Mechanical engineer
Location
Bangalore, India (on-site)
Team
PRAGYA
Role overview
Pranos Fusion seeks a hands-on Mechanical Engineer who thrives on the experimental floor. You will be central to the build, assembly, commissioning, and continuous improvement of our tokamak hardware — owning the physical machine as much as the drawings. While design and analysis are part of the toolkit, the primary focus of this role is executing real hardware: assembling vacuum vessels, qualifying leak-tight joints, instrumenting components for test campaigns, and solving the mechanical problems that only show up when the machine is running. You will work shoulder-to-shoulder with physicists, vacuum engineers, and operators to keep our plasma device operating at the edge of what is possible.
Key responsibilities
Lead hands-on assembly, installation, and commissioning of tokamak vacuum vessel sub-systems, first-wall panels, divertor cassettes, and structural supports, including in-cleanroom and in-pit mechanical integration work.
Execute and own vacuum leak testing campaigns: perform helium leak checks, residual gas analysis (RGA) interpretation, and root-cause isolation and repair of leak-tight joint failures.
Plan and conduct mechanical experimental test campaigns for prototype components: thermal cycling, pressure testing, mechanical fatigue validation, and load testing of first-wall and divertor mockups.
Instrument test articles with strain gauges, thermocouples, and pressure transducers; acquire and interpret experimental data to validate mechanical performance against analytical predictions.
Operate and maintain high-vacuum pumping systems (turbomolecular, cryopumps, ion pumps); diagnose vacuum quality issues and implement corrective maintenance during machine preparation and experimental runs.
Perform in-situ metrology and dimensional inspection of tokamak assembly (laser tracker, CMM, optical alignment) to verify assembly tolerances and detect component deformation post-shot.
Collaborate closely with physicists during experimental runs: respond to hardware anomalies in real time, assess component condition between plasma shots, and execute rapid turn-around maintenance to maximize machine availability.
Develop and iterate mechanical designs based on experimental findings; feed test campaign results back into component drawings and assembly procedures in a fast-paced build-test-learn cycle.
Support procurement and incoming inspection of fabricated components; conduct acceptance testing including dimensional checks, hydraulic pressure testing of cooling circuits, and non-destructive evaluation (NDT).
Qualifications
Master’s or PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related experimental science or engineering discipline.
3+ years of hands-on experimental mechanical engineering experience in a tokamak, plasma device, particle accelerator, or large-scale high-vacuum scientific facility.
Proven track record of assembling and commissioning high-vacuum mechanical systems; direct experience performing and interpreting helium leak tests and RGA scans.
Experience planning and executing mechanical test campaigns: pressure testing, thermal cycling, mechanical load testing, and strain/thermocouple instrumentation of test articles.
Comfortable working in a machine hall or experimental bay environment, including hands-on maintenance between experimental shots and rapid fault response during live operations.
Familiarity with in-situ metrology tools (laser tracker, CMM, optical alignment systems) for assembly and post-shot inspection.
Working knowledge of 3D CAD (SolidWorks, CATIA, or NX) sufficient to generate and update drawings; FEA experience (ANSYS or ABAQUS) a plus but not the primary focus of this role.
Preferred experience
Direct experience operating and maintaining high-vacuum systems on a live tokamak or plasma device: hands-on bakeout, glow discharge cleaning, and vacuum recovery procedures.
Experience with high heat flux component testing: participation in electron beam (TSEFB, FE200) or ion beam test campaigns for first-wall or divertor mockup qualification.
Familiarity with NDT methods (dye penetrant, ultrasonic, X-ray, eddy current) as applied to weld and bonded-joint inspection on plasma-facing or vacuum vessel components.
Experience supporting in-vessel maintenance or inspection in an activated environment, including use of remote handling tools or working under radiation work permits.
Pranos Fusion is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to a safe, inclusive workplace.
How to apply
Send your CV, a brief cover letter and links to prior projects or publications to
