Lead Simulation Scientist

Cambridge Heavy Industries (CHI) is building compact, benchtop-scale fusion reactors. Using synchronized multi-ring laser shocks developed over two decades in Prof. Keith Nelson’s lab at MIT, our system achieves more than 400x higher compression efficiency than conventional laser fusion, with off-the-shelf components. Neutrons are our first product, serving markets that pay well before energy breakeven: isotope production (including tritium and medical isotopes), neutron imaging and testing, heat-management qualification, reactor-material testing – with the ultimate goal of energy production. CHI is based at The Engine in Cambridge, MA.

The Opportunity

CHI is hiring a Lead Simulation Scientist to build and own the computational backbone of our fusion platform. You will develop, validate, and apply hydrocode and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of laser-driven shock compression, plasma formation, and fusion yield, then turn those results into design decisions for our lasers, targets, and diagnostics. You will work closely with experimentalists, mechanical engineers, and materials scientists, and you will grow the simulation team as CHI scales.

Responsibilities

Hydrocode Simulation

Lead radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of laser-driven, multi-ring shock convergence to predict pressure, temperature, and density histories in the target.

Select, develop, and maintain equation-of-state, opacity, and material-strength models for target materials under extreme conditions.

Use simulation to optimize laser pulse shaping, ring sequencing, and target design for compression efficiency and neutron yield.

Particle-in-Cell Simulation

Lead kinetic and particle-in-cell simulations of laser–plasma interaction, hot-electron generation, and fusion-relevant plasma conditions.

Couple PIC and hydrocode results to capture kinetic effects that fluid models miss, and define when each approach applies.

Validate models against time-resolved experimental data, including high-speed imaging, interferometry, and optical, neutron, or X-ray spectroscopies, and build synthetic diagnostics to guide experiment design.

Partner with experimental, mechanical, and materials engineers to translate simulation results into chamber, target, and laser-system design decisions.

Own CHI’s simulation roadmap and compute infrastructure (HPC or cloud), including code selection, workflows, and verification and validation standards.

Hire and mentor computational scientists as the team grows.

Qualifications

Required

PhD in physics or a related field, with a focus on computational plasma physics, high-energy-density physics, or shock physics.

5+ years of hands-on experience running and developing hydrocodes (e.g., FLASH, HYADES, HELIOS, MULTI, xRAGE, or CTH) for laser-driven or shock-driven problems.

Hands-on experience with particle-in-cell codes (e.g., EPOCH, OSIRIS, VPIC, Smilei, or WarpX) for laser-plasma or kinetic plasma problems.

Track record of validating simulations against experimental data, ideally in shock physics or laser–plasma experiments.

Strong scientific programming skills (e.g., C++, Fortran, Python) and experience running parallel codes on HPC clusters.

Working Style

Versatile. You can wear different hats and thrive in a zero-to-one startup environment.

Builder. You write the first playbook rather than wait for one.

Leader. You set technical direction, mentor others, and explain simulation results clearly to experimentalists and executives alike.

Location

In-person at The Engine, 750 Main Street, Cambridge, MA, with up to 30% travel expected (may change)

Compensation and benefits

Base salary of $130K - $180K plus meaningful early-stage equity.

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Cambridge Heavy Industries is an equal opportunity employer. We hire and promote on the basis of merit, qualifications, and the company’s needs, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.