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Xcimer Energy is building state-of-the-art UV laser systems for laser-driven inertial fusion energy (IFE). The company leverages decades of fusion research combined with groundbreaking laser architecture to deploy fusion power plants and meet global decarbonization goals. This is a full-time, onsite role based in Denver, CO.
As an Optical Engineer, you will own the optical architecture and performance of laser beamlines and diagnostic systems, from first-principles system calculations through detailed design. You will build comprehensive analysis of laser beamlines and diagnostics, including alignment design, tolerancing, and component specifications. You will set optical performance requirements that drive mount design and lead iteration with the opto-mechanical team to converge mount requirements and system performance.
Key responsibilities include:
- Own optical architecture and performance of laser beamlines and diagnostic systems from concept through detailed design
- Build analysis including alignment design, tolerancing, and component specifications
- Set optical performance requirements and lead cross-functional iteration with mechanical and electrical teams
- Work with optical physicists and engineers to design active beam control systems including adaptive optics (AO) and tracking systems
- Source optical components (optical elements, coatings, cameras, active beam control) and build strategic supplier relationships
- Lead integration, precision alignment, and test campaigns for laser and diagnostics systems
- Establish or improve methods and best practices for system integration and alignment across the team
You will apply broad optical engineering skills and technical leadership to complex problems, directly contributing to the design, build, and test of laser and diagnostic systems.
REQUIREMENTS:
- B.S. degree in optical engineering or related field
- 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 with common imaging-based and beam quality metrics
- Experience in optical system/subsystem integration and precision alignment techniques using common instrumentation (theodolites, auto-collimators, laser trackers, etc.)
- Experience in 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 or granted asylum
DESIRED:
- Experience in adaptive optics and tracking (beam pointing stabilization) systems
- Experience in high fidelity physical wave optics propagation in near and far fields
- Experience in high energy optical systems working in deep UV
