Focused Energy is building the future of clean energy through laser-driven inertial fusion. Backed by our $240M Series A — the largest fully secured Series A in the global fusion industry — we are scaling rapidly across multiple geographies.

Based in Germany and the US, we have brought together the top scientific and engineering minds using proven technologies to unlock fusion power at commercial scale. Focused Energy is working to realize game-changing scientific innovation that promises to deliver a clean, sustainable and abundant source of power globally.

Your Role

Focused Energy's Austin laser team is building and commissioning a kJ-class laser system. We are seeking a Senior Laser Engineer to be the technical anchor for coherent optical beam smoothing (SSD) in Austin. This person will turn laser front end requirements into commissioned, operating systems. You will own the fiber-based front end of our coherent 2DSSD set up, and will progressively take ownership of the free-space beam smoothing, amplification, and frequency conversion portions of the system as the program matures. This is a hands-on, on-site role at the center of a cutting-edge laser facility, working alongside senior laser scientists and engineers.

What You'll Do

Own the fiber-based front end laser design, specification, setup, implementation, and operations, from initial specifications through commissioning.

Lead translation of free-space beam path designs into physical optomechanical layouts, producing complete and accurate BOMs in close collaboration with Laser team leadership.

Drive beam-smoothing component procurement, with laser team members and external vendors.

Work with the rest of the beam-smoothing team to design and implement amplification and frequency conversion of the 2DSSD front end.

Lead experiments to diagnose FM-AM effects and beam-smoothing effectiveness at 1w and 3w.

Ensure cleanroom protocols are followed during optical handling and installation; coordinate cleanroom upgrade activities as required.

Partner with Controls Engineering on the laser diagnostic and alignment automation architecture, providing optical requirements and interface definitions.

Support laser efforts for Target Tracking and Engagement as necessary.

Who You Are

Must-haves

Deep, hands-on experience with fiber-based and free space laser systems, precision beam alignment, and optical system integration.

Demonstrated ability to translate beam path plans into physical optomechanical layouts and produce complete, procurable BOMs.

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 is a significant advantage.

Optomechanical CAD experience.

Prior work coordinating with Controls Engineering on diagnostic or alignment automation interfaces.

A track record as the go-to technical resource for laser benchtop design — 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.

What We Offer

Innovative Technology & Mission: Be part of a cutting-edge company working on groundbreaking research in clean energy and scientific discovery.

Career Development: We invest in our people. This is an opportunity to join an early, growing company at the forefront of new technology, where you'll have the opportunity to develop and grow your career.