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Focused Energy is an international deep-tech company commercializing laser-driven nuclear fusion. The company is rapidly scaling and seeks a Laser Plasma Diagnostic Specialist to join the Experimental Physics team in Austin, TX.
You will be central to advancing the company's mission by developing, integrating, and deploying advanced diagnostics for inertial fusion energy (IFE) experiments. Working alongside physicists and engineers (optical, mechanical, electrical, controls, and software), you will design and commission state-of-the-art diagnostic systems spanning optical, X-ray, charged-particle, and nuclear measurements. Your work will directly support next-generation fusion facilities and provide critical experimental data guiding technology development and scientific discovery.
Key responsibilities include:
- Design, develop, integrate, and commission diagnostics for high-energy-density physics and inertial fusion experiments
- Support diagnostic development across optical, X-ray imaging/spectroscopy, charged-particle, and neutron/gamma-ray domains
- Define diagnostic requirements for new experimental campaigns and facilities
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineers to translate diagnostic concepts into operational systems
- Perform diagnostic alignment, calibration, commissioning, and experimental operation
- Analyze and interpret experimental data to evaluate diagnostic performance and extract scientific results
- Contribute to experimental planning, documentation, and technical reports
- Support interactions with external collaborators, universities, and national laboratories
This role sits at the intersection of experimental plasma physics, diagnostic instrumentation, and high-energy laser science, offering the opportunity to help build one of the world's most advanced experimental fusion programs.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Ph.D. in Physics, Plasma Physics, Optical Engineering, or related field
- 2–8 years of experience developing or operating diagnostics for laser-plasma physics experiments
- Demonstrated expertise in design, development, integration, or operation of laser-plasma diagnostics
- Demonstrated expertise in at least one diagnostic area (optical, X-ray, charged-particle, or nuclear diagnostics) with willingness to contribute across multiple disciplines
- Experience with one or more diagnostic techniques: optical imaging/spectroscopy, X-ray imaging, particle detectors, neutron diagnostics, or high-speed imaging
- Strong understanding of experimental optics, precision instrumentation, and vacuum-based experiments
- Experience with experimental data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent scientific software
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
NICE TO HAVES:
- Experience at high-power laser facilities
- Knowledge of inertial confinement fusion, inertial fusion energy, or high-energy-density plasma physics
- Experience with detector calibration, characterization, and uncertainty analysis
- Familiarity with vacuum systems, radiation detectors, high-voltage systems, or precision opto-mechanical instrumentation
- Experience with data acquisition systems, timing systems, and scientific imaging
- Experience integrating diagnostics into complex experimental facilities
- Familiarity with CAD software for diagnostic integration and mechanical design
- Record of scientific publications related to laser-plasma physics or diagnostic development
