Senior System Engineer

Sr. System Engineer

About Avalanche Energy

Avalanche Energy is a Washington based startup building compact, deployable fusion systems through rapid hardware iteration. Rather than pursuing fusion as a single grid-scale outcome, Avalanche develops transportable fusion machines designed to be built, tested, and operated on short cycles, turning real hardware into steady progress. This approach enables near-term applications that demand extreme energy density and endurance, starting with fusion neutron production for radioisotope power and other defense and space uses, while advancing the underlying fusion platform. Backed by U.S. government programs and a team experienced in delivering complex systems, Avalanche is focused on building fusion that runs in the real world, not just on paper.

Avalanche might be a fit for you if:

You thrive in complex, technically demanding environments where the problems are not fully defined and the answers have to be built, not looked up. You are energized by bringing structure to ambiguity, connecting the work of scientists and engineers into coherent programs, and building the systems engineering foundations that scale. You are comfortable operating without a playbook, moving quickly across programs and disciplines, and earning credibility with technical subject matter experts through rigor and clarity. You care about doing the fundamentals of systems engineering well (requirements, interfaces, traceability, reviews) because you understand why they matter, not just because a process demands them.

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.
• 10 paid holidays and a company-wide December holiday break.
• Generous paid vacation and sick time.
• Small, tight-knit team with low barriers to action.