Lead Adaptive Optics & Beam Control Engineer

Xcimer; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) with company match up to 6%

Equity

Job summary

Xcimer Energy is hiring a Principal Electro-Optical/Adaptive Optics Engineer to lead AO and wavefront control for the Directed Energy program and fusion beamlines.

Based in our Denver, CO headquarters, you will own AO requirements, performance budgets, and interface with partners, vendors, and internal teams to deliver high-speed control systems for deep-UV, high-fluence optics and robust test campaigns.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in optics, physics, or electrical engineering and related field.
• 8+ years in optical science/engineering with adaptive optics and beam control experience.
• Proven ownership of AO requirements and performance budgets on real programs.
• Experience with high-energy lasers, damage thresholds, and thermal management.
• Experience coordinating with external vendors/partners and reviews.
• Excellent communication and leadership of technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Own adaptive optics requirements and budgets for the Directed Energy program and fusion interfaces.
• Lead architecture decisions: topology, actuators, sensing, and control rates.
• Interface with external partners, negotiate specs, and manage subcontracts.
• Define proof-of-concept experiments and test plans for AO systems.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to group growth and standards guidance.
• Ensure integration of AO within the larger laser control system and fielding activities.

Skills

Adaptive optics

Wavefront sensing

Wavefront control

Directed energy

Beam control

Deformable mirrors

Control systems

Vendor management

System integration

Technical leadership

Education

Advanced degree in optics, physics, electrical engineering, or closely related field

Tools

FPGA-based control

Real-time software

Wavefront propagation code

Laboratory optics equipment

Job description

Xcimer Energy is hiring a Principal Electro-Optical/Adaptive Optics Engineer to lead AO and wavefront control for the Directed Energy program and fusion beamlines.

Based in our Denver, CO headquarters, you will own AO requirements, performance budgets, and interface with partners, vendors, and internal teams to deliver high-speed control systems for deep-UV, high-fluence optics and robust test campaigns.