Senior System Engineer

Avalanche is a Seattle-based start-up developing compact fusion machines for clean, energy-dense power generation at a scale you can hold in your hands. Our unique approach allows us to build, test, break, learn and iterate in days. The modular design is designed to provide power to applications from austere environments to deep sea vehicles and maritime transport to lunar power.
We know we have an incredibly ambitious mission, and that it requires a wide combination of skills, attitude, and grit to make it happen. If you have a passion for abundant energy, and how we can improve life with it, we want to have a chat with you.
Avalanche might be fit for you if: You are self-motivated, energized by problem solving and working closely with hardware. You enjoy hands-on, creative collaboration with a small, tight-knit team you can work with, laugh with, and learn with on a wide variety of topics. You can learn and pivot between priorities when necessary and you can slide the headphones on, focus, and auger deep into a single topic as needed. You thrive in an atmosphere of development, and you are an ardent learner who’s always looking for ways to grow and improve.
About the Role
Avalanche Energy is hiring a Senior Systems Engineer to join our PMO and Systems Engineering team. This is a hands-on individual contributor role focused on systems engineering and technical program integration across Avalanche's fusion development programs.
You will work closely with plasma physicists, mechanical, EE/DAQ, nuclear, test infrastructure engineers to turn scientific objectives into executable technical work. Many of the problems you encounter will initially be incomplete, uncertain, or poorly structured.
The role requires someone who can move comfortably between system level thinking and detailed execution. One day may involve working with scientists to define what an experiment needs to demonstrate. Another may involve tracing an interface between a device, diagnostic, facility, and control system, preparing a technical review, or turning a developing architecture into requirements and an integrated device roadmap.
This role reports to the Head of PMO and Systems Engineering and operates as an embedded systems engineer and technical integrator within program teams.
Responsibilities:
This role serves as Systems Engineer and Technical Integrator across two core programs: the Orbitron Science Program and the FusionWERX infrastructure build-out.
Orbitron Science Program
- Lead systems engineering and technical integration for new Orbitron devices and major test capabilities from early concept through commissioning.
- Translate scientific and experimental needs into system requirements, architecture, interfaces, development plans, and verification approaches across hardware, diagnostics, controls, high voltage, and test infrastructure.
- Coordinate work across scientific and engineering disciplines, driving technical reviews, trade studies, interface resolution, and system-level decisions needed to deliver an integrated test capability.
FusionWERX Infrastructure Program
- Lead systems definition and technical integration for FusionWERX, including concept of operations, facility requirements, interfaces, and technical scope.
- Coordinate across facility engineering, neutronics, radiation safety, regulatory, operations, and experimental systems to identify and resolve cross-disciplinary requirements and interfaces.
- Lead system-level trade studies and technical definition activities, including coordination of external consultants, to turn evolving operational needs into an executable facility design.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of systems engineering experience in multidisciplinary hardware or technology development.
- Demonstrated experience applying core systems engineering practices, including requirements, interfaces, architecture, verification and validation, and technical risk management.
- Demonstrated experience integrating across multiple technical disciplines and resolving system-level dependencies, interfaces, and tradeoffs.
- Track record of turning incomplete or evolving technical problems into structured requirements, decisions, and executable development work.
- Experience personally producing systems engineering deliverables and working at both the system level and detailed execution level.
- Experience leading technical reviews, trade studies, or cross-functional engineering discussions and communicating outcomes clearly to technical and program leadership.
- Demonstrated ability to adapt systems engineering methods to the maturity and needs of the program.
- Project management experience: schedule development, milestone tracking, risk and issue management.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience in a startup, R&D, or rapidly scaling organization where technical processes and ways of working are still evolving.
- Experience in plasma physics, applied physics, nuclear engineering, radiation systems, or another science intensive technical domain.
- Experience supporting government-funded development programs, including work with organizations such as DOE, DoD, DARPA, or NASA.
- Experience in aerospace, advanced propulsion, energy, or other complex multidisciplinary hardware development environments.
- Familiarity with regulated technical environments, including radiation safety, nuclear regulation, or export control requirements such as EAR/ITAR.
Additional Considerations
- Location: Onsite, Tukwila, WA (primary); periodic travel to FusionWERX facility in Richland, WA.
- Travel: Estimated 10–20%
Benefits:
- Excellent medical, dental and vision benefits: We pay 100% of your premiums
- 10 paid holidays and company-wide December holiday break
- Generous paid vacation and sick time
- Small, tight-knit team with low barriers to action
- Exposure to a wide variety of problems for unparalleled, hands-on professional growth
- Weekly employer provided team meals, a well-stocked kitchen, and employee events on and off-site
- Opportunity for Equity
Avalanche values people of all races, ethnicities, genders, ages, religions, and sexual orientations. We also acknowledge the value that different life experiences bring to our organization. Avalanche is an equal opportunity employer, and you do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. We encourage all individuals who are excited about delivering fusion energy to the world to apply.

Employment type
FullTime

Work arrangement
No