Xcimer Energy

Senior Optical Engineer - Stray Light

Denver, CO · Senior · Part-time

Work authorization required$160k-$200kDetected 83 days ago

PythonMATLABRESTResearch

About the role

Xcimer Energy leverages decades of research on Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) combined with groundbreaking new laser architecture.
Xcimer has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution.
Join us in powering a better world with inertial fusion!

Perform comprehensive non-sequential ray tracing (primarily using FRED software) to analyze stray light, ghost reflections, scattering, and diffraction in high-energy DUV laser systems.
Implement and evaluate mechanical feature models (such as baffles, apertures, and beam dumps) within non-sequential environments to actively mitigate stray light.
Write and maintain custom scripts (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or FRED script) to automate ray trace simulations, process large datasets, interface to other analysis tools and quantify system-level signal degradation.
Collaborate cross-functionally with sequential optical designers to optimize system layouts for stray light performance.
Work closely with opto-mechanical engineers to design and validate physical stray light mitigation hardware.
Partner with material scientists to evaluate Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Functions (BSDF/BRDF), surface roughness, and specialized UV-resilient absorptive coatings/materials.
Collaborate with Optical Systems Engineers to ensure stray light requirements are defined, met, and verified at the system level for ICF applications.
Supported by leading investors, Xcimer is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change.
You will implement mechanical feature models (e.g., baffles, beam dumps) directly into non-sequential software to validate their effectiveness.

Expert-level proficiency in non-sequential optical design software, with a strong preference for FRED.
Strong understanding of stray light mitigation techniques, including the implementation of mechanical features (baffles, beam dumps) in optical models.
Proven ability to work in a cross-collaborative environment with multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
8+ years of experience in stray light analysis for high-energy laser systems or deep UV (DUV) applications.
Experience with Laser Induced Damage Thresholds (LIDT) and material fluorescence in the DUV regime.
Specific experience working on laser systems for Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) or similar high-fluence beam delivery systems.
Familiarity with stray light measurement instrumentation (e.g., scatterometers) to correlate empirical data with simulation models.
Experience importing and managing complex CAD geometry within FRED or other non-sequential optical simulation environments.
Education: B.S. or M.S. degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated experience writing scripts to automate optical analysis and process ray trace data.
Solid foundation in physical optics, scattering (BSDF/BRDF), and diffraction.
Ph.D. in Optical Engineering, Physics, or related field.

In addition, employees receive paid sick time, 13 company-paid holidays, and an annual paid company shutdown.

Xcimer offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee health, well-being, and long-term success.
Eligible employees also receive equity, allowing them to share in the company's long-term success.
Xcimer operates under a flexible Paid Time Off (ATO) approach.
Rather than a fixed number of vacation days, employees are trusted to take the time they need to rest and recharge while meeting the expectations of their role and team.
are available to regular employees, including part-time and fixed-term roles, as well as interns, with eligibility varying by benefit.

Our mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible.

Xcimer Energy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force.
Xcimer Energy hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities.
We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members.
We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law.

This listing is sourced directly from Xcimer Energy's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.