English Speaking Founding LPA Engineer

Ignite; Hamburg; Híbrido; EUR 80 000 - 130 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Visa sponsorship

Relocation support

30 vacation days

Equity stake

Resumo da oferta

Ignite in Hamburg is seeking a founding Laser-Plasma Accelerator (LPA) Engineer to lead the development and scaling of our core muon source infrastructure. You will bridge advanced plasma physics with industrial deployment, shaping an LPA system from initial parameters into a durable, containerized unit designed for continuous operation.

Starting with hands-on laboratory work, you will run experimental campaigns, oversee vacuum and opto-mechanical design, and, as the project matures, recruit,

Qualificações

• PhD in Physics or engineering field.
• 3–5 years postdoctoral/industry experience in laser-plasma accelerators or high-power laser systems.
• Hands-on experience building/tuning operating LPA hardware (injection, dephasing, depletion, plasma guiding).
• Experience planning and directing multi-year experimental runs at major research facilities.

Responsabilidades

• Establish and lead the Muon Source division, growing the team and setting strategy.
• Design high-durability plasma targets for a 100 Hz / 100 TW system.
• Plan multi-year experimental campaigns across international facilities and translate beam data into hardware iterations.
• Define laser hardware specifications and manage supplier performance.
• Develop vacuum, opto-mechanical, and thermal systems for a transportable unit.
• Set up control architecture, machine protection, and autonomous operation pipelines.
• Oversee budgets, roadmaps, and recruitment for the division.

Conhecimentos

LPA expertise

High-power lasers

Experimental leadership

Vacuum systems

Opto-mechanics

Team leadership

English C1+

Formação académica

PhD in Physics or related field

Descrição da oferta de emprego

Location: Hamburg, Germany (Hybrid – ~4 days on-site / 1 day remote per week; relocation assistance included)

Function: Engineering Management

Compensation: €80,000 – €130,000 base salary + equity package & competitive benefits

Contract & Start: Permanent, Full-Time (Target Start: January or February 2027)

Role Overview

We are looking for a Founding Laser-Plasma Accelerator (LPA) Engineer to take full ownership of the development, execution, and scaling of our core muon source infrastructure. In this critical early position, you will bridge the gap between advanced plasma physics and real-world industrial deployment—shaping an LPA system from initial operating parameters into a durable, containerized machine designed for continuous, unattended operation.

Starting with a heavy focus on practical, laboratory-based execution, you will lead experimental campaigns and direct vacuum and opto-mechanical design efforts. As the project progresses, you will step into a leadership role to recruit, build, and manage our dedicated Muon Source engineering division.

Core Responsibilities

• Team Building & Leadership: Establish and grow the Muon Source division (focusing on LPA, converter, and optical systems), driving initial development hands-on before expanding and mentoring the team.
• Plasma Source & Accelerator Optimization: Design and refine high-durability, density-tailored plasma targets that withstand the thermal loads of a 100 Hz / 100 TW system, ensuring multi-million-shot operational stability.
• Beamtime & Facility Management: Design and direct multi-year experimental campaigns across international user facilities (including DESY PRIMA, ELI Beamlines, EPAC, and ATLAS), translating empirical beam data into rapid hardware iterations.
• High-Power Laser Engineering: Formulate rigid hardware specifications for laser equipment suppliers (covering energy, pulse length, pointing/energy consistency, and spatial profile) and manage vendor performance.
• Opto-Mechanical & Vacuum Systems: Drive the engineering of laser transport channels, vacuum containment, differential pumping, thermal dissipation, and vibration damping to create a transportable, continuous-use unit.
• Diagnostics & System Automation: Establish requirements for control architecture, machine protection frameworks, and diagnostic pipelines that enable safe 24/7 autonomous running.
• Strategic Oversight: Retain decision-making authority over division budgets, technical roadmaps, and ongoing recruitment efforts.

What We are Looking For

Essential Qualifications

• Doctorate (PhD / Dr.) in Physics or a closely aligned engineering field.
• At least 3 to 5 years of postdoctoral research/industry experience centered on laser-plasma accelerators and high-power laser systems.
• Practical LPA Mastery: Demonstrated history of building, tuning, and operating actual LPA hardware (hands-on experience with injection dynamics, dephasing, depletion, and plasma guiding).
• Experimental Leadership: Track record of planning, securing, and directing multi-year experimental runs at major research facilities.
• Team & People Leadership: Background in managing, mentoring, or hiring technical staff.
• Hardware & Optics Expertise: Deep knowledge of high-power laser procurement, opto-mechanics, and vacuum design requirements.
• Location & Language: C1+ English proficiency with a commitment to relocate to Hamburg for regular on-site engineering work.

Desirable Extras

• Background in electron/muon LPA production, converter optics, or plasma scaling architectures.
• Hands-on history working within or alongside facilities like DESY, CERN, ELI, EPAC, or ATLAS.
• Working knowledge of German or Estonian.

What We Offer

• Foundational Influence & Autonomy: Total ownership over the architecture, budget, and expansion of our core accelerator platform and team.
• Pioneering Deep-Tech Work: Direct involvement in scaling 100 Hz / 100 TW laser-plasma systems to transform non-destructive inspection, security, and healthcare diagnostics.
• Elite Infrastructure Access: Direct access to beamlines at leading global centers alongside a network of tier-one industrial and research partners.
• Strong Financial Package: Base salary between €80,000 and €130,000, backed by a key employee equity stake.
• Work-Life & Relocation Support: 30 annual vacation days, complete visa sponsorship, and comprehensive relocation support for global candidates.
• Agile, Transparent Culture: A lean, skunkworks-style environment that prioritizes speed, candid communication, and decisive execution over bureaucracy.