--- title: 'Optical Coatings Materials Scientist at Xcimer Energy' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/optical-coatings-materials-scientist-xcimer-energy-denver-7pxqvfet94nj' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-13' --- # Optical Coatings Materials Scientist at Xcimer Energy - **Company:** Xcimer Energy - **Location:** Denver, CO - **Compensation:** $140k–$170k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-05-27 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-13 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/xcimer/9c8ce801-9ba4-4320-8619-3873b1fd5e42 ## Job description Xcimer Energy leverages decades of research in inertial fusion energy (IFE) combined with innovative engineering and manufacturing approaches. Our mission is to deploy fusion power plants at scale to meet global decarbonization goals. Xcimer has assembled a team of leaders across fusion science, materials, and manufacturing with a strong track record of execution. Backed by leading investors, Xcimer is uniquely positioned to deliver clean, reliable fusion energy. This is a full-time, onsite role based at our headquarters in Denver, CO. As a Optical Coatings Materials Scientist in the Materials & Process Engineering (M&P) Department, you will work closely with the optical and laser systems teams to develop and implement advanced coatings and material solutions for fluorine-resistant environments. This role is hands-on and execution-driven, spanning coating development, materials characterization, and scale-up to production-relevant processes. You will play a critical role in enabling durable optical performance and system reliability in aggressive chemical environments, directly impacting the core performance of Xcimer’s fusion systems. ## Responsibilities - Develop and optimize fluorine-resistant optical coatings for laser-facing components, including mirrors, windows, and diagnostic optics. - Design and evaluate fluorine-compatible material systems for broader system applications (e.g., chambers, fixtures, and exposed hardware). - Work closely with the optics and laser engineering teams to define coating requirements, performance targets, and integration constraints. - Lead hands-on coating deposition efforts, including thin film development, process tuning, and substrate preparation. - Design and execute test plans and Design of Experiments (DOE) to evaluate coating adhesion, durability, chemical resistance, and optical performance. - Perform detailed materials and coating characterization, including microstructural, compositional, and optical property analysis. - Analyze failure modes (e.g., delamination, degradation under fluorine exposure) and drive root cause investigations and corrective actions. - Develop and document coating processes, specifications, and qualification procedures. - Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors to scale coating processes from lab development to pilot and high-volume manufacturing. - Support integration of coatings into system hardware, including validation under relevant operating conditions. - Contribute to the development of experimental infrastructure and coating test platforms within M&P. ## Qualifications - Education: PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics or a closely related field. - Experience: 5–10 years of industry experience in coating development, materials engineering, or related fields. - Demonstrated experience developing optical coatings and/or protective coatings for harsh environments. - Strong understanding of: - Thin film deposition processes (e.g., PVD, CVD, IBS, ALD,  sputtering, evaporation, plasma-based methods) - Coating adhesion, stress, and durability mechanisms - Optical coating performance (reflectivity, absorption, damage thresholds) - Hands-on experience with coating fabrication and processing. - Hands-on expertise with materials and coating characterization tools, including: - Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) - Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) - Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS/EDX) - X-ray Diffraction (XRD) - Optical microscopy and profilometry - Surface analysis and coating thickness/roughness measurements - Strong ability to correlate microstructure, composition, and processing conditions to coating performance - Experience designing and executing DOE and structured experiments. - Ability to independently troubleshoot complex materials and coating failures. - Comfortable working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary, hardware-focused environment. - Execution-focused mindset with the ability to move quickly from concept to validation. - Strong collaborator, able to work across optics, materials, and system teams - Strong data analysis skills and familiarity with statistical methods. - Experience writing technical reports, specifications, and documentation. - 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 or granted asylum. Desired - Experience developing coatings for chemically aggressive environments, particularly fluorine or halogen chemistries. - Background in laser optics, optical coatings, or high-energy laser systems. - Experience transitioning coatings from R&D to pilot or high-volume manufacturing. - Familiarity with scaling coating processes for industrial production. - Experience working with external coating vendors or contract manufacturers. - Knowledge of coating durability testing standards (thermal cycling, chemical exposure, laser damage). - Experience in system-level integration of coatings into hardware environments. - Highly hands-on and experimental, comfortable working in lab and hardware environments. ## 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 and here. ## 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) ## Other roles at Xcimer Energy - [Summer 2027 Internship - Physics](https://feeny.ai/job/summer-2027-internship-physics-xcimer-energy-denver-rxez3syb9xhx) — Denver, CO - [Summer 2027 Internship - Optical Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/summer-2027-internship-optical-engineering-xcimer-energy-denver-bpxgc6w56qn9) — Denver, CO - [Summer 2027 Internship - Mechanical Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/summer-2027-internship-mechanical-engineering-xcimer-energy-denver-kdgkh864pf88) — Denver, CO - [Summer 2027 Internship - Electrical and Pulsed Power Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/summer-2027-internship-electrical-and-pulsed-power-engineering-xcimer-energy-vqhsgjrzb8qb) — Denver, CO - [Summer 2027 Internship - Computational and Software Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/summer-2027-internship-computational-and-software-engineering-xcimer-energy-t32p0nv8kyvy) — Denver, CO - [Data Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/data-engineer-xcimer-energy-denver-nf6k4sr1dzcn) — Denver, CO - [Laser/Optical Simulation Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/laser-optical-simulation-engineer-xcimer-energy-denver-5xmhb2cckepp) — Denver, CO - [Computational Physicist - Fluid Dynamics](https://feeny.ai/job/computational-physicist-fluid-dynamics-xcimer-energy-denver-20az9ksd47d3) — Denver, CO - [Senior Thermal Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-thermal-analyst-xcimer-energy-denver-y978v74dnnj9) — Denver, CO - [Senior Scientific Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-scientific-software-engineer-xcimer-energy-denver-89we5hqhpzsb) — Denver, CO