Orientation and First Weeks
In the first week or so of working for General Fusion, the top priority is to educate yourself and do your research and learn about the overall design process taking place with the teams. The design work done within this company is highly confidential so there is limited preparation you can do in that technical aspect before your first day. You just need to approach it with an open mind and motivation to learn!
Day to Day
My average day as a mechanical engineering co-op was generally split into theoretical and physical application work. To elaborate, I would usually spend the first half of the day working at my desk working on sanity calculations, code, technical report writing, or CAD design. The second half of my day would be dedicated in hands-on work in the lab at a testing set-up.
Learning and Adaptation
As a clean energy company, General Fusion is a place of constant learning and evolution to get closer to the goal of sustainable fusion energy. This requires the flexibility and innovation of the teams working there. In my experience, I have persued tasks of coding, simulation, hand calculations, and scheduling tests to perform as long as it was believed we could learn something valuable from it. I have seen that in this nonlinear environment, documentation of the learning process within a project is essential. This also helps new employees in this rapidly growing company get up to pace faster in their new work environment.
Accomplishments and Challenges
In my time spent working for General Fusion, I found feelings of accomplishment when I was able to contribute to the learning of my team. I have multiple projects that I am proud of within this company. One example is my python-coded simulation of harmonic vibrations of a load column after a fusion explosion which was based off of hand calculations and design specs. Another example is my remodeling of a high-pressure test setup by updating the CAD design, introducing a method of collecting an extra set of test data via strain gauges, and producing drawings with industry standard GD&T.
Cultural and Environmental Observations
General Fusion is made up of both diverse and like-minded people! There is clear inclusivity in this work place where people respect each other's differences while working together to reach the common goal of clean energy. There is also conscious effort make for people to get together and socialize outside of work to strengthen workplace relationships. Ex. skiing/snowboarding, rock climbing, DnD, live music, etc.
