--- title: 'Lab Manager, Materials & Process Engineering at Xcimer Energy' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/lab-manager-materials-process-engineering-xcimer-energy-denver-zbbxvpzydxwc' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-08' --- # Lab Manager, Materials & Process Engineering at Xcimer Energy - **Company:** Xcimer Energy - **Location:** Denver, CO - **Compensation:** $140k–$165k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-11-02 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-08 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/xcimer/ee355717-930c-400b-a89b-0a4b969eee62 ## 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. The Materials & Process Engineering (M&P) Department is developing several new laboratory capabilities critical to Xcimer's mission, including an analytical lab, a wet chemistry and metallography lab, and advanced molten-salt research facilities. We are seeking an experienced Lab Manager to lead the design, build-out, commissioning, and operation of these shared lab assets. This role is ideal for a technically strong, hands-on laboratory operations professional with experience establishing laboratory infrastructure in industrial environments, implementing safe and efficient operations, and supporting multidisciplinary R&D teams. Operating within Xcimer's matrix organization, you will work closely with engineering, science, facilities, EHS, and external partners to develop and manage laboratory capabilities that support multiple programs across the company. You will play a key role in enabling world-class research and development by ensuring laboratory facilities are safe, reliable, scalable, and aligned with evolving technical priorities. ## Responsibilities Laboratory Build-Out & Commissioning - Lead the planning, setup, and commissioning of multiple new laboratories, including: - Analytical / chemical characterization lab (e.g., SEM/EDS, XRD, GC–MS, XRF, RGA, plasma cleaner, sputter coater) - Wet chemistry and metallography lab (fume hoods, sample prep tools, chemical handling infrastructure) - Molten-salt research facilities, including FLiBe-compatible test systems, gloveboxes, furnaces, corrosion loops, inert-atmosphere equipment, and other specialized experimental platforms supporting molten-salt science, materials compatibility, corrosion, tritium-related studies, and process development. - Coordinate facility design, utility requirements, HVAC, exhaust systems, safety interlocks, and infrastructure with Facilities, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, and EHS. - Oversee installation, acceptance testing, and vendor qualification for new instrumentation. Laboratory Operations & Management - Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), equipment logs, chemical inventories, waste-handling protocols, cleanliness standards, and maintenance schedules. - Implement and enforce robust safety practices compliant with chemical hygiene, hazardous materials handling, high-temperature systems, and vacuum system operations. - Manage laboratory readiness, uptime, calibration, and maintenance of analytical, chemical, and metallographic equipment. - Establish sample workflows, scheduling systems, and operational processes that enable fast, reliable support for materials development and failure analysis. - Coordinate laboratory access, scheduling, resource allocation, and operational priorities across multiple technical organizations and research programs. - Support the development and operation of multiple experimental platforms and laboratory assets as research needs evolve. Safety & Compliance - Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant safety regulations and ensure laboratory operations follow all EHS-established policies and procedures. - Support EHS in safety reviews and hazard assessments for chemical processes, molten-salt handling, and vacuum systems, implementing required controls. - Train lab users in safe equipment operation, chemical hygiene, and emergency practices in alignment with EHS guidance. - Coordinate with EHS, Facilities, and regulators during permitting, inspections, and compliance activities. Cross-Functional Collaboration - Partner with scientists, engineers, technicians, EHS, Facilities, and program teams across the company to align laboratory operations with evolving research and development priorities. - Manage external vendors for equipment procurement, installation, calibration, and maintenance. - Support budget planning, procurement forecasting, and resource allocation for laboratory operations. - Work closely with Fusion Nuclear Science personnel to support molten-salt experimentation, corrosion studies, tritium-related technology development, and future laboratory expansion efforts. ## Qualifications - Education: Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field. - Experience: 5+ years of industry experience managing or operating technical laboratories (materials, chemical, analytical, or high‑temperature environments). - Demonstrated experience planning, building, or expanding laboratory infrastructure, including utilities, safety systems, and equipment integration. - Strong working knowledge of laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, hazardous material storage, and regulatory compliance. - Hands-on experience with analytical and/or chemical lab instrumentation (e.g., SEM/EDX, XRD, GC–MS, optical microscopy, metallographic prep, vacuum equipment). - Experience developing SOPs, safety documentation, and operational workflows. - Excellent organizational, communication, and project management skills. - Ability to work cross-functionally and lead laboratory users with varying technical backgrounds. - 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 of granted asylum. Desired - Experience supporting shared research facilities or laboratories serving multiple technical organizations. - Experience working with molten salts, corrosion testing, high-temperature process systems, nuclear materials research, or related experimental platforms. - Experience supporting materials analysis (SEM/EDS, interferometry, XRD, spectroscopy) or metallography. - Familiarity with facilities-level engineering requirements (HVAC, exhaust, electrical, gas systems, vibration isolation). - Prior experience in a rapidly growing startup or a hardware‑focused R&D environment. ## 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. ## 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. ## About Xcimer Energy ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Xcimer Energy is building the world’s most powerful excimer lasers to commercialize inertial fusion energy, delivering safe, affordable, and effectively limitless power while also strengthening national security. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series A; total funding ~$200M) - **Headquarters**: Denver, Colorado, United States (with manufacturing operations in Tucson, Arizona) - **Founded**: 2022 - **Founders**: Conner Galloway (CEO, CSO) and Alexander Valys (President, CTO) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Fusion energy (inertial confinement fusion), laser systems, national security/defense - **Target customers**: B2B / B2G (utilities, government, defense contractors, national laboratories) - **Mission or purpose statement**: “Transform decades of scientific progress into commercial fusion plants to deliver safe, affordable, and effectively limitless energy—while improving air defense and national security.” ## Products & Services - **Phoenix (2026)**: Prototype system demonstrating core laser technology and laser architecture in Denver. - **Anvil (2028)**: 200 kJ, two-sided inertial fusion energy (IFE) excimer beamline demonstrator using Argos laser modules – the largest laser amplifiers in the world. - **Vulcan (2031)**: Engineering (wall-plug) breakeven demonstration – world’s largest laser, combining many Argos modules to achieve 4 MJ of laser energy on target, upgradeable to 12 MJ. - **Athena (2035)**: First commercial laser fusion power plant, delivering 400 MW of electricity to the grid. - **National Security Applications**: Nuclear Weapons Effects Testing (NWET), stockpile stewardship, and directed energy systems. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available - **Key Metric**: Total funding – “nearly $200 million” per FAQ page; “more than $150M raised” per media page (conflicting reports, both cited) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Hedosophia, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Prelude Ventures, Emerson Collective, Starlight Ventures, Wireframe Ventures, Leitmotif Ventures, Gigascale Capital. Also partners with Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Naval Research Laboratory, MIT, University of Rochester, General Atomics, Westinghouse. - **Growth Signals**: Headcount of 109 employees (+45.6% YoY), plans to double the team over the next year, 32 open positions across 5 departments, largest laser fusion award from U.S. Department of Energy’s Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program. ## Competitive Advantages - **Excimer laser architecture (KrF)**: 30x lower cost per joule than the solid-state lasers used at NIF; technology is commercially proven in semiconductor lithography. - **Scientifically validated approach**: Only fusion method that has achieved scientific breakeven in the laboratory (NIF ignition). - **Aggressive but grounded roadmap**: Wall-plug breakeven by 2031, grid power by 2035 – one of the fastest timelines in the industry. - **Dual-use technology**: Fusion energy platform also serves critical national security applications, opening additional funding and partnership avenues. ## Strategic Focus - Complete Phoenix and Anvil milestones to de-risk laser architecture. - Hire and scale the team (targeting double the current headcount). - Secure site for Vulcan and prepare for engineering breakeven demonstration. - Advance commercial fusion power plant (Athena) design and regulatory pathways. - Expand defense and government partnerships. ## Why Work Here - **Culture highlights**: Values precision, creativity, collaboration, and questioning assumptions. Team includes top talent from fusion, energy, defense, aerospace, semiconductor lithography, and academia. - **Work environment**: Primarily onsite in Denver, CO (engineering roles); flexible work environment, dog-friendly office, free lunch Tuesdays and Thursdays. - **Notable perks**: Competitive wages, equity compensation plan, comprehensive health/dental/vision insurance, 401k with employer match, up to 12 weeks paid parental leave, 13 paid holidays, generous sick leave and vacation, relocation package, professional growth opportunities. - **Internship program**: Highly competitive, hands-on experience in fusion science and engineering; strong track record of converting interns to full-time hires. ## Sources 1. [xcimer.energy/company](https://xcimer.energy/company/) 2. [xcimer.energy/careers](https://xcimer.energy/careers/) 3. [xcimer.energy/faq](https://xcimer.energy/faq/) 4. [xcimer.energy/media](https://xcimer.energy/media/) 5. 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