Senior Plasma Physicist – Plasmacoustic Transduction
We are seeking a Senior Plasma Physicist with deep expertise in Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP), particularly plasma generation and control using high-voltage electrical methods, to lead the continued development of the Company’s plasmacoustic metalayer.
The primary responsibility of this role is to advance the acoustic transduction performance of the metalayer. This includes defining and improving acoustic figures of merit such as power efficiency, achievable acoustic pressure, bandwidth, radiation behaviour, and scaling limits, while enabling further miniaturisation and stable, repeatable operation suitable for product deployment at scale.
Reporting to the Company’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), the role sits at the core of the Company’s technology roadmap. The successful candidate will act as the internal technical authority for CAP-based acoustic transduction, translating acoustic performance requirements into plasma operating regimes, transducer architectures, and electrical driving strategies across all applications.
Responsibilities
* Own and advance the performance of the Plasmadrive plasma-acoustic subsystem within the Company’s Plasmapanels, with primary focus on acoustic transduction efficiency, achievable acoustic pressure, bandwidth, scaling behaviour, and stability.
* Define, optimise, and document the key physical, electrical, and geometric parameters governing plasma-based acoustic generation within the metalayer.
* Develop and refine physical and multiphysics models of the Plasmadrive subsystem, including plasma generation, electrohydrodynamic effects, and plasma–acoustic coupling, and correlate these models with measured acoustic performance.
* Translate acoustic performance requirements into plasma operating regimes, drive conditions, geometries, and architectural constraints for the Plasmadrive subsystem.
* Identify and drive design improvements enabling higher acoustic output, reduced power consumption, improved robustness, and further miniaturisation of the Plasmadrive subsystem.
* Support the optimisation of high-voltage electrical driving schemes in close collaboration with electronics engineers, ensuring direct linkage between drive strategy and acoustic output.
* Analyse plasma chemistry, by-products, and long‑term behaviour, and define mitigation strategies required to ensure stable, repeatable, and acoustically predictable operation.
* Guide the selection of materials, interfaces, and geometries within the Plasmadrive subsystem that influence plasma behaviour, acoustic efficiency, and reliability.
* Work closely with electroacoustic and system engineers to ensure correct integration of the Plasmadrive subsystem into complete Plasmapanel assemblies and higher‑level noise control systems.
* Support internal acoustic characterisation, validation, and repeatability studies during development and during transition from laboratory prototypes to manufacturable designs.
* Contribute to the generation of internal design rules, performance limits, and intellectual property related to plasma‑based acoustic transduction.
Qualifications
* Degree in Physics, Plasma Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field; a PhD is advantageous but not required.
* Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of Cold Atmospheric Plasma generation and control, particularly using high‑voltage electrical methods.
* Demonstrated understanding of plasma–fluid or plasma–acoustic interactions relevant to actuation or energy transfer.
* Experience applying plasma physics to functional devices rather than purely diagnostic or treatment applications.
* Proficiency with modelling and simulation tools relevant to plasma and multiphysics analysis.
Experience
* Typically 5+ years of professional experience in plasma physics, plasma engineering, or closely related applied physics roles.
* Proven experience developing plasma‑based devices or systems where performance, efficiency, and stability are critical.
* Track record of contributing to or leading the transition from laboratory concepts to engineered, repeatable solutions.
* Experience working within cross‑functional teams spanning physics, electronics, acoustics, and mechanical engineering.
* Exposure to industrialisation, manufacturing constraints, or product reliability considerations is highly valued.
Personal Attributes
* Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate physical understanding into practical design improvements.
* Comfortable operating as a technical authority while collaborating closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
* Clear and structured communicator, able to explain complex physical concepts to non‑specialists.
* Curious, methodical, and driven to push the performance limits of a novel transduction technology.
* High attention to detail, particularly where performance, safety, and repeatability are concerned.
Location, Language, and Work Eligibility
* The position is based at the Company’s R&D facility in Lausanne, Switzerland.
* English is the working language for this role.
* Candidates must be authorised to work in Switzerland at the time of employment.
Sonexos is a Swiss engineering company specializing in high‑performance audio and sound control. We develop and supply advanced solutions for audio enhancement, noise and vibration control to clients in the consumer, transportation, automotive and industrial sectors.
A core innovation is our Plasmapanel technology—an active acoustic solution that achieves broadband sound absorption in enclosed spaces such as vehicle cabins, rooms, offices, ducts, and machinery. Unlike passive treatments that rely on mass or porous materials, Plasmapanel actively absorbs the energy of incident sound waves upon contact, delivering lighter, more space‑efficient noise reduction across a wide frequency range.
Beyond our R&D capabilities, Sonexos provides strategic advisory services to help clients accelerate innovation in sound and acoustics. Our offerings include product design consultation, acoustic benchmarking, system integration support, and scalable manufacturing guidance—ensuring successful deployment of advanced technologies and long‑term differentiation in the marketplace.
By combining deep technical expertise with a pragmatic, system‑level approach, Sonexos empowers companies to elevate acoustic performance where it matters most – where sound enhances experience.
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