Light Amplification Lead (f/m/d)

Focused Energy LLC; Darmstadt; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

30 days vacation

Office canteen

Private pension top-up 20%

Flexible work model

Job summary

Focused Energy in Darmstadt seeks a Light Amplification Lead to direct the laser amplification chain and translate stakeholder input into a credible development roadmap.

You will lead technical teams, provide reasoned decisions with experts, and ensure the function aligns with the wider laser system while maintaining delivery momentum. Hybrid work options and a path to growth are offered.

Qualifications

• Extensive technical leadership experience across complex engineering projects.
• Ability to translate requirements into development roadmaps and milestones.
• Experience guiding amplifier or high-energy laser systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the amplification function and teams.
• Provide technical decisions, review input, and challenge assumptions.
• Own the development roadmap and coordinate with system integration.
• Guide complex project delivery with risk and resource management.
• Coordinate with adjacent laser functions to meet performance targets.

Skills

Technical leadership

Laser exposure

Amplifier development

Engineering judgement

System integration

Education

PhD in physics/photonics (or related)

Job description

About Focused Energy

Focused Energy is an international deep-tech company based in Germany and the US, working to commercialize laser-driven nuclear fusion. Our mission is to provide clean, safe, and virtually unlimited energy to the world. We are rapidly scaling and looking for talented individuals who thrive in building clarity and structure within fast-growing environments.

Your Role

The laser amplification chain scales the beam energy needed by our fusion system. Developing it involves complex technical decisions, interdependent teams and requirements that evolve as the programme advances. We are looking for a Light Amplification Lead (f/m/d) to give this function clear direction and accountability. Your mission is to lead the amplification team, critically evaluate technical information and turn stakeholder input into decisions, priorities and a credible development roadmap. You will guide the function towards delivery of a subsystem that meets agreed requirements and can integrate with the wider laser system. You do not need to be an expert in every amplifier technology. You do need strong engineering judgement, extensive technical leadership experience and enough laser understanding to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions and work effectively with domain specialists.

What you’ll do

• Lead and develop the function. Provide line management for technical teams, set clear expectations, give feedback and develop their capabilities. Build a view of the skills and capacity needed as the programme evolves, and contribute to hiring and team development.
• Provide technical decisions and steering. Listen to different stakeholders, critically review their input and challenge assumptions. Work with specialists to assess options and make reasoned decisions, identifying where further evidence or expertise is needed.
• Own the development roadmap. Translate system requirements and programme priorities into a function-level plan that goes beyond individual task lists. Establish milestones, identify dependencies and capability gaps, and adapt the plan as requirements and evidence change.
• Guide complex project delivery. Lead larger technical projects through uncertainty. Keep priorities, resources, risks and trade-offs visible, coordinate with programme management and lab operations, and escalation issues early.
• Connect amplification to the wider system. Take accountability for the amplification architecture, requirements and interfaces, drawing on the team's specialist expertise. Coordinate with adjacent laser functions and system integration so technical decisions support agreed performance and integration needs.

Who You Are

You have some laser exposure and a general understanding of amplification. You have enough relevant background to understand the function, engage with specialists and assess how its decisions affect the wider system. Direct hands-on amplifier development is an advantage, not a prerequisite.

Extensive technical leadership experience. You have led technical teams and larger, complex engineering projects, with responsibility for people, priorities and delivery. You can develop specialists and provide direction across disciplines.

Strong engineering judgement. You can evaluate technical arguments, distinguish assumptions from evidence, identify risks and challenge recommendations constructively. You do not need to know every answer yourself, but you know how to reach a sound decision with the right experts.

Experience leading through uncertainty. You have worked on development programmes with incomplete information, evolving requirements or changing technical priorities. You can maintain direction while adapting plans as new evidence emerges.

People and stakeholder leadership. You listen carefully, reconcile different perspectives, communicate decisions clearly and remain close to the team. Your leadership experience includes line management and developing technical colleagues, not only coordinating schedules.

Your background may be in laser systems, photonics, optical systems or a broader complex-engineering programme that includes relevant laser work. Your current title is less important than the scope of technical and people leadership you have exercised.

Nice to have

• Direct experience developing laser amplifiers or high-energy/high-power laser systems.
• Familiarity with solid-state, fibre or diode-pumped amplification, CPA/OPCPA, or relevant pulsed and ultrafast systems.
• Systems engineering, requirements traceability, technology-maturity planning and subsystem integration.
• Industrialisation, supplier coordination, budget and resource planning, or design for cost and manufacture.
• Experience in fusion, a high-power laser facility or a defence laser programme.
• A PhD or equivalent depth of experience in physics, photonics or a related engineering discipline.

Why work with Us?

• Innovative Technology & Mission: Be part of a cutting-edge company working on groundbreaking research in clean energy and scientific discovery.
• Career Development: We invest in our people. This is an opportunity to join an early, growing company at the forefront of new technology, where you’ll have the opportunity to develop and grow your career.
• Collaborative Culture: Work with great people in a dynamic, international environment with top-tier scientists, engineers, and professionals passionate about solving global challenges.
• Ownership: Take ownership from day 1 and drive impact by making decisions, solving challenges, and shaping the future of our company.
• Your Success is our Success: We offer a competitive salary and company ownership in the form of stock options, giving you a direct stake in our success and ownership in what we build together.
• Vacation Days: We support your work-life balance by granting you 30 days of vacation per year.
• Flexibility: Work should fit around your life, not the other way around. We offer the ability to work from our office, but some flexibility to work from home as well.
• Snacks and Drinks: Our office fridges are never empty. Enjoy our healthy snacks and drinks. Our Darmstadt office even offers a canteen with delicious lunch options daily.
• Retirement Plan: If you decide on a private pension plan, we will finance 20% on top of your monthly contributions, plus loyalty incentives.
• Events: We organize regular events to foster team bonding, encourage collaboration, and build a strong, supportive company culture. Connect with colleagues across departments, share ideas, and have fun together, both in and outside of the workplace.

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.

Compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, benefits.