---
title: 'Program Planning and Controls Specialist at Xcimer Energy'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/program-planning-and-controls-specialist-xcimer-energy-denver-bfjc9xneeqdp'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-01'
---

# Program Planning and Controls Specialist at Xcimer Energy

- **Company:** Xcimer Energy
- **Location:** Denver, CO
- **Compensation:** $100k–$120k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-28
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-01
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/xcimer/487e1ede-d511-467f-95a5-583a934123f1

## 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 Program Planning and Controls Specialist, you will play a crucial role in supporting the successful execution of complex engineering projects on Xcimer’s Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) program. You will work closely with element leads, engineers, manufacturing, and cross-functional teams to ensure seamless coordination, tracking, and reporting of project activities. Your ability to manage schedules, maintain project documentation, and facilitate communication will be key to driving efficiency and meeting critical milestones. We are looking for a highly organized individual with strong problem-solving skills, technical fluency, and experience in project tracking, execution, and performance measurement through KPIs and metrics to ensure project success. We are looking for an experienced project controls professional to apply their technical expertise, problem solving skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact the future of energy!

## Responsibilities

- Support the successful execution of complex engineering projects on the IFE program by developing and maintaining project plans, schedules, and documentation.
- Collaborate with element leads, engineers, manufacturing, and cross-functional teams to coordinate project activities and ensure alignment with overall program objectives.
- Manage project schedules, track milestones, and report on progress using Jira and other project management tools.
- Monitor and analyze engineering release metrics to evaluate performance against milestones, identify potential risks, and escalate issues to Program Management as necessary.
- Track project costs against budget, including labor, procurement, and commitments, and provide regular cost reporting to program and finance stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain cost forecasts and estimates at completion, and analyze variances between planned, committed, and actual costs, and escalate budget risks to Program Management as necessary.
- Work with finance on program forecasting, providing schedule, resource, and procurement inputs to support budget and forecast cycles.
- Facilitate effective communication and coordination between engineering, procurement, and manufacturing teams to ensure timely issue resolution and efficient project execution.

## Qualifications

- Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field (3+ years of related experience may be substituted for the degree)
- Experience: 5+ years in project coordination, project controls, project administration, or a similar role in an engineering, construction, or manufacturing environment
- Must have: 3+ years of hands-on experience with Oracle Primavera P6, including building and maintaining resource-loaded schedules
- Problem-solving mindset with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing challenges
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams
- Strong technical acumen with an understanding of hardware development processes and product lifecycles
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint
- 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 with other schedule management software such as MS Project
- Experience with earned value management (EVM), including performance measurement baselines, progress measurement, and cost and schedule variance analysis
- Experience with complex, multidisciplinary engineering, or manufacturing projects
- Experience with budgeting, cost tracking, or financial reporting tools
- Familiarity with Agile project management methodologies
- Familiarity with Jira and other similar project management tools
- Experience managing and tracking Bills of Materials (BOMs)
- Familiarity with the purchase requisition through invoice lifecycle

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

## Other roles at Xcimer Energy

- [Control Systems Architect – IFE](https://feeny.ai/job/control-systems-architect-ife-xcimer-energy-denver-rfv016czw9ck) — Denver, CO
- [Program Planning and Controls (PP&C) Specialist – Directed Energy](https://feeny.ai/job/program-planning-and-controls-pp-c-specialist-directed-energy-xcimer-energy-p37a7xc2dc0r) — Denver, CO
- [Technical Project Manager – Laser System](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-project-manager-laser-system-xcimer-energy-denver-z5f14htmepbk) — Denver, CO
- [Embedded Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/embedded-engineer-xcimer-energy-denver-2hhf7f79xghb) — Denver, CO
- [Electrical Engineer - Integration](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-engineer-integration-xcimer-energy-denver-rmb2qg0qn2e8) — Denver, CO
- [Control Systems Engineer II - Applied Science](https://feeny.ai/job/control-systems-engineer-ii-applied-science-xcimer-energy-denver-608rze5jqjty) — Denver, CO
- [Control Systems Project Lead – Applied Science](https://feeny.ai/job/control-systems-project-lead-applied-science-xcimer-energy-denver-027smxrj7v18) — Denver, CO
- [Technical Project Manager, DOE Partnerships](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-project-manager-doe-partnerships-xcimer-energy-denver-xwgkazejj5zx) — Denver, CO
- [Head of PMO](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-pmo-xcimer-energy-denver-hk1pnnn08vzv) — Denver, CO
- [IFE Program Director](https://feeny.ai/job/ife-program-director-xcimer-energy-denver-qfbnt01bb2aq) — Denver, CO