He worked at Bell Laboratories until joining the MIT Nuclear Engineering faculty in 1958.
He led the development of the Department’s program in plasmas and controlled fusion, and was on the MIT faculty for the rest of his professional career.
From 1969 to 1971, during a two year leave of absence, he worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he was the first director of their office of Long-range planning.
Rose's career was said to have three phases: scientist and engineer; technology/policy analyst; and "bridge builder" between scientific and theological communities.
[9] Shortly before his death, and days before he was hospitalized, Rose wrote an article opposing Star Wars (SDI) and asking for support for a petition against it.