Electrical Engineer (Controls and Infrastructure)
- Richmond, BC, Canada
Full-time
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Job details
- Job type
- Full-time
- Posting language
- English
- Posted
Original job description
General Fusion (NASDAQ: GFUZ) is a fusion technology development company. The Company aims to deliver economical, carbon-free fusion energy through its practical Magnetized Target Fusion (“MTF”) technology, an engineering-driven approach to fusion energy. General Fusion's commercialization program is anchored by LM26, the world's first commercially relevant-scale MTF demonstration machine. The Company is working toward the commercial deployment of fusion power in the mid-2030s. General Fusion is the first publicly listed fusion company and TIME’s No. 1 GreenTech Company of 2026. For more information, visit generalfusion.com or follow General Fusion on LinkedIn, YouTube, and X.
General Fusion is searching for an Electrical Engineer with strong controls experience to join our Controls & Electronics team on our path to commercial fusion. Reporting to the Manager, Controls & Electronics, you will design, build, test, and commission the electrical and control hardware behind our one-of-a-kind experimental machines - including the high-voltage pulsed power, vacuum, gas handling, and diagnostic systems that support our plasma physics experiments. You will also support shot operations, working with operators to keep the machine running safely and repeatably through experimental campaigns.
Our machines are one-of-a-kind experiments, built and modified on tight timelines, with requirements that evolve as the physics does. We design, build, and test our own control panels in-house, and much of the work involves high-voltage and pulsed power systems, where grounding, noise, and safety need careful attention. We are looking for an engineer who is as comfortable with a wire stripper and a multimeter as with a schematic or PLC code, and who wants to see their work through from the drawing board to the experiment floor.
This is a hybrid role, but predominantly on site at General Fusion's facilities in Richmond, BC: panel building, testing, and commissioning happen in our lab and on the experiment floor. Design and documentation work can sometimes be done remotely. The role may require occasional shift work or flexible hours to support shot operations during experimental campaigns.
General Fusion is searching for an Electrical Engineer with strong controls experience to join our Controls & Electronics team on our path to commercial fusion. Reporting to the Manager, Controls & Electronics, you will design, build, test, and commission the electrical and control hardware behind our one-of-a-kind experimental machines - including the high-voltage pulsed power, vacuum, gas handling, and diagnostic systems that support our plasma physics experiments. You will also support shot operations, working with operators to keep the machine running safely and repeatably through experimental campaigns.
Our machines are one-of-a-kind experiments, built and modified on tight timelines, with requirements that evolve as the physics does. We design, build, and test our own control panels in-house, and much of the work involves high-voltage and pulsed power systems, where grounding, noise, and safety need careful attention. We are looking for an engineer who is as comfortable with a wire stripper and a multimeter as with a schematic or PLC code, and who wants to see their work through from the drawing board to the experiment floor.
This is a hybrid role, but predominantly on site at General Fusion's facilities in Richmond, BC: panel building, testing, and commissioning happen in our lab and on the experiment floor. Design and documentation work can sometimes be done remotely. The role may require occasional shift work or flexible hours to support shot operations during experimental campaigns.
- Design electrical and control hardware for experimental machines and supporting subsystems - power distribution, control panels, interlocks, instrumentation, and cabling - from component selection through schematics, panel layouts, I/O lists, and bills of materials.
- Build, wire, and test control panels in-house alongside our technicians. Contribute towards creating standardized hardware test procedures.
- Develop reusable, standardized panel designs and hardware building blocks for common needs, rather than one-offs.
- Design and implement safety systems for high-voltage equipment, including E-Stop chains, interlocks, safety relays, and safety-rated I/O.
- Write, test, and maintain PLC logic for interlocks, sequencing, and monitoring, along with simple operator HMIs.
- Install, commission, and troubleshoot systems on the experiment floor, applying sound grounding, shielding, and noise-mitigation practices.
- Support shot operations: help sequence plasma compression shots safely and repeatably, keep the machine within safe limits, respond quickly when operators need support, and feed operator input back into system improvements.
- Keep as-built documentation, test records, and safety analyses current, and write quick start and troubleshooting guides so operators can resolve common issues themselves.
- Ensure designs comply with the Canadian Electrical Code, CSA standards for industrial control panels, and lab safety requirements, and champion a strong safety culture.
- Plan your own work packages and collaborate with physics, mechanical, electrical, and software teams to turn experimental requirements into reliable, maintainable hardware
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent, and registration (or eligibility for registration) as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with EGBC.
- 5+ years of hands-on experience designing, building, and commissioning electrical control systems in R&D, manufacturing, or process environments, including taking control panels from schematic through build and test.
- Hands-on panel building and wiring skills, and confidence with test equipment such as multimeters, insulation resistance testers, and oscilloscopes.
- Practical understanding of grounding, shielding, and electrical noise in industrial or lab settings.
- Strong troubleshooting skills across electrical, mechanical, and software domains.
- Working knowledge of the Canadian Electrical Code and CSA requirements for industrial control panels.
- PLC programming experience in IEC 61131-3 languages on at least one major platform (e.g., Beckhoff TwinCAT, Siemens, Allen-Bradley), and familiarity with industrial protocols such as EtherCAT, Modbus, and EtherNet/IP
- A pragmatic, self-directed approach and the ability to deliver quality work under schedule pressure.
- Clear technical communication and documentation skills.
- Commitment to safe work practices in a lab or R&D environment.
- Experience guiding or mentoring technicians.
- Experience with high-voltage, pulsed power, high-current, vacuum, or cryogenic systems.
- Experience designing safety circuits for high-voltage or hazardous-energy equipment, and working knowledge of machine and functional safety standards (e.g., ISO 13849, IEC 62061).
- Electrical trade certification or a background as an industrial electrician or electrical technician.
- Proficiency with electrical schematic capture and panel design tools (e.g., AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, SolidWorks Electrical).
- Experience with instrumentation and data acquisition (e.g., thermocouples, pressure and vacuum gauges, flow meters).
- Experience in fusion, high-energy physics, particle accelerator, semiconductor, or similar high-tech R&D facilities.
- Hands-on experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT and TwinCAT HMI, LabVIEW, or Python.
- Experience leading a control system redesign or migration on an operating R&D or production system.
- Exposure to broader controls and data systems: SCADA, OPC UA, motion control, alarm and logging design, time-series databases, and CI/CD for controls software.
- Four weeks' vacation
- Ten personal days
- Comprehensive benefits package
- RRSP Contribution
- Support for professional development
- Great company culture – social events, weekly lunch program, bike rides, Sun Run, etc.
More about this job
Responsibilities
You will design, build, test, and commission electrical and control hardware for experimental fusion machines, including high-voltage and diagnostic systems. Additionally, you will support shot operations and ensure all systems comply with safety standards and experimental requirements.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and be eligible for P.Eng. registration in BC. You need at least 5 years of hands-on experience in designing and commissioning electrical control systems in R&D or manufacturing environments.
Skills
- Electrical engineering
- Control systems
- PLC programming
- Panel design
- High-voltage systems
- Pulsed power
- Troubleshooting
- Schematic capture
- Instrumentation
- Grounding and shielding
- CSA standards
- Canadian Electrical Code
- Interlocks
- Safety systems
- Data acquisition
- Technical documentation
Benefits
- Four weeks' vacation
- Ten personal days
- RRSP Contribution
- Support for professional development
- Social events
- Weekly lunch program
- Bike rides
Visa sponsorship
Not detected in the job text
Categories
- Engineering
- Energy
- Technology
- Manufacturing
- Science & Research
Keywords
- Electrical Engineering
- Controls
- Fusion
- MTF
- High-voltage
- Pulsed power
- PLC
- Beckhoff TwinCAT
- Siemens
- Allen-Bradley
- EtherCAT
- Modbus
- EtherNet/IP
- AutoCAD Electrical
- EPLAN
- SolidWorks Electrical
- CSA
- Canadian Electrical Code
- Instrumentation
- Data acquisition
- Vacuum systems
- Cryogenic systems
- Safety circuits
- ISO 13849
- IEC 62061
- LabVIEW
- Python
- SCADA
- OPC UA
- CI/CD