We invite you to be part of our innovative team and contribute to advancing the industrial scaling and testing of high-performance materials such as tungsten fiber-reinforced tungsten (Wf/W). At the Forschungszentrum Jülich, we are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge material technologies for future fusion power plants. The Institute of Fusion Energy & Nuclear Waste Management – Plasma Physics (IFN-1) coordinates research on plasma-wall interactions in fusion devices as part of the national fusion program of the Helmholtz Association. This work is part of the European fusion program within the EUROfusion consortium and encompasses experimental and theoretical aspects of the development and qualification of materials for the first wall in fusion devices, as well as the investigation of plasma-wall interactions in large-scale experiments such as Wendelstein 7-X and, in the future, ITER. Additionally, the material concepts and experimental methods developed within the scope of fusion research are also applied to renewable energy technologies.
Your Job:
- Responsibility for the design and optimization of manufacturing processes for Wf/W materials, including spark plasma sintering (SPS) and other advanced methods
- Act as a bridge between research and industrial partners, supporting the industrial scaling and application of Wf/W materials
- Develop and validate the integration of Wf/W into plasma-facing components for fusion applications
- Perform microstructural, mechanical, and thermal analyses to assess and enhance material performance
- Coordinate laser shock and high-heat flux testing to simulate fusion reactor conditions and evaluate component resilience
- Publish and present research findings in high-impact scientific journals and at national and international conferences
Your Profile:
- A completed masters and doctoral degree in Materials Science, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
- Expertise in powder metallurgy, advanced material characterization, and failure analysis
- Familiarity with CAD, FEM modeling, and manufacturing processes like SPS is of advantage
- Excellent project management and communication skills to collaborate effectively with industrial and research partners
- High motivation to drive innovation in fusion energy materials
- Very good English; German knowledge is a plus
Our Offer:
We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We support you in your work with:
- A large research campus with green spaces, offering the best possible means for networking with colleagues and pursuing sports alongside work
- A highly motivated working group as well as an international and interdisciplinary working environment at one of Europe’s largest research establishments
- Outstanding scientific and technical infrastructure
- Opportunity to participate in (international) conferences and project meetings
- Continuous scientific mentoring by your scientific advisor
- Flexible work (location) arrangements, e.g. remote work
- Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
- 30 days of annual leave and provision for days off between public holidays and weekends (e.g. between Christmas and New Year)
In addition to exciting tasks and a collaborative working atmosphere at Jülich, we have a lot more to offer: https://go.fzj.de/benefits
This position is limited until 31.12.27. Salary and social benefits will conform to the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund), pay group 13, depending on the applicant’s qualifications and the precise nature of the tasks assigned to them. All information about the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) can be found on the BMI website: https://go.fzj.de/bmi.tvoed . The monthly salaries in euros can be found on page 66 of the PDF download.
We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.