Optical Engineer

Focused Energy is a fusion energy startup with the goal of generating unlimited clean energy to responsibly meet future global demand. With the use and commercialization of laser-induced inertial fusion, a clean and highly efficient power generation technology is coming within reach, suitable to ensure a secure and scalable future energy supply.

We are seeking a skilled and driven Optical Engineer to design, analyze, and help realize the next generation of high-energy and high-average-power laser systems that underpin Focused Energy’s fusion program. In this role, you will be responsible for turning advanced optical concepts into robust, manufacturable, and operable experimental and production laser systems.

Your work will directly enable the performance, stability, and scalability of our fusion laser infrastructure — ensuring that optical designs meet extreme power, precision, and reliability requirements while remaining practical to build, integrate, and operate.

What you’ll do

• Optical System Design: Design, model, and optimize complex optical systems for high-energy and high-average-power laser applications, balancing performance, robustness, and manufacturability.

• Simulation & Analysis: Use advanced optical modeling tools (e.g., Zemax / OpticStudio) to perform ray tracing, tolerance analysis, stray light analysis, and wavefront propagation to predict and validate system behavior.

• Performance Specification: Define detailed optical specifications including component selection, materials, coatings, and tolerances to meet demanding power, fluence, and stability requirements.

• Integration & Commissioning: Partner closely with technicians, laser engineers, and mechanical and electrical teams during assembly, alignment, testing, and commissioning of optical systems, troubleshooting issues as they arise.

• System Optimization: Identify and resolve performance limitations related to aberrations, thermal effects, alignment sensitivity, and stray light to ensure stable, repeatable operation at high power.

• Documentation & Communication: Produce high-quality technical documentation, analyses, and design reviews to support internal development, knowledge sharing, and external collaboration.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work across disciplines to ensure optical designs integrate cleanly into larger laser, mechanical, electrical, vacuum, and control system architectures.

Who you are

• A degree in Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with professional experience designing and analyzing optical systems for laser or photonics applications.

• Deep hands-on experience with Zemax (OpticStudio) or comparable optical design and simulation tools, including tolerance and stray light analysis.

• Strong understanding of classical optics, Gaussian beam propagation, laser physics, and material behavior under high-intensity or high-fluence conditions.

• Comfortable moving between modeling and the lab — supporting alignment, testing, debugging, and iteration of real optical hardware.

• You bring rigor to your designs, anticipate failure modes, and care deeply about accuracy, documentation, and long-term reliability.

• You can work effectively with scientists, engineers, and technicians and communicate complex optical concepts clearly across disciplines.

• Preferred: Experience with MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for analysis, modeling, or automation of design workflows.

• Preferred: Familiarity with cleanroom practices, vacuum-compatible optical design, large-aperture optics, or advanced components such as adaptive or deformable optics.

Focused Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Focused Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, benefits.