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Focused Energy is an international deep-tech company commercializing laser-driven nuclear fusion to provide clean, safe, and virtually unlimited energy. The company operates across Germany and the US and is rapidly scaling.
You will join the Experimental Physics team as a Senior Laser-Plasma Diagnostic Specialist, providing technical leadership in the development, integration, and deployment of advanced diagnostics for inertial fusion energy (IFE) experiments. This role is central to characterizing laser-plasma interactions, target performance, and fusion-relevant physics.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead the design, development, integration, and commissioning of advanced diagnostics for high-energy-density physics and inertial fusion energy experiments
- Define and maintain the long-term diagnostic strategy and roadmap for current and future experimental facilities
- Provide technical leadership across multiple diagnostic domains: optical diagnostics, X-ray imaging and spectroscopy, charged-particle diagnostics, and neutron/gamma-ray diagnostics
- Define diagnostic requirements for new experimental campaigns and facility upgrades
- Coordinate multidisciplinary development efforts involving optical, mechanical, electrical, controls, software, and data acquisition engineers
- Provide technical oversight during diagnostic integration, alignment, calibration, commissioning, and experimental operation
- Analyze experimental results and guide continuous improvement of diagnostic performance
- Mentor junior scientists and engineers while promoting technical excellence
- Build and maintain collaborations with universities, national laboratories, and industrial partners
- Contribute to strategic planning, technical proposals, scientific publications, and presentations
You will work alongside physicists and engineers across multiple disciplines, shaping diagnostic capabilities for one of the world's most ambitious fusion programs.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Ph.D. in Physics, Plasma Physics, Optical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years of experience developing or leading diagnostics for laser-plasma, high-energy-density physics, or inertial confinement fusion experiments
- Demonstrated expertise in the design, development, integration, and operation of advanced laser-plasma diagnostics
- Demonstrated expertise in at least one diagnostic area (optical, X-ray, charged-particle, or nuclear diagnostics) with broad knowledge of complementary techniques
- Proven experience leading diagnostic development from concept through deployment and experimental operation
- Strong understanding of laser-plasma interactions, high-energy-density physics, and inertial fusion experiments
- Experience defining diagnostic architectures and measurement strategies for complex experimental facilities
- Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams involving physicists and engineering disciplines
- Experience with experimental data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent scientific software
- Strong technical leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
NICE TO HAVES:
- Extensive experience at major high-power laser facilities or high-energy-density physics laboratories
- Experience developing diagnostics for inertial confinement fusion or inertial fusion energy experiments
- Expertise in detector calibration, characterization, uncertainty analysis, and instrument qualification
- Experience integrating diagnostics into complex, multidisciplinary experimental facilities
- Familiarity with radiation environments, detector survivability, and shielding considerations
- Experience with data acquisition systems, synchronization, timing systems, and scientific imaging
- Familiarity with CAD software and engineering design processes
- Experience managing collaborations with universities, national laboratories, and industrial partners
- Strong publication record in laser-plasma physics, high-energy-density physics, or diagnostic development
- Demonstrated experience mentoring scientists and engineers and leading technical teams
