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Focused Energy is building commercial-scale laser-driven inertial fusion energy systems, backed by a $240M Series A—the largest fully secured Series A in the global fusion industry. The company operates across Germany and the US, combining proven technologies with top scientific and engineering talent to unlock fusion power at commercial scale.
You will serve as the technical anchor for laser setup and alignment at Focused Energy's Austin facility, which is building and commissioning a kJ-class laser system. This is a hands-on, on-site role at the center of a cutting-edge laser facility, working alongside senior laser scientists and engineers.
Key responsibilities include:
- Own laser setup, alignment, and beam path implementation from initial layout through commissioning and handoff to operations.
- Lead translation of beam path designs into physical optomechanical layouts, producing complete and accurate bills of materials in close collaboration with laser team leadership.
- Drive beam-smoothing beam path design and component procurement with laser team members and external vendors.
- Own the optical side of the standard laser diagnostic package, including integration, calibration, and ongoing maintenance.
- Build and implement the optical alignment automation interface in close coordination with Controls Engineering.
- Ensure cleanroom protocols are followed during optical handling and installation; coordinate cleanroom upgrade activities as required.
- Partner with Controls Engineering on laser diagnostic and alignment automation architecture, providing optical requirements and interface definitions.
- Enable FM/AM and beam-smoothing experiments by providing hands-on optical support during experimental campaigns.
You will have significant autonomy to make decisions on optical layout, alignment approach, and component selection, escalating only on system-architecture or facility-level trade-offs. This role offers the opportunity to build laser engineering capability from the ground up in a startup environment.
REQUIREMENTS
Must-haves:
- Deep, hands-on experience with high-power laser systems, precision beam alignment, and optical system integration.
- Demonstrated ability to translate beam path plans into physical optomechanical layouts and produce complete, procurable bills of materials.
- Working knowledge of standard laser diagnostic instrumentation, alignment and wavefront characterization, and cleanroom handling procedures for high-damage-threshold optics.
- Comfort operating independently on optical layout, alignment approach, and component selection, escalating only on system-architecture or facility-level trade-offs.
- Familiarity with laser safety standards and protocols (ANSI Z136 / Class 4).
Nice-to-haves:
- Experience with pulsed laser systems (CPA or Q-switched); petawatt-class, kJ-class, or equivalent high-power facility experience.
- Optomechanical CAD experience.
- Prior work coordinating with Controls Engineering on diagnostic or alignment automation interfaces.
- Track record as the go-to technical resource for laser alignment and optical systems—mentoring through hands-on example rather than formal authority.
- Experience supporting beam-smoothing or amplifier characterization efforts.
- Entrepreneurial mindset: thrives in a startup environment; self-directed and energized by building laser engineering capability from the ground up.
- Mission-driven: genuinely motivated by the prospect of making fusion energy commercially real.
