---
title: 'Laser/Optical Simulation Engineer at Xcimer Energy'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/laser-optical-simulation-engineer-xcimer-energy-denver-5xmhb2cckepp'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-07'
---

# Laser/Optical Simulation Engineer at Xcimer Energy

- **Company:** Xcimer Energy
- **Location:** Denver, CO
- **Compensation:** $175k–$225k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-09-01
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/xcimer/93bdeeb2-cdaa-40be-8026-106e1c769892

## 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 a Laser/Optical Simulation Engineer, you will apply your skills and creativity to help develop and take ownership of an end-to-end digital twin (“virtual beamline”) for our fusion laser architecture that utilizes excimer lasers and nonlinear optical compression! You will help develop new modules, define requirements and interfaces for new modules developed by other teams, improve functionality and performance, and ultimately use this end-to-end model to perform system-level trade studies and sensitivity analyses in order to refine hardware requirements. We are looking for our scientists and engineers to apply their technical expertise, problem solving skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact the future of energy!

## Responsibilities

- Take ownership of a “virtual beamline” digital twin of our laser architecture
- Work with other teams (Theory/Computation, Software Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, etc.) and key stakeholders to continue the development of a scalable virtual beamline architecture, as well as requirements, interfaces, functionality, and new modules
- Run Monte Carlo simulations and parameter sensitivity studies using HPC resources
- Write clear documentation to allow other users and developers to get up to speed quickly
- Develop, implement, and enforce unit tests and other code validation checks
- Think outside the box to identify and solve unique challenges involving big lasers!

## Qualifications

- Education: Bachelor’s degree in physics, optics, electrical engineering, computer science, or related field
- Experience: 6+ years of experience in the fields of optical physics, lasers, or software engineering
- Expertise in optical simulation methods, including one or more of the following: diffraction, ray tracing, Gaussian beamlet decomposition, laser amplification, turbulence correction, or nonlinear optical propagation
- Demonstrated ability to write and maintain a high-quality, scalable code base with a team
- Design of and hands-on experience using complex optical/laser systems
- Excellent verbal and written communication, including documentation of technical results
- 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

- Master’s or PhD in physics, optics, electrical engineering, computer science, or related field
- 8+ years of experience in the fields of optical physics, lasers, or software engineering
- Zemax, FRED, or similar software
- Experience with inverse solution methods
- CAD software experience
- Knowledge of algorithm optimization for speed, especially for distributed computing

## 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](https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf) and [here](https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf).

## 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. [linkedin.com/company/xcimer-energy-corporation](https://linkedin.com/company/xcimer-energy-corporation)

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