, based in Wellington, New Zealand.

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

As a computational physicist, you will play a pivotal role in our plasma team; performing physics-based simulations of dipole plasmas. You will be collaborating closely with experimentalists, and contributing to the development of whole-device simulations that span from fundamental physics to machine-level integration.

We encourage people with broad experience to apply for this position. This position offers a unique opportunity to work on interdisciplinary projects and collaborate across the whole experiment. There is some flexibility in this role, and we will mould the position around the right candidate.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform advanced physics simulations of dipole plasmas.
• Collaborate with experimentalists to compare and validate model outcomes against data.
• Develop and refine whole-device simulation frameworks.
• Conduct modelling and analysis in areas such as:
  • Transport processes and mechanisms
  • Gyrokinetics
  • Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability and dynamics
  • Turbulence characterization
  • Edge plasma physics and boundary layer interactions
  • Plasma heating mechanisms
    
• Communicate findings effectively to support iterative design and experimental validation.

Requirements

• A PhD relevant to fusion plasma modelling, or ~2 years of experience plus a MSc relevant to to fusion plasma modelling.
• Proficiency in high-performance computing languages such as C++, or equivalent.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a passion for physics-driven simulations.
  
• Interest in experimental work and familiarity with plasma diagnostic techniques are nice-to-have.

Employment Details

Employment type: Full-time - permanent employment

Compensation: Competitive cash salary + employee stock option plan

Leave: 25 days per annum

Health Insurance: Location Dependent

Location: This role has the scope to be located either in Wellington, New Zealand or Boston, MA.

At OpenStar, we believe in our employees' ability to structure their work in a way that works best for them. We are flexible on hours and working from home. However, given the critical nature of this role and its impact on company culture, it must be undertaken primarily with the rest of the team, in office.

This opportunity boils down to the chance to work on something truly meaningful. The scariest thing about the climate crisis today is that, for all of our bluster and protest, there are very few of us who actually have a chance to do meaningful work solving this problem. Carbon-free energy is an absolute necessity if we want to be able to recognise the world that our children and grandchildren inherit. Please join us in making this a reality!