Laser Engineer for SBC (English)

Ibsen Photonics A/S; Farum; On-site; DKK 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Ibsen Photonics A/S in Farum, Denmark, is seeking a Laser Engineer to own the design, assembly and optimisation of our SBC platform. The role blends theory with hands-on lab work, moving concepts from proof‑of‑concept to production‑ready systems.

You will work on high‑power fibre and free‑space optical systems, refine alignment and thermal management, and collaborate with international partners to push the next generation of spectral beam combining.

Qualifications

• MSc/PhD/Postdoc in Optics/Photonics or related field.
• Hands-on experience with high‑power fibre and free-space optical systems.
• Experience with SBC/CBC beam combining techniques.
• Beam quality measurement and analysis.
• Mechanical design of tight-tolerance devices.
• Knowledge of Gaussian optics and high-power laser effects.
• Proficiency with Zemax and CAD tools.
• Independent and collaborative, proactive mindset.

Responsibilities

• Design and assemble compact SBC modules considering optics, thermal effects, and mechanics.
• Drive system optimization through alignment, stability and thermal management.
• Characterise beam quality with diagnostics during power scaling.
• Own component sourcing and transition prototypes to production designs.
• Collaborate with internal and international partners, including visits.

Skills

Hands-on optical experiments

SBC/CBC beam combining

Beam quality measurement

Gaussian optics & beam propagation

Independent yet collaborative

Education

MSc/PhD/Postdoc in Optics or Photonics

Tools

Zemax

Mechanical CAD

Job description

Are you one of the Laser Engineers we are looking for to join our High Power Beam Combining team?

Location: Farum, Denmark | Level: MSc / PhD / Postdoc / Experienced Engineer

The Mission: Build the Next Generation of SBC Systems

At Ibsen Photonics, we are developing Spectral Beam Combining (SBC) modules for high‑power laser architectures. We are looking for creative, hands‑on Laser Engineers to take full ownership of designing, building, and optimising our SBC platform.

This role bridges the gap between theoretical physics and industrial reality. You won’t just design on a screen; you will spend significant time in the lab, iterating rapidly from proof‑of‑concept to robust, production‑ready, scalable systems.

Key responsibilities:

• Design & Assemble: Develop compact, efficient SBC modules using Ibsen’s world‑class transmission gratings, while considering optical beam paths, thermal effects and mechanical constraints.
• System Optimisation: Drive performance by refining optical alignment, mechanical stability, and complex thermal management for high‑power loads in a reiterative process: design – experiment – optimise.
• Characterisation: Use advanced diagnostics to maintain beam quality (low M²) during power scaling, including wavefront sensing and spectral analysis.
• Full Lifecycle Ownership: Source optical/mechanical components and manage the transition from experimental prototypes to scalable, volume‑ready designs.
• Global Collaboration: Work closely with an internal team and international partners, including potential overseas visits for joint prototyping and testing.

What you bring

• Education: An MSc, PhD, or Postdoc in Optics, Photonics, Laser Physics, or a related field.
• Expertise:
  • Hands on industry experience with (high‑power) fibre and free‑space optical systems, precise alignment, and experimental troubleshooting.
  • Understanding of (and ideally experience with) SBC and CBC beam combining techniques.
  • Beam quality measurement and analysis.
  • Mechanical design of tight tolerance devices
• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of Gaussian optics, beam propagation, and high‑power laser effects (thermal lensing, runaway‑effects, mitigation strategies).
• Software Skills: Proficiency in optical simulation tools (e.g., Zemax) and familiarity with mechanical CAD.
• Mindset: Independent enough to drive a project and work on your own, but collaborative enough to thrive in a flat‑hierarchy, cross‑functional team, sharing insights and discussing projects/next steps. The role is highly experimental and hands‑on, requiring independence and a strong drive to make systems work in practice, not just on paper.
• Security Clearance: You are a European citizen with no family ties to Russia or Russian allied territories, and you have a clean criminal record.
• High Impact: Your success will have a direct impact on the future of high power laser systems for defence.
• Freedom to Innovate: We value drive and initiative – if you see a better or faster way to meet customer requirements, we are there to support you.
• Danish Engineering Culture: Enjoy a supportive and meaningful environment with fast decision‑making, teamwork, knowledge sharing, and a healthy work‑life balance.

Ready to make a difference?