---
title: 'Mechanical Engineer – Design & Simulation (f/m/d) at Focused'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-design-simulation-f-m-d-focused-darmstadt-bjfpev424q0g'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-19'
---

# Mechanical Engineer – Design & Simulation (f/m/d) at Focused

- **Company:** Focused
- **Location:** Darmstadt, DE
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-09-14
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-19
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/focused/6fa5382d-aaaf-45ba-a2d0-61fab93dd3d4

## 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.

## About the Role

As a Mechanical Engineer – Design & Simulation, you’ll perform engineering analysis and simulation work across Focused Energy projects, helping design and validate complex mechanical systems before hardware is committed. You’ll provide the analytical confidence needed to make sound design decisions across structural, thermal, dynamic, and fluid-system performance. Working closely with senior mechanical engineers, systems engineers, project teams, and other engineering disciplines, you’ll use modelling and simulation to identify design risks early, recommend mitigations, and ensure mechanical designs are technically sound, manufacturable, safe, and ready for integration. Your work will contribute to systems including vacuum chambers, laser integration, diagnostic structures, and facility infrastructure.

## What You’ll Do

- Perform structural, mechanical, and thermal analysis using FEA tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, COMSOL, or equivalent.
- Carry out fluid-system analysis and thermal modelling to support mechanical design decisions.
- Assess vibration, stability, and dynamic behaviour of mechanical assemblies and identify potential design risks.
- Validate simulation outputs against design requirements, engineering standards, and expected operating conditions.
- Translate analysis results into practical design recommendations that improve performance, safety, manufacturability, and system compatibility.
- Develop and maintain 3D CAD models and engineering drawings using Autodesk Inventor or a similar tool.
- Define and execute verification activities, prepare analysis reports, and provide simulation evidence for design reviews.
- Collaborate with mechanical, systems, and project engineering teams to define interfaces, communicate results, and support multidisciplinary design decisions.

## Who You Are

- You are an analytical and technically rigorous mechanical engineer who enjoys solving complex engineering problems through modelling and simulation.
- You take a methodical approach to setting up analyses, checking assumptions, interpreting results, and documenting conclusions.
- You can translate complex simulation outputs into clear, actionable engineering decisions.
- You identify design risks early and proactively propose practical mitigation strategies.
- You communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, adapting the level of detail to the audience.
- You collaborate effectively across mechanical, systems, and project engineering disciplines.
- You take ownership of the quality, traceability, and accuracy of your analysis work and design evidence.
- You are detail-oriented and committed to applying sound engineering fundamentals and standards consistently.

Desirable Skills & Knowledge

- Experience performing structural, thermal, dynamic, and fluid-system analysis in a professional mechanical engineering environment.
- Proficiency with FEA tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, COMSOL, or equivalent, together with experience validating and documenting simulation results.
- Experience with 3D CAD tools, preferably Autodesk Inventor, and the ability to connect analysis outputs with practical mechanical design decisions.
- Knowledge of CFD tools such as ANSYS Fluent or OpenFOAM, vacuum or cryogenic mechanical systems, laser or optical integration, or scientific instrumentation.
- Familiarity with design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA), prototype build and commissioning support, verification planning, and engineering documentation in experimental or multidisciplinary environments.

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)

## Other roles at Focused

- [Cryogenics Engineer (f/m/d)](https://feeny.ai/job/cryogenics-engineer-f-m-d-focused-darmstadt-hy8nmdchz82k) — Darmstadt, DE
- [Senior Software Engineer (f/m/d)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-f-m-d-focused-darmstadt-cegaj2a8fkse) — Darmstadt, DE
- [Controls Systems Engineer (f/m/d)](https://feeny.ai/job/controls-systems-engineer-f-m-d-focused-darmstadt-jk2wnfckx7nc) — Darmstadt, DE
- [Mechanical Engineer – CAD & Engineering Support (f/m/d)](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-cad-engineering-support-f-m-d-focused-darmstadt-mf9001hwrfah) — Darmstadt, DE
- [Legal Operations Specialist (f/m/d)](https://feeny.ai/job/legal-operations-specialist-f-m-d-focused-berlin-7zcys3sr8j16) — Berlin, Germany
- [Technical Lead, Laser Amplification (f/m/d)](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-lead-laser-amplification-f-m-d-focused-darmstadt-fqxr1tje8n9j) — Darmstadt, DE
- [Technical Procurement Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-procurement-specialist-focused-austin-0czyrc7e2sab) — Austin, TX
- [Laser Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/laser-engineer-focused-austin-9fwtfpvxdk8k) — Austin, TX
- [Laser Scientist](https://feeny.ai/job/laser-scientist-focused-austin-atwdytjvv8xw) — Austin, TX
- [Digital Twin Principal Scientist (f/m/d)](https://feeny.ai/job/digital-twin-principal-scientist-f-m-d-focused-washington-c68e97g9vd2e) — Washington, DC