Optical Control Systems Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Xcimer Energy leverages decades of research on Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) combined with groundbreaking new laser architecture. Our mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. Xcimer has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by leading investors, Xcimer is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. Join us in powering a better world with inertial fusion!

 

This is a full-time, onsite role based at our headquarters in Denver, CO.

 

As an Optical Control Systems Engineer , you will play a critical role in the design, implementation, and validation of precision optical control systems for high‑energy laser facilities. You will develop and validate advanced adaptive optics (AO) control algorithms, integrate real‑time optical sensing and actuation hardware, and support time‑of‑flight (TOF)–based tracking and synchronization systems for target insertion and laser‑target engagement. This role spans algorithm development, hardware integration, and system‑level validation in an operational laser environment. We are seeking an engineer who combines deep optics and controls expertise with hands‑on system integration experience, and who thrives in solving multi‑disciplinary problems at the limits of precision, timing, and speed.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and tune adaptive optics control algorithms for high‑energy laser systems, including wavefront correction, beam pointing, and jitter rejection
• Develop control strategies for fast steering mirrors (FSMs) and slow steering mirrors (SSMs), including multi‑loop, multi‑rate, and hierarchical control architectures
• Integrate and commission beam diagnostics and position sensors, such as wavefront sensors, quad cells, high-speed cameras, and wave meters, into real‑time closed‑loop optical control systems
• Design, implement, and validate time‑of‑flight (TOF)–based tracking, synchronization, and timing systems for target insertion, engagement timing, and laser coordination
• Perform system‑level modeling and analysis of optical control performance, including latency, bandwidth, stability margins, noise propagation, and timing error budgets
• Plan and execute laboratory, subsystem, and in‑situ commissioning tests to validate algorithms and control performance against system requirements
• Collaborate with laser physics, optical, mechanical, electrical, and controls teams to define system interfaces, sensor/actuator placement, and operational concepts
• Generate and maintain rigorous technical documentation, including control specifications, algorithm descriptions, requirements, interface definitions, test plans, and validation reports
• Support technical reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR) with quantitative analysis and experimental data
• Support system commissioning, operations, and iterative performance improvement of deployed optical control systems

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree or higher in Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mechatronics, or a closely related field
• Experience: 5+ years of experience in optical systems, control systems, or adaptive optics, with demonstrated hands‑on implementation experience
• Adaptive Optics (AO) experience demonstrated through prior hands‑on experience with:
  • Development and tuning of adaptive optics closed‑loop control systems, including wavefront reconstruction and correction
  • Practical experience with wavefront sensing technologies (e.g., Shack‑Hartmann or equivalent), including calibration, alignment, and noise characterization
  • Design and implementation of real‑time AO control algorithms, with attention to latency, bandwidth, and stability
  • Hands‑on integration and control of fast steering mirrors (FSMs) and slow steering mirrors (SSMs)
  • Ability to model AO system performance end‑to‑end, including sensor noise, actuator dynamics, timing, and control‑law effects
  • Experience validating AO performance through laboratory testing and in‑system commissioning, not simulation alone
  • Strong understanding of beam quality, pointing error, jitter, and wavefront error budgeting
• Strong foundation in control theory, including classical and modern methods applied to real‑time physical systems
• Proficiency with algorithm development and analysis tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or equivalent numerical environments
• Hands-on experience integrating sensors and actuators into closed‑loop optical or electromechanical control systems
• Ability to work safely in laboratory and industrial environments involving high‑power lasers, high voltage, and precision equipment
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (Green Card holder), or otherwise authorized to work in the United States

Desired

• Experience with high‑energy or high‑average‑power laser adaptive optics, including thermal and dynamic beam distortions
• Familiarity with advanced or predictive control techniques applied to AO systems (e.g., LQG, model‑based observers)
• Implementation of AO or beam‑control algorithms on real‑time hardware platforms (FPGA, DSP, GPU, or similar)
• Integration of AO systems with precision timing or TOF‑based synchronization systems
• Experience with optical metrology and interferometric techniques for wavefront and beam characterization
• Participation in AO‑related design reviews, test readiness reviews, or commissioning campaigns
• Exposure to operation in demanding environments such as vacuum systems, vibration, thermal gradients, or high‑power laser facilities

Candidates may be considered for other positions at Xcimer Energy, and our actual base salary will be determined on an individual basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. The range is published in accordance with Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and California Equal Pay Act.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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. Xcimer Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information on “EEO Is the Law,” please see here and here.

 

Benefits

Xcimer offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee health, well-being, and long-term success. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; basic and supplemental life insurance; short- and long-term disability; paid parental leave for employees at the time of birth or adoption; and a 401(k) with a company match of up to 6%. 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. In addition, employees receive paid sick time, 13 company-paid holidays, and an annual paid company shutdown. Benefits are available to regular employees, including part-time and fixed-term roles, as well as interns, with eligibility varying by benefit.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.