Maintenance Technician

WHO WE ARE

Proxima Fusion is Europe’s fastest-growing fusion company and the continent’s best-funded fusion player, as well as the first spin-out from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP). Backed by over €650M and powered by a growing team across Munich, Zurich, and Oxford, we are developing the hardware and infrastructure needed to deliver the world’s first commercial stellarator fusion power plant.

Our concept advances the most mature fusion technology out there, the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, through two next-generation machines: Alpha and Stellaris. Our work combines stellarator optimization, advanced computation, machine learning, and high-temperature superconducting magnets to unlock higher-performance designs that were previously out of reach.

Turning these designs into a functioning fusion power plant requires excellence and ownership across every discipline, from physics and engineering to software, manufacturing, law, and business functions.

WHY JOIN PROXIMA FUSION

• You will get to work on some of the most complex tech challenges to bring abundant, safe, clean energy to the world.

• You'll get to join and learn from an exceptional selection of accomplished and driven individuals.

• Do your life’s best work and enjoy the journey.

• Get to show that big things are possible in Europe when you assemble the best talent.

YOUR IMPACT

At Proxima Fusion, we're developing the world's leading stellarator technology. To turn cutting-edge designs into reality, we need skilled technicians who can bring complex, first-of-a-kind hardware to life. As a Technician at Proxima Fusion, you'll work hands-on with Proxima-designed components, magnets, mechanical assemblies and other critical systems, supporting their build, assembly, integration and testing.

Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing and Quality, you'll help turn ambitious designs into reliable hardware, solve practical challenges on the shop floor and contribute to developing the processes and tooling needed to build Alpha. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of advanced engineering and hands-on manufacturing, helping build one of Europe's most ambitious engineering projects.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Maintain, troubleshoot and repair machinery across our magnet factory,keeping equipment safe, accurate and available.

• Carry out preventive maintenance, inspections and repairs on mechanical, electromechanical and pneumatic systems.

• Diagnose breakdowns, intermittent faults and undocumented failures. Resolve the root cause and verify safe operation before returning equipment to service.

• Assemble, install, align, and commission new equipment.

• Support factory and site acceptance tests, installation checks.

• Work with multiple teams to distinguish machine faults from setup, material, process or measurement problems.

• Work with controls and manufacturing engineering to tune equipment, including winding tension, motion, vacuum and thermal profiles, within approved process limits.

• Identify wear early, flag long-lead items and communicate to the lead technician.

• Record failure modes, downtime, repairs, parts used and equipment modifications.

• Apply lockout/tagout, safe isolation, stored-energy controls and controlled restart procedures.

• Provide clear handovers on equipment condition, outstanding faults and any operating restrictions.

WHO YOU ARE

• A technical apprenticeship or vocational qualification in industrial maintenance, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or mechatronics, or equivalent hands-on experience.

• Hands-on experience maintaining and repairing production or process equipment.

• Strong electrical and mechanical diagnostic skills.

• The ability to interpret engineering drawings, equipment manuals and electrical or pneumatic schematics, and practical familiarity with mechanisms, pneumatics, drives and sensors.

• Confidence using workshop tools and measuring equipment to strip, rebuild, align and inspect machine components accurately.

• A disciplined approach to electrical and machine safety, safe isolation and stored energy, with sound judgement about when specialist support is required.

• The ability to organise assigned work independently, keep reliable records and adapt as equipment and processes develop.

• Working English for understanding technical instructions, recording work and communicating with technicians, engineers and suppliers.

Nice to have

• Experience diagnosing programmable logic controller (PLC) systems beyond the operator screen, including Beckhoff/TwinCAT or comparable controls.

• Experience with reel-to-reel machinery, tension control, precision motion, or cable and conductor handling.

• Experience commissioning custom machinery, a new cell or a new production line, including factory or site acceptance testing.

• Hydraulic, vacuum, cryogenic or high-voltage equipment experience; an electrical qualification such as Elektrofachkraft.

• Experience with computerised maintenance management systems (CMMS), establishing preventive-maintenance programmes or structured reliability improvement.

• German language skills.

INTERVIEW PROCESS

• Recruiter Interview (30-60 min)

• Technical Screening (30 min)

• Technical Panel (3x60 min)

• CEO call (30 min)

This job would require frequent travels to our office in Villigen ( Zurich, CH)
*This role sits at "L3" of our framework, please inquire during the recruitment process for further information.

At Proxima Fusion, our mission is bold: making limitless clean energy a reality. To get there, we need a high-performing, diverse team that brings different perspectives, challenges assumptions, and builds together with purpose. We know that diversity of thought and experience leads to better ideas, stronger execution, and a more resilient team. We don’t look at how you identify, what you look like, who you choose to worship or what ethnicity you are. We care about what you can bring to the table.