Lead Digital Twin Scientist - IFE System Modeling

U.S. Fusion Energy; Energy (IL); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Unlimited PTO

Medical, dental, vision plans

401k with match

Equipment provided

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Focused Energy is advancing laser-driven inertial fusion energy (IFE) toward commercial power. We seek a Principal Scientist to lead the Digital Twin team, uniting subsystems into a single, self-consistent plant model that enables rigorous trade-off analyses and performance budgeting.

You will oversee scientists developing simulation codes for laser, target, chamber, and manufacturing, driving physics-based design decisions and collaborating with internal and external partners.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Physics with specialization in Plasma, Laser, Nuclear, or related field.
• Ph.D. is strongly preferred.
• Deep expertise in IFE/ICF physics and related subsystems.

Responsibilities

• Integrate physics modeling across all IFE subsystems (laser, target, chamber, injection, manufacturing).
• Validate subsystem codes and quantify model uncertainty.
• Set scientific direction and validation standards for the Digital Twin team.
• Lead development of an integrated IFE plant model for design trade-offs.
• Collaborate with Science and external partners to align with frontier research.
• Present modeling work to executives, management, and investors.

Skills

Plasma physics

Laser physics

Hydrodynamics

HPC workflows

Python/C++

Systems modeling

Education

Master’s degree in Physics

Ph.D. preferred

Tools

Python

Fortran

C++

Ray tracing

Monte Carlo

Job description

Focused Energy is advancing laser-driven inertial fusion energy (IFE) toward commercial power. We seek a Principal Scientist to lead the Digital Twin team, uniting subsystems into a single, self-consistent plant model that enables rigorous trade-off analyses and performance budgeting.

You will oversee scientists developing simulation codes for laser, target, chamber, and manufacturing, driving physics-based design decisions and collaborating with internal and external partners.