Lead Core Software Architect for Fusion Plant — Equity

Focused Energy; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401k match (up to 4%)

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Focused Energy is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to define and own the Core Software architecture for a fusion power plant. You will lead the software department, align interfaces between software, control hardware, diagnostics, and data systems, and set standards for reliability and security.

You will design and implement core software components, automated calibration workflows, and HMI for operators, while mentoring engineers and steering architectural decisions within a fast-growing,

Qualifications

• Extensive experience designing and implementing control software for complex physical or industrial systems.
• Experience with hardware interfaces, device integration, and system-level troubleshooting.
• Experience designing automated calibration facilities or workflows.
• Strong data handling, pipelines, metadata, and reliable data storage.
• Experience designing and implementing HMI for operators or technical users.
• Strong software design and implementation skills in C++, Python, or similar languages.
• Ability to define architecture for complex, mission-critical systems under changing requirements and strict physical constraints.
• Strong communication skills to explain decisions to software, hardware, science, and operations stakeholders.
• Strong leadership skills to guide decisions, mentor engineers, and own outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the end-to-end Core Software architecture for the fusion power plant, including device interfaces, calibration, data handling, data storage, and HMI.
• Design and implement critical parts of the Core Software system using languages such as C++ and Python.
• Define clear interfaces between software, control hardware, diagnostics, plant equipment, data systems, and operator tools.
• Design reliable automated calibration facilities and workflows that produce traceable and repeatable results.
• Set practical standards for architecture, coding, testing, observability, documentation, release, reliability, security, and fault tolerance.
• Lead technical decisions across teams, mentor engineers, resolve difficult trade-offs, and grow into a lead within the Software Department.

Skills

C++

Python

Software architecture

HMI design

Leadership

Testing & observability

Data handling

Communication

Tools

Git

CI/CD

Linux

Job description

Focused Energy is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to define and own the Core Software architecture for a fusion power plant. You will lead the software department, align interfaces between software, control hardware, diagnostics, and data systems, and set standards for reliability and security.

You will design and implement core software components, automated calibration workflows, and HMI for operators, while mentoring engineers and steering architectural decisions within a fast-growing,