Controls Engineer

Marathon Fusion is building the engineering technologies needed to scale fusion from breakeven experiments into real power plants. While much of the industry is focused on proving new fusion devices, our focus is on the practical systems that will make fusion deployable at climate-relevant scale.

We develop core fuel cycle and plant-level technologies for stable isotope production, fuel cycle closure, and advanced blanket systems that enable both energy generation and high-value co-products.

Founded in 2023, Marathon Fusion is building the components and systems that will help fusion become a practical, abundant, and reliable energy source for the 21st century.

We are a startup environment characterized by a need for focus, adaptability and prioritization in a shifting landscape. Thriving in this environment requires excellent proactive communication across roles and backgrounds, the ability to build and maintain trust between team members, and the willingness to learn and develop new skills on the job. We place particularly high weight on each team member's ability to be self-directed.

As a Controls Engineer at Marathon, you’ll develop control and data acquisition systems across various fusion experiments across the company. By taking a hands-on role in our hardware-driven lab, you’ll implement control systems that are safe, robust, and allow the team to standardize data acquisition across multiple experiments. You’ll work closely with our cross-functional team of mechanical and electrical engineers, physicists, and technicians to prototype, test, and iterate on the systems that support our Plasma Centrifuge and Transmutation projects.

• Own long-term controls infrastructure decisions, including PLC platform selection and standardization across experimental systems.

• Define and implement control system architectures, including hardware selection, wiring design, and control logic.

• Develop, standardize, and maintain data acquisition systems across multiple experimental test setups using LabVIEW, Python, or similar tools.

• Work closely with engineers, physicists, and technicians to build, wire, and validate experimental control systems.

• Lead commissioning, troubleshooting, and rapid iteration of control systems for test stands in the lab.

We are open to candidates across a range of experience levels. Strong candidates will come from a physics or engineering background, and demonstrate many of the following:

• 3+ years of experience with industrial control systems, including PLC-based control and instrumentation.

• Proven ability to design and debug control systems at both the software and hardware level, preferably in a lab or experimental environment.

• Experience with LabVIEW, Python, or similar tools for control and data acquisition.

• Familiarity with data acquisition (DAQ) systems and instrumentation hardware.

Preferred Experience, But Not Required

• Experience with SCADA systems for monitoring and control of large scale deployed systems.

• Experience leading or mentoring others on control system design and implementation.

Our compensation for this role is purposefully wide to encompass a variety of levels we're willing to hire. Your final compensation package will be determined by an evaluation of your experience and qualifications. All full-time employees receive equity as part of their compensation.

We're proud to offer the following benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Generous paid time off and sick leave

• 401(k) plan with 4% employer match

• Commuter benefits

• Fully stocked kitchen

This role is open to applicants who require relocation to the Bay Area and is supported with a $5,000 relocation reimbursement.

Marathon Fusion considers all qualified applicants equally for employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.