Senior Computational Physicist, Accelerator & FEL Modeling

xLight Inc.; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% Company-funded health insurance

401k with employer contributions

Flexible Hybrid Work Model

Job summary

xLight Inc. is seeking a Computational Physicist to develop and apply models for particle beams and Free Electron Lasers. You will collaborate with accelerator physicists, FEL scientists, RF and controls engineers, turning theory into practical engineering solutions.

The role requires a Ph.D. in physics or equivalent experience, strong numerical methods, and extensive Python programming. Hybrid work and engagement with cross‑functional teams are expected.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Physics or related field or equivalent advanced research experience.
• Strong foundation in classical mechanics, electromagnetism, accelerator physics, and numerical methods.
• 5+ years experience developing computational models for complex physical systems.
• 5+ years experience with scientific computing, numerical analysis, data processing, and visualization.
• Proficiency in Python and experience with simulation or particle-tracking codes.

Responsibilities

• Develop computational models and simulations of particle accelerator and FEL systems.
• Perform beam dynamics simulations, including particle tracking and collective effects.
• Model and analyze electromagnetic fields, RF structures, and beam–field interactions.
• Develop simulations for Free Electron Laser physics and electron–photon interactions.
• Build automated simulation and optimization workflows to accelerate design cycles.

Skills

Python

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in Physics/Computational/Accelerator Physics

Equivalent advanced research experience

Tools

Bmad

Elegant

Genesis

ASTRA

GPT

WarpX

OPAL

IMPACT

Mad-X

Job description

xLight Inc. is seeking a Computational Physicist to develop and apply models for particle beams and Free Electron Lasers. You will collaborate with accelerator physicists, FEL scientists, RF and controls engineers, turning theory into practical engineering solutions.

The role requires a Ph.D. in physics or equivalent experience, strong numerical methods, and extensive Python programming. Hybrid work and engagement with cross‑functional teams are expected.