---
title: 'Fusion Island Power Cycle Lead (m/f/d) at Focused'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/fusion-island-power-cycle-lead-m-f-d-focused-darmstadt-htf0aebmf8f6'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Fusion Island Power Cycle Lead (m/f/d) at Focused

- **Company:** Focused
- **Location:** Darmstadt, DE
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-06-29
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/focused/d8ae99c1-14c7-4b70-9604-881ed992bcec/application

**Skills:** Thermal-hydraulics, CFD, Fluid dynamics, Safety analyses principles, Design basis development, Nuclear reactor physics, Thermodynamic cycles, Mechanical analyses, Instrumentation and Control (I&C), RAMI, Licensing, Documentation and control, Project scheduling, Fusion Reactor knowledge, Fusion knowledge

> Lead the design and development of the Fusion Island power cycle, including cooling systems and thermodynamic cycles. Oversee the system from concept through commissioning, ensuring safe and efficient solutions while leading multidisciplinary teams.

## Job description

## About Focused Energy

Focused Energy is an international deep-tech company based in Germany and the US, working to commercialize laser-driven nuclear fusion. Our mission is to provide clean, safe, and virtually unlimited energy to the world. We are rapidly scaling and looking for talented individuals who thrive in building clarity and structure within fast-growing environments.

Role Overview: As the Fusion Island Power Cycle Lead – Reactor, you will lead the design and development of the Fusion Island power cycle, including the cooling system, thermodynamic cycle, and primary heat exchanger. You will oversee the system from concept through detailed design, licensing, construction, and commissioning, while ensuring safe, efficient, and integrated solutions across the reactor plant. This is a key technical leadership role requiring deep engineering expertise and the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and complex design decisions.

Key Responsibilities:

- End-to-end accountability for the fuel cycle power cycle design.
- Technical Leadership.
- Define and govern the overall power cycle design architecture, including configuration, major design parameters, and fundamental safety approach.
- Resolve complex, cross-cutting technical issues that cannot be resolved at the engineer or discipline level.
- Write key engineering deliverables including system design descriptions, design basis documents, interface control documents, and safety analysis inputs.
- Lead a multidisciplinary team.
- Report design status, risks, and issues clearly and regularly to the Fusion Island Group Leader.
- Manage design change control processes to maintain schedule and cost discipline while preserving design integrity.

Required Skills & Experience

- M. Sc. in nuclear engineering or in aerospace engineering.
- Experience in thermal-hydraulics.
- Advanced Experience specifically in CFD.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience.
- Minimum 2 years of experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams.
- Deep knowledge of fluid dynamics, safety analyses principles, and design basis development.
- Knowledge of nuclear reactor physics.
- Advanced Fusion Reactor knowledge is an advantage.
- Fusion is an advantage.
- Mastery of CFD.
- Understanding thermodynamic cycles, thermal-hydraulics, mechanical analyses and I&C.
- Manage requirements.
- RAMI, licensing, documentation and control, project scheduling.

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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