Optical Engineer

Xcimer Energy; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) match

Equity

PTO

Parental leave

Holiday shutdown

Job summary

Xcimer Energy in Denver, CO, is hiring an Optical Engineer to design and integrate state-of-the-art UV laser systems for inertial fusion, focusing on beamlines, diagnostics, and precision alignment.

You will own optical architectures, drive tolerancing, and collaborate with optical scientists and engineers to deliver high-performance laser embodiments for our grid-ready fusion program. This role is onsite at headquarters with a strong emphasis on quality, safety, and rapid execution.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in optical engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of optical engineering experience.
• Ownership of an optical system from concept through hardware.
• Proficiency in optical design software and computational tools.

Responsibilities

• Own optical architecture and performance of laser beamlines and diagnostic systems, from first-principles system calculations through detailed design.
• Build analysis of laser beamlines and diagnostics, including alignment design, tolerancing, and component specifications.
• Set the optical performance requirements that drive mount design and lead the iteration with the opto-mechanical team to converge the mount requirements and system performance.
• Work with optical physicists, electrical, and mechanical engineers to design active beam control systems including AO and tracking systems.
• Source optical components including optical elements, coatings, cameras, active beam control, etc. Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships that support the program’s roadmap.
• Lead integration, precision alignment, and test campaigns for laser and diagnostics systems, and establish or improve the methods and best practices the broader team uses to do this work.

Skills

Optical design

FRED/Zemax

Tolerancing

Optical metrology

AO & tracking

Systems integration

Python/MATLAB

USA citizenship

Education

B.S. in Optical Engineering

Tools

Theodolites

Laser trackers

Auto-collimators

Interferometers

Job description

Xcimer Energy leverages decades of research on Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) combined with groundbreaking new laser architecture. Our mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. Xcimer has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by leading investors, Xcimer is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. Join us in powering a better world with inertial fusion!

This is a full-time, onsite role based at our headquarters in Denver, CO.

Xcimer is looking for anOptical Engineerto help us build state-of-the-art UV laser systems for laser driven inertial fusion. We are a small, dynamic, and highly motivated team focused on the most plausible path to bringing fusion to the grid. You will have the opportunity to apply broad optical engineering skills and technical leadership to complex problems, and directly contribute to the design, build, and test of our laser and diagnostic systems. We are looking for our engineers to apply their technical expertise, problem solving skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact the future of energy!

Responsibilities

• Own the optical architecture and performance of laser beamlines and diagnostic systems, from first-principles system calculations through detailed design.
• Build analysis of laser beamlines and diagnostics, including alignment design, tolerancing, and component specifications.
• Set the optical performance requirements that drive mount design and lead the iteration with the opto-mechanical team to converge the mount requirements and system performance.
• Work with optical physicists, electrical, and mechanical engineers to design active beam control systems including AO and tracking systems.
• Source optical components including optical elements, coatings, cameras, active beam control, etc. Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships that support the program’s roadmap.
• Lead integration, precision alignment, and test campaigns for laser and diagnostics systems, and establish or improve the methods and best practices the broader team uses to do this work.

Qualifications

• Education:B.S. degree in optical engineering, or related field
• Experience: 5+ years of optical engineering experience
• Demonstrated ownership of an optical system or subsystem from concept through hardware, including setting requirements, driving sourcing and fabrication, and leading verification and validation.
• Proficiency in commercially available optical design software (FRED & Zemax preferred) and computational tools (MATLAB or Python)
• Proficiency in optical system tolerancing based on achievable fabrication limits, and statistical representations of optical system performance
• Fluency in optical design using best practices and optimization methods using common imaging-based and beam quality metrics
• Experience in optical system / subsystem integration and precision alignment techniques using common instrumentation such as theodolites, auto-collimators, laser trackers, etc
• Experience in performing optical metrology including interferometric measurements of optical surfaces, surface scatter characterization, and part inspection
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee of granted asylum.

Desired

• Experience in the design of adaptive optics and tracking (beam pointing stabilization) systems
• Experience in high fidelity physical wave optics propagation in the near and far fields
• Experience in high energy optical systems working in the deep UV

Xcimer Energy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. Xcimer Energy hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Xcimer Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information on “EEO Is the Law,” please see here and here.

Benefits

Xcimer offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee health, well-being, and long-term success. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; basic and supplemental life insurance; short- and long-term disability; paid parental leave for employees at the time of birth or adoption; and a 401(k) with a company match of up to 6%. Eligible employees also receive equity, allowing them to share in the company’s long-term success.

Xcimer operates under a flexible Paid Time Off (ATO) approach. Rather than a fixed number of vacation days, employees are trusted to take the time they need to rest and recharge while meeting the expectations of their role and team. In addition, employees receive paid sick time, 13 company-paid holidays, and an annual paid company shutdown. Benefits are available to regular employees, including part-time and fixed-term roles, as well as interns, with eligibility varying by benefit.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Candidates may be considered for other positions at Xcimer Energy, and our actual base salary will be determined on an individual basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. The range is published in accordance with Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and California Equal Pay Act.