Case Study: First Light Fusion accelerates fusion reactor research with CircleCI

CircleCI-enabled iteration accelerates energy research

First Light Fusion, a UK-based fusion energy company, needed a faster, more reproducible way to design and test complex reactor concepts. Lead Scientist Jonathan Shimwell wanted to replace manual CAD and neutronics workflows with a CI/CD-style process, using automation to explore a wide parameter space and reduce bottlenecks in reactor design.

CircleCI provided the CI/CD platform that let First Light Fusion automate testing, run neutronic simulations on the fly, and debug failed builds through SSH. With CircleCI Insights, Shimwell could trace test stages and “fail faster,” improving productivity and increasing confidence in early designs. The company also reported stronger uptake from the neutronics community because passing tests made the code more credible and easier to trust.

First Light Fusion

Jonathan Shimwell

Lead Scientist