---
title: 'Digital Twin Principal Scientist (f/m/d) at Focused'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/digital-twin-principal-scientist-f-m-d-focused-washington-c68e97g9vd2e'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Digital Twin Principal Scientist (f/m/d) at Focused

- **Company:** Focused
- **Location:** Washington, DC
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-08-22
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/focused/8f423921-3bfe-4bba-a975-9719600d65b4

## Job description

## 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. Based in Germany and the US, we have brought together the top scientific and engineering minds using proven technologies to unlock fusion power at commercial scale. Focused Energy is working to realize game-changing scientific innovation that promises to deliver a clean, sustainable and abundant source of power globally.

## Your Role

Focused Energy is advancing laser-driven inertial fusion energy (IFE) toward commercial power generation, and the credibility and velocity of that mission depend on our ability to model how the full IFE system behaves, where the physics risks lie, and what each subsystem must achieve for the plant to be economically viable. This role exists to and lead and participate in that capability. We are seeking a Principal Scientist to serve as the most senior technical authority on the Digital Twin team to bring together an integrated IFE system modeling environment which will be at the center of Focused Energy’s IFE plant design efforts. You will lead a team of scientists who develop and own the simulation codes for each major subsystem - laser, target, fusion chamber, target injection and tracking, and target manufacturing - and drive the synthesis of those subsystem models into a comprehensive, self-consistent plant-level simulation framework. That framework enables rigorous trade-off analysis across competing point design candidates and allocates quantitative performance budgets back to each subsystem, forming the physics foundation from which engineering requirements are derived.

## What You'll Do

- Integrate the physics modeling efforts across all IFE subsystems — laser, target, chamber, target injection/tracking, and manufacturing.
- Validate that subsystem code accurately captures the physics, with model uncertainty rigorously quantified and reported.
- Set the scientific direction, modeling standards, and validation philosophy for the Digital Twin team.
- Lead development of a comprehensive, integrated IFE plant model.
- Work directly with the Science team on trade-off analyses across design candidates, identifying which design choices and parameters most affect plant viability.
- Work with experimental physics teams to validate simulation codes against real shot data (our own, plus NIF, OMEGA, ELI, etc.).
- Partner with the Digital Twin team and external collaborators (national labs, the broader IFE community) to keep our modeling at the frontier.
- Present the modeling team's work to executive leadership, program management, and investors.

## Who You Are

Must-haves

- Master’s degree in Physics (with a specialization in Plasma, Laser, Nuclear, or related field); a Ph.D. is strongly preferred.
- Deep expertise in IFE/ICF physics - e.g. target implosion design, laser-plasma interaction, hydrodynamic instability, burn physics, or chamber/neutronics
- Track record developing, validating, and publishing physics simulation codes (hydrodynamic, radiation-hydrodynamics, PIC, ray tracing, Monte Carlo neutronics, etc.)
- Strong programming skills (Python, Fortran, C++, or equivalent) and experience with HPC/large-scale simulation workflows.
- Experience with integrated, systems-level modeling - coupling physics domains, managing code interfaces, uncertainty propagation, sensitivity analysis.

Nice-to-haves

- Strong scientific leadership - sets high standards and builds team confidence.
- Clear communicator - can translate complex physics for execs, engineers, and external partners.
- Systems-level thinker - sees how subsystem trade-offs affect the whole design.
- Collaborative across physics, engineering, and software disciplines.
- Comfortable making decisions under uncertainty and being transparent about confidence levels.
- Familiarity with Digital Twin methods, reduced-order modeling, or physics-informed ML.
- Published or patented work in IFE/ICF or related plasma/laser physics.
- Experience with requirements flow-down, performance budgeting, or margin analysis.
- Entrepreneurial, self-directed, energized by building things from scratch.
- Comfortable engaging with execs, program managers, academics, and investors.
- Genuinely mission-driven and energized by startup pace and ambiguity.

## What We Offer

- Innovative Technology & Mission: Be part of a cutting-edge company working on groundbreaking research in clean energy and scientific discovery.
- Career Development: We invest in our people. This is an opportunity to join an early, growing company at the forefront of new technology, where you’ll have the opportunity to develop and grow your career.
- Collaborative Culture: Work with great people in a dynamic, international environment with top-tier scientists, engineers and professionals passionate about solving global challenges.
- Ownership: Take ownership from day 1 and drive impact by making decisions, solving challenges and shaping the future of our company.
- Your Success is our Success: We offer a competitive salary and company ownership in the form of stock options, giving you a direct stake in our success and ownership in what we build together.
- Medical, Dental, Vision: Multiple great plans to pick from that are active come the 1st Day of employment for you and any enrolled dependents.
- Vacation Days: We support your work-life-balance by granting you Unlimited PTO.
- Snacks and Drinks: Our office fridges are never empty. Enjoy our healthy snacks and drinks.
- Retirement Plan: If you decide to enroll in our 401k plan, we will match up to 4% on top of the employee contribution.
- Equipment: We offer state-of-the-art Windows or Apple Laptops. In addition, you will receive a keyboard, mouse and headset so you are fully equipped from day 1.
- Events: We organize regular events to foster team bonding, encourage collaboration, and build a strong, supportive company culture. Connect with colleagues across departments, share ideas, and have fun together, both in and outside of the workplace.

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.

## About Focused

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Focused Energy is a laser-driven fusion company working to commercialize clean, limitless fusion power using technology proven at the National Ignition Facility (NIF).
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A / Grant-funded)
- **Headquarters**: Darmstadt, Germany (global HQ) with major offices in San Francisco, CA, USA and Austin, TX, USA
- **Founded**: 2021
- **Founders**: Thomas Forner (CEO) and Prof. Dr. Markus Roth (CSO)

## Core Business
- Primary industry: Energy – nuclear fusion power generation
- Target customers: Utility companies, grid operators, governments
- Mission: To unleash the next chapter of economic growth and scientific innovation through the widespread adoption of clean, abundant fusion power.

## Products & Services
- **Laser-Driven Fusion Power Plant**: A commercial-scale fusion reactor designed to produce clean, limitless electricity. Currently in development with construction underway for an Integrated Test Facility and a Fusion Pilot Plant on a multi-stage Fusion Campus in Biblis, Germany.
- **Targetry & Laser Systems**: Proprietary fuel targets and high-power laser subsystems developed at the Darmstadt Targetry & Laser Laboratory (FELD) and the Austin Target Tracking & Engagement Facility.
- **R&D Collaborations**: Partnerships with U.S. national laboratories (LLNL, LLE) through the DOE INFUSE program, and with commercial partners such as Amplitude, ZEISS, and Fusioneering.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding of **$126.3M** (as of mid-2026), including a $50M grant from SPRIND, a $40M corporate round led by Amplitude Laser, an $11M Series A led by Prime Movers Lab, and ~$25M in additional grants from the U.S. DOE and German state governments.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Prime Movers Lab (lead investor), Amplitude Laser, SPRIND (German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation), U.S. Department of Energy, State of Hesse, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics.
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 73.6% year-over-year to 84 employees (LinkedIn, mid-2026); selected as one of eight companies for the DOE’s milestone-based fusion development program; new U.S. facility opened in Austin (2026); Fusion Campus in Biblis under construction.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proven Science**: Approach builds directly on the NIF ignition breakthrough (2021); key team members (including CSO Dr. Debbie Callahan) were co-leaders of the NIF ignition campaign.
- **Deep Public Support**: Among the largest single public investments in laser fusion globally (~€70M from German federal and state sources combined).
- **Full-Stack Approach**: Controls targetry, lasers, and reactor design in-house, enabling rapid iteration and integration.
- **World-Class Team**: Over 150 scientists and engineers with deep expertise from major fusion labs, laser companies, and commercial energy startups.

## Strategic Focus
- **Build Fusion Campus**: Construction of a multi-stage facility in Biblis, Germany, housing an Integrated Test Facility, a Fusion Pilot Plant, and a first-of-its-kind commercial fusion power plant.
- **Scale Technology**: Validate engineering for commercial energy production through integrated prototype testing.
- **Expand U.S. Footprint**: Leverage Austin facility for target tracking, engagement systems, and program execution with U.S. partners.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-Driven**: Directly contribute to solving the world’s energy and climate challenges with a technology that has already achieved scientific ignition.
- **World-Class R&D**: Collaborate with leading scientists from NIF, TU Darmstadt, and U.S. national labs in state-of-the-art laser and targetry labs.
- **Hybrid Options**: Many roles offer hybrid work arrangements; offices in Darmstadt, San Francisco, and Austin.
- **Culture**: Described as “relentless and brilliant” – a startup environment focused on engineering a step-change for civilization.
- **Growth Trajectory**: Rapidly expanding team and facilities; opportunities to shape a nascent industry.

## Sources
1. [Focused Energy Company Page](https://www.focused-energy.co/company)
2. [Focused Energy Careers Page](https://www.focused-energy.co/careers)
3. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/focused-energy-inc)
4. [Built In Company Profile](https://builtin.com/company/focused-energy-focused-energyco)
5. [Ashby Job Board](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/focused)

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