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About the Role
Focused Energy's Austin laser team is building and commissioning a kJ-class laser system. We are seeking a Senior Laser Engineer to be the technical anchor for laser setup and alignment in Austin. This person will turn beam path plans into commissioned, operating systems. You will own laser alignment and optomechanical layout end-to-end for a critical program, and will progressively take ownership of the optical side of the standard laser diagnostic package and alignment automation as the program matures. This is a hands-on, on-site role at the center of a cutting-edge laser facility, working alongside senior laser scientists and engineers.
Responsibilities
- Own laser setup, alignment, and beam path implementation, from initial layout through commissioning and handoff to operations.
- Lead translation of beam path designs into physical optomechanical layouts, producing complete and accurate BOMs in close collaboration with Laser team leadership.
- Drive beam-smoothing beam path design and component procurement, with laser team members and external vendors.
- Own the optical side of the standard laser diagnostic package, including integration, calibration, and ongoing maintenance.
- Build and implement the optical alignment automation interface, in close coordination with Controls Engineering.
- Ensure cleanroom protocols are followed during optical handling and installation; coordinate cleanroom upgrade activities as required.
- Partner with Controls Engineering on the laser diagnostic and alignment automation architecture, providing optical requirements and interface definitions.
- Enable FM/AM and beam-smoothing experiments by providing hands-on optical support during experimental campaigns.
Requirements
- Deep, hands-on experience with high-power laser systems, precision beam alignment, and optical system integration.
- Demonstrated ability to translate beam path plans into physical optomechanical layouts and produce complete, procurable BOMs.
- Working knowledge of standard laser diagnostic instrumentation, alignment and wavefront characterization, and cleanroom handling procedures for high-damage-threshold optics.
- Comfort operating independently on optical layout, alignment approach, and component selection, escalating only on system-architecture or facility-level trade-offs.
- Familiarity with laser safety standards and protocols (ANSI Z136 / Class 4).
- Experience with pulsed laser systems (CPA or Q-switched); petawatt-class, kJ-class, or equivalent high-power facility experience is a significant advantage.
- Optomechanical CAD experience.
- Prior work coordinating with Controls Engineering on diagnostic or alignment automation interfaces.
- A track record as the go-to technical resource for laser alignment and optical systems — mentoring through hands-on example rather than formal authority.
- Experience supporting beam-smoothing or amplifier characterization efforts.
- Entrepreneurial mindset: thrives in a startup environment; self-directed and energized by building laser engineering capability from the ground up.
- Mission-driven: genuinely motivated by the prospect of making fusion energy commercially real.
Skills
- Laser setup
- Laser alignment
- Beam path implementation
- Optomechanical layout
- BOM creation
- Beam-smoothing beam path design
- Component procurement
- Laser diagnostic package integration
- Calibration
- Maintenance
- Optical alignment automation interface
- Cleanroom protocols
- Optical handling
- Optical installation
- Laser diagnostic architecture
- Alignment automation architecture
- Optical requirements definition
- Interface definition
- Hands-on optical support
- High-power laser systems
- Precision beam alignment
- Optical system integration
- Laser diagnostic instrumentation
- Wavefront characterization
- High-damage-threshold optics handling
- Laser safety standards
- Pulsed laser systems
- Petawatt-class laser systems
- kJ-class laser systems
- Optomechanical CAD
- Controls Engineering coordination
- Mentoring
- Beam-smoothing experiments support
- Amplifier characterization support
Location
- Austin
Work Type
- On-site
- Full-time
Experience Level
- Senior
- 5+ years experience
Benefits
- Company ownership (stock options)
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Unlimited PTO
- Snacks and Drinks
- 401k with company match up to 4%
- State-of-the-art Windows or Apple Laptops
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Headset
- Regular events for team bonding and collaboration
About the Company
- Focused Energy is building the future of clean energy through laser-driven inertial fusion.
- Backed by a $240M Series A funding round, the largest in the global fusion industry.
- Scaling rapidly across multiple geographies.
- Comprised of top scientific and engineering minds using proven technologies to unlock fusion power at commercial scale.
- Working to realize game-changing scientific innovation that promises to deliver a clean, sustainable and abundant source of power globally.
Equal Opportunity
- Focused Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment.
- Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.
- Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Focused Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.