Senior Adaptive Optics Engineer – Fusion Beamlines

Xcimer Energy; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Equity

Flexible PTO

Paid parental leave

13 company-paid holidays

Annual company shutdown

Job summary

Xcimer Energy is seeking a Principal Electro-Optical/Adaptive Optics Engineer to lead the adaptive optics architecture for our fusion beamlines at HQ in Denver. You will own requirements, performance budgets, and the real-time loop, coordinating with optical engineers, laser scientists, and technicians to execute de-risking experiments and proofs-of-concept.

The role includes defining technical standards, leading vendor reviews, and guiding the development of an in-house AO capability that

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in optics, physics, electrical engineering, or a closely related field.
• 8+ years of optical science/engineering experience, with 5+ years in adaptive optics.
• Proven ownership of AO requirements and performance budgets on real programs.
• Experience with wavefront control, high-bandwidth feedback, and hardware selection.
• Experience directing work of engineers and technicians on complex optical systems.
• Willingness to travel to vendor facilities and to work in a demanding lab environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the adaptive optics system from requirements to integration and commissioning.
• Own AO and wavefront control requirements for fusion beamlines and interfaces.
• Build end-to-end performance models and derive budgets for beam quality and target delivery.
• Plan resources, vendor engagements, subcontracting, and build-vs-buy decisions.
• Define proof-of-concept experiments and direct teams to execute them.
• Define lab and in-situ test plans and approve resulting reports.
• Mentor engineers, participate in hiring, and develop the AO group practices.

Skills

Adaptive optics

Wavefront sensing

High-speed optical control

Beamlines

Optical engineering

Education

Advanced degree in optics/physics/EE

Tools

Deformable mirrors

Wavefront sensors

Real-time control systems

Job description

Xcimer Energy is seeking a Principal Electro-Optical/Adaptive Optics Engineer to lead the adaptive optics architecture for our fusion beamlines at HQ in Denver. You will own requirements, performance budgets, and the real-time loop, coordinating with optical engineers, laser scientists, and technicians to execute de-risking experiments and proofs-of-concept.

The role includes defining technical standards, leading vendor reviews, and guiding the development of an in-house AO capability that