About Focused Energy
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.
Your Role
Focused Energy is looking for a Principal Software Engineer to define and own the Core Software architecture that will operate and integrate our fusion power plant. Sitting within the Software Department and reporting to the Head of Software, this is a foundational technical role: you will set the direction for how controls, hardware interfaces, calibration systems, data infrastructure, and human-machine interfaces come together into one coherent system.
What You'll Do
- Define and maintain the end-to-end Core Software architecture for the fusion power plant, including device interfaces, calibration, data handling, data storage, and HMI
- Design and implement critical parts of the Core Software system using languages such as C++ and Python
- Define clear interfaces between software, control hardware, diagnostics, plant equipment, data systems, and operator tools
- Design reliable automated calibration facilities and workflows that produce traceable and repeatable results
- Set practical standards for architecture, coding, testing, observability, documentation, release, reliability, security, and fault tolerance
- Lead technical decisions across teams, mentor engineers, resolve difficult trade-offs
Who You Are
- Extensive experience designing and implementing control software for complex physical or industrial systems
- Extensive experience with hardware and software interfaces, including device integration and system-level troubleshooting
- Experience designing and implementing automated calibration facilities or workflows
- Strong experience with data handling, data pipelines, metadata, and reliable data storage
- Experience designing and implementing HMI for operators or technical users
- Strong software design and implementation skills in C++, Python, or similar languages
- Strong communication and leadership skills
Nice-to-Haves
- Experience with software for plasma, nuclear power, high-energy physics, or scientific facilities
- Experience with real-time or distributed control systems and high-throughput data acquisition
- Experience defining shared frameworks, API conventions, or configuration management
- Fluency with AI-assisted software development
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.