Lead High-Power Laser Engineer for LCLS Upgrades

Stanford University; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford University’s LCLS seeks a Staff Laser Engineer to advance beam conditioning, transport, and diagnostics for cutting-edge x-ray laser facilities. You will lead optical system design, alignment, and integration while collaborating with scientists and engineers across the division.

This role emphasizes reliability, uptime, and maintainability in a fast-paced environment. You will contribute to major upgrade programs, apply advanced metrology, and document procedures to support operations

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 4+ years or Master's with 3+ years in Optical/Electrical Engineering or related field
• Experience designing high-average-power and high-energy laser systems
• Experience with laser diagnostics (CCD, pulse duration, wavefront sensors)
• Extensive experience aligning lasers and optical systems
• Optical design and analysis
• Experience with optical coatings and high laser damage threshold coatings
• Ability to prepare detailed optics drawings for fabrication
• Strong documentation and collaboration skills

Responsibilities

• Develop laser and optical designs for beam conditioning, transport, relay imaging, focusing, and diagnostics.
• Support laser R&D programs and bridge R&D, engineering, and operations.
• Lead design, procurement, installation, alignment, integration, and validation of optical/optomechanical systems.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineers to create optomechanical supports with precise alignment.
• Document designs and develop training and operational support plans for high uptime.

Skills

Power laser design

High-energy lasers

Laser diagnostics

Laser alignment

Optical design

Optical coatings

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's or Master in Optical/Electrical Engineering

Tools

Optical metrology equipment

Job description

Stanford University’s LCLS seeks a Staff Laser Engineer to advance beam conditioning, transport, and diagnostics for cutting-edge x-ray laser facilities. You will lead optical system design, alignment, and integration while collaborating with scientists and engineers across the division.

This role emphasizes reliability, uptime, and maintainability in a fast-paced environment. You will contribute to major upgrade programs, apply advanced metrology, and document procedures to support operations