About Focused Energy
Focused Energy is a fusion energy startup with the goal of generating unlimited clean energy to responsibly meet future global demand, using laser-induced inertial fusion.
About the Role
We are seeking a Laser Architect to join our dynamic laser development team. The Laser Architect is the system-level technical lead responsible for the conceptual design, modeling, and experimental validation of laser driver architectures for inertial fusion energy (IFE) at the research and pre-pilot stage. The Laser Architect ensures coherence between laser physics, system architecture, and fusion requirements, guiding the transition from laboratory concepts toward scalable driver solutions.
What You'll Do
- Define and refine laser driver concepts suitable for IFE
- Explore alternative architectures and assess their feasibility through modeling and experiments
- Maintain ownership of the global architectural vision, even as individual subsystems evolve in parallel
- Define the laser R&D roadmap, including critical component development/evaluation and integrated beamline demonstrators
- Work closely with experimental teams to ensure results feed back into architectural decisions
- Support design of diagnostics and test protocols aligned with future scaling needs
Who You Are
- PhD or equivalent experience in laser physics, optical engineering, or related fields
- Deep expertise in high-energy and/or high-average-power laser systems
- Strong background in laser system modeling and scaling analysis
- Demonstrated experience in conceptual design and experimental validation of complex laser systems
- Ability to operate across physics, optics, and systems-level reasoning
- Comfortable exploring multiple architectural paths in parallel
- Communicates technical trade-offs clearly to scientists, engineers, and leadership
What We Offer
Innovative technology and mission, career development, collaborative culture, ownership from day one, competitive salary and stock options, 30 vacation days, retirement plan matching, and mobility/fitness benefits.