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Engineering Physics Intern - Ion Beams (Spring 2027)

Marathon Fusion

San Francisco, CAFull-time$27.88–40.87/hrPosted todayStill listed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$27.88–40.87/hr
Location
San Francisco, CA
Role Type
Internship
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive focuses on jobs in the United States, including remote roles you can work from there.

Job overview

The Engineering Physics Intern will join Marathon Fusion’s R&D engineering team to develop ion beams for neutron production and radioisotope transmutation. The team is scaling neutron gun prototypes into a high-flux reactor and upgrading beam design and capabilities. The role involves designing and integrating components, building electrical systems and controls hardware, and developing control system software. Internship and co-op placements are offered through this posting.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Mechanical Engineering, nice to haveElectrical Engineering, nice to havePhysics, nice to haveComputer-Aided Design, nice to haveSolidWorks (CAD), nice to haveFabrication, nice to haveTest Engineering, nice to haveVacuum Systems, nice to haveHigh Voltage, nice to haveSoftware Project Management, nice to haveInterpersonal Communications, nice to havePlasma (Physics), nice to have3D CAD Software, requiredVacuum Systems Operation, requiredMachine Shop Fabrication, nice to haveElectrostatic Modeling, nice to haveHigh Voltage Systems, nice to haveHigh Vacuum Systems, nice to haveExperiment Development, nice to haveProblem Solving, nice to haveWritten Communication, nice to haveOral Communication, nice to haveSystems Thinking, nice to haveCross-Functional Collaboration, nice to haveOrganization, nice to haveProject Management, nice to haveConscientiousness, nice to haveIntegrity, nice to haveExperimental Mindset, nice to havePlasma Physics, nice to haveHigh-Power Battery Systems, nice to haveScientific Fabrication, nice to have

Qualifications

Mechanical, Electrical, Physics, or Engineering Physics Studies, requiredRelated Engineering or Technical Field Studies, requiredExceptional Work Ethic, Eagerness to Learn, and Autonomy, requiredSolidWorks, nice to have

Full job description

About Marathon Fusion Marathon Fusion is building the technologies needed to make fusion practical. Our work spans high-flux fusion neutron sources for radioisotope production, fuel cycle technologies, and plant-level systems that will enable fusion power at climate-relevant scale. We are developing compact, beam-driven fusion systems to produce radioisotopes for targeted cancer therapies and to test materials for future fusion power plants. Alongside this work, we develop stable isotope enrichment, tritium processing and recycling, and advanced blanket technologies to close the fusion fuel cycle and enable both energy generation and high-value co-products. Founded in 2023, Marathon Fusion is advancing near-term applications of fusion in medicine and materials development while building the foundation for abundant, reliable energy in the 21st century.

Culture at Marathon Fusion 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.

Please review these points carefully before applying:

  • This application is exclusively for the Engineering Physics - Ion Beam role.

  • We provide both Internship and Co-op placements through this single posting.

  • Application Deadline: December 2nd, 2026

Role Description: You will join our R&D engineering team working on ion-beam development for neutron production and radioisotope transmutation. We are currently scaling neutron gun prototypes into a high-flux reactor, and will be upgrading our beam design and capabilities.

Role Responsibilities:

  • Assisting with the development and implementation of a high-power ion beam.

  • Designing components and assemblies for high-voltage operation while mitigating vacuum breakdown and improving beam optics

  • Integrating fabricated and acquired components

  • Building and modifying high-power electrical systems (corona-rings, diagnostic systems, and controls hardware) as well as control system software

Minimum Requirements:

  • Studying mechanical/electrical engineering, physics, or engineering physics

  • Or studying a related engineering/technical field and have exceptional work ethic, eagerness to learn, and autonomy

  • Proficient with 3D CAD software (SolidWorks preferred)

  • Have meaningful applied experience in areas such as fabrication, test engineering, vacuum systems operation, or similar

Preferred Requirements:

  • Proficient at basic machine shop fabrication (lathe, mill, etc.)

  • Proficient with basic electrostatic modeling

  • Experience with high voltage electrical systems

  • Experience with high vacuum systems

  • Small-scale experiment development

Soft Skills:

  • Ability to creatively and independently diagnose and solve issues

  • Excellent written and oral communication

  • Ability to think holistically about systems

  • Capacity to learn new technical subjects quickly, collaborate cross-functionally, and consider problems from inter-disciplinary perspectives

  • Organization and project management

  • A high degree of conscientiousness and integrity

  • Long-term vision while executing short-term goals

  • Comfort with the inherent uncertainty of breakthrough technology

  • Experimental mindset, ability to form and test hypotheses

Additional Desired Skills:

  • Plasma physics

  • High-power battery systems

  • Fabrication for scientific applications

Compensation Undergraduate interns are paid $27.88/hour. More experienced interns can earn up to $40.87/hour depending on qualifications. 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.

How this job compares

Set against the 1,356 open Research and Development jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 14, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$27.88–40.87/hr
  • California median$28–35/hr28 hourly ranges
  • US median$25–33/hr170 hourly ranges

This range's midpoint, $34.38/hr, is 12% above the California median midpoint ($31/hr) — in the middle half of Research and Development hourly ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 235 open Research and Development jobs in California and 1,356 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
Research and Development postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 3 to 8 years (913 postings).
Education
721 of the 1,356 open Research and Development jobs (53%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 14, 2026. Figures based on too few postings are left out.

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