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Senior Plasma Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Thea Energy is seeking a Sr. Plasma Control Engineer to develop and deploy novel plasma control ... This role sits in the Electrical Engineering and Controls Systems (EECS) team and works day to day ...

Senior Plasma Control Engineer

Kearny, NJ · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

Thea Energy is seeking a Sr. Plasma Control Engineer to develop and deploy novel plasma control ... This role sits in the Electrical Engineering and Controls Systems (EECS) team and works day to day ...

Senior Plasma Data Scientist

Everett, WA · On-site

$210K - $250K/yr

Helion is hiring a Senior Plasma Data Scientist specializing in synthetic diagnostics to improve ... PhD in Physics, Engineering, Applied Math, Computational Science, Machine Learning, or related ...

Our patients depend on the plasma we collect, so your reliability during your scheduled hours is ... You will perform venipuncture of donors and programming of plasmapheresis machine. You will monitor ...

Our patients depend on the plasma we collect, so your reliability during your scheduled hours is ... You will perform venipuncture of donors and programming of plasmapheresis machine. You will monitor ...

The high-quality plasma you collect will become life-changing medicines. Here, a commitment to ... You will perform venipuncture of donors and programming of plasmapheresis machine. You will monitor ...

The high-quality plasma you collect will become life-changing medicines. Here, a commitment to ... You will perform venipuncture of donors and programming of plasmapheresis machine. You will monitor ...

The high-quality plasma you collect will become life-changing medicines. Here, a commitment to ... You will perform venipuncture of donors and programming of plasmapheresis machine. You will monitor ...

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Senior Plasma Engineering information

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$63.5K

$136.1K

$198K

How much do senior plasma engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior plasma engineering in the United States is $136,146.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $113,500.00 and $163,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior Plasma Engineers or highly experienced engineers in specialized fields such as aerospace, petroleum, or software engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with advanced skills, certifications, and leadership roles. Compensation varies based on industry, location, and experience, with senior-level positions often including bonuses and stock options.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Plasma Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Plasma Engineer, you need advanced knowledge in plasma physics, materials science, and engineering principles, typically supported by a master's or Ph.D. in a related field. Proficiency with simulation tools (such as COMSOL Multiphysics or ANSYS), vacuum systems, and plasma diagnostic equipment is essential, along with experience in cleanroom environments. Strong problem-solving skills, collaboration, and effective communication are important soft skills that help drive innovation and teamwork. These competencies are crucial for designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting plasma processes that are vital to industries like semiconductor manufacturing and energy.

What is the difference between Senior Plasma Engineering vs Plasma Process Engineer?

AspectSenior Plasma EngineeringPlasma Process Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, Physics, or related field; experience in plasma systemsBachelor's or Master's in Engineering, Physics, or related field; experience in plasma processing
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, R&D departmentsSemiconductor fabrication plants, R&D labs, manufacturing environments
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, research institutions, aerospace, semiconductor industrySemiconductor manufacturing, electronics industry, R&D facilities

Senior Plasma Engineering roles focus on leading plasma system design, development, and optimization, often involving research and innovation. Plasma Process Engineers primarily work on developing and maintaining plasma-based manufacturing processes, ensuring quality and efficiency. While both roles require similar technical credentials and work in related environments, Senior Plasma Engineers typically have more leadership responsibilities and strategic input compared to Plasma Process Engineers.

What is the highest paid job in physics?

In physics, the highest paid roles are often senior research scientists, physics professors at top universities, or industry physicists working in sectors like aerospace, defense, or technology. These positions typically require advanced degrees, specialized skills, and often involve leadership or management responsibilities, leading to higher compensation.

What is the highest paid nuclear engineer?

Senior Plasma Engineering is a specialized field within nuclear engineering, and salaries vary based on experience, location, and employer. The highest paid nuclear engineers typically work in leadership roles or in industries like energy, aerospace, or defense, with top salaries reaching over $150,000 annually. Advanced certifications and expertise in plasma or fusion technology can also influence compensation levels.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior Plasma Engineering roles, especially in industries like aerospace, semiconductor manufacturing, or advanced research, can reach or exceed $500,000 annually with experience, specialized skills, and often in leadership or executive positions. High compensation typically involves extensive expertise in plasma physics, engineering, and related tools, along with a strong track record of project management or innovation.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior Plasma Engineers when scaling up plasma processes from laboratory to industrial applications?

Senior Plasma Engineers often encounter challenges related to maintaining plasma stability, uniformity, and reproducibility when transitioning processes from the lab to industrial scale. Ensuring that parameters such as pressure, power, and gas flow remain consistent across larger systems requires careful process optimization and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, including equipment designers and quality engineers. Additionally, addressing safety protocols and meeting regulatory standards become more complex at scale, demanding strong project management and communication skills. Overcoming these hurdles is key to successful implementation and product quality.

What does a Senior Plasma Engineer do?

A Senior Plasma Engineer specializes in the study and application of plasma, which is an ionized gas, for various industrial and scientific uses. They design, develop, and optimize plasma-based systems and processes, such as those used in semiconductor manufacturing, material coatings, or fusion energy research. Their responsibilities often include leading research projects, troubleshooting equipment, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to advance plasma technologies. Senior Plasma Engineers also mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical documentation and safety protocols. Their expertise is crucial in industries that rely on advanced materials and manufacturing techniques.
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Senior Plasma Control Engineer

Thea Energy

Kearny, NJ

$120K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

About Thea Energy:  
Thea Energy is leveraging recent breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering to create a faster and simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy. The company is reinventing the stellarator using computer-controlled arrays of planar coils thereby replacing the intricate, complex modular magnets required in all other stellarator architectures. Thea Energy is on a mission to create a limitless source of zero emission energy for a sustainable future.  
 
Position Overview:
Thea Energy is seeking a Sr. Plasma Control Engineer to develop and deploy novel plasma control algorithms for the Eos stellarator, with a strong emphasis on AI and ML assisted control, real-time state estimation, and digital twins. This role sits in the Electrical Engineering and Controls Systems (EECS) team and works day to day with plasma physics, diagnostics, and plant control engineers to bridge plasma physics objectives with plasma control and plant control implementation.

If you can develop plasma control algorithms that are robust, constraint-aware, and ready for experimental operation, covering scenario design, supervisory control, and closed-loop regulation of core profiles, edge and divertor regimes, and off-normal response, we would like to hear from you. You will also contribute to subsystem digital twins and data pipelines that enable model development, validation, and deployment.
Key Responsibility Areas:
- Plasma control algorithms and real-time software:
•    Develop, test, and iterate plasma control algorithms for Eos PCS, including multi-rate feedback, supervisory logic, and constraint handling.
•    Build AI/ML assisted control modules, such as learning-augmented MPC, reinforcement learning in simulation, physics-based models augmented with data-driven corrections, and adaptive control and auto-tuning across operating conditions
•    Develop and deploy real-time state estimation and multi-diagnostic data fusion to produce control-grade plasma state, including robust profile reconstruction and regime indicators suitable for closed-loop operation.
•    Develop anomaly detection and early-warning indicators across plasma and plant signals, with clear thresholds and graded mitigation actions. 
•    Partner with plasma physicists to translate physics goals into control objectives, observables, constraints, and validation tests.
- Digital twins and modeling:
•    Design and maintain digital twin models for plasma control loops and coupled plant subsystems, enabling simulation, optimization, and controller development and validation.
•    Build model validation workflows, including post-shot reconstruction, scenario sweeps, sensitivity studies, and uncertainty-aware comparisons against experimental data
- Data and integration:
•    Build and maintain data pipelines for time-series control and diagnostic data, including labeling, archiving, and training and inference workflows. 
•    Integrate algorithms into the control stack in collaboration with EECS, ensuring compatibility with real-time constraints and low-latency inference where needed. 
•    Maintain high software quality: version control, test coverage, reproducible environments, and operational readiness documentation.
Ideal Experience & Skillsets:

Required qualifications:
•    BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related field. 
•    3 or more years of experience developing control algorithms, ML models, or real-time scientific software for complex physical systems. 
•    Strong programming skills in Python, MATLAB and C++.
•    Experience with time-series data processing, signal conditioning, system identification, and validation on real data. 
•    Practical familiarity with modern ML tooling (PyTorch, TensorFlow, or JAX) and deploying models into production code paths. 
•    Working knowledge of modern control methods, such as state estimation, constrained optimization, MPC, and robust control.

Preferred qualifications:
•    Experience with plasma control, stellarators or tokamaks, or adjacent fields such as accelerators and large scientific infrastructure. 
•    Prior work on digital twins, real-time simulators, or physics-informed ML for physical systems. 
•    Experience integrating with experimental control and data systems (for example EPICS, MDSplus, SCADA, OPC UA). 
•    Familiarity with low-latency deployment and inference engines such as ONNX Runtime and TensorRT. 
•    Background in any of the following plant subsystems is a plus: power electronics, cryogenics, vacuum and pumping, high-power RF systems, and safety controls.

Tools and platforms:
•    Languages and frameworks: Python, MATLAB, C++, PyTorch or TensorFlow or JAX, Jupyter 
•    Data infrastructure: MDSplus, EPICS, HDF5, InfluxDB, OPC UA, Kafka or ZeroMQ 
•    Dev workflows: Git, Docker, MLflow, CI pipelines 
•    Simulation and modeling: MATLAB Simulink, Modelica, FMI, and custom physics solvers

Company Benefits:
  • Salary range $120,000-$160,000
  • Comprehensive health benefits (e.g. medical/dental/vision)
  • Employee equity stock options
  • 20 days PTO
Requirements:
  • Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.
  • Ability to perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time.
  • Willingness to occasionally travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call.
  • Ability to work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics.
It’s not necessary to meet all of the skillsets outlined above. Please feel free to send us a note and tell us why you would still be a great fit for this role or Thea Energy.  
  
Diversity and Inclusion:  
Thea Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a company of diverse backgrounds. By creating a diverse environment, we will bring new ideas and approaches to solving some of the world’s hardest (and most important) problems. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, family or marital status, age, disability, veteran’s status, or other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.


About Thea Energy

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Clean energy semiconductors manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Princeton, NJ, US

Year founded

2022