Xcimer Energy · 2 months ago
Principal Experimental Physicist (Vulcan Program)
Denver, CO
Part-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff
$200K/yr - $250K/yrXcimer Energy is a company focused on deploying fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals. They are seeking a Principal Experimental Physicist to lead the design, execution, and interpretation of experiments for the Vulcan fusion program, ensuring alignment with the Fusion Pilot Plant physics basis.
EnergyEnergy EfficiencyEnergy Management
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Develop Vulcan test plans, defining the sequence of experiments required to validate subsystems, diagnostics, and integrated facility performance
Translate program-level physics risks into measurable experimental objectives and milestones
Design, execute, and analyze experiments that provide data to retire specific risks identified in the physics basis (e.g., symmetry control, LPI mitigation, target survivability, hohlraum performance, etc)
Ensure experimental validation criteria are quantitative, data driven, and aligned with modeling results
Partner with theory and modeling teams to close the loop between simulation predictions and experimental validation
Write diagnostic requirements for Vulcan and precursor experiments
Work with systems engineers to define line-of-sight, resolution, and temporal accuracy requirements consistent with physics metrics
Coordinate with optical, target, and chamber teams to ensure diagnostic integration early in the facility design process
Represent the experimental physics perspective in Vulcan facility planning, ensuring experimental capability maps onto the physics roadmap
Interface with the Vulcan systems team, target factory, and injector groups to ensure data acquisition, repetition rate, and diagnostic access align with experimental needs
Partner with target fab, chamber, and laser teams to ensure subsystem interfaces and tolerances meet experimental requirements
Build experimental partnerships with national labs and universities; serve as technical lead for collaborative shots and campaigns
Mentor future hires in diagnostics, data systems, and experimental design
Contribute to publications and presentations that establish Xcimer as a leader in inertial fusion experimentation
Qualification
Required
Education: Ph.D. in Physics, or a related field, with specialization in inertial confinement fusion, HED physics, or laser-plasma interactions
Demonstrated experience designing and executing experiments on major HED facilities (OMEGA, NIF, or equivalent)
Expertise in one or more diagnostic domains: x-ray imaging, neutron time-of-flight, charged particle spectrometry, VISAR, or optical backscatter
Proven ability to define quantitative experimental success metrics and extract them from data
Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to synthesize results for executives, engineers, and external partners
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
Preferred
Experience leading multi-institutional experimental campaigns or managing external collaborators
Familiarity with target fabrication, layering, and injection constraints
Experience with system design trades between physics goals, diagnostics, and facility operations
Understanding of ignition metrics and performance scaling
Prior participation in conceptual design reviews or DOE-style pre-conceptual design efforts
Benefits
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
401(k) with a company match of up to 6%
Equity, allowing them to share in the company’s long-term success
Flexible Paid Time Off (ATO) approach
Paid sick time
13 company-paid holidays
Annual paid company shutdown
Company
Xcimer Energy
Xcimer Energy is an inertial fusion company offering laser-driven fusion to provide cheap, abundant, and carbon-free energy.
Founded in 2021
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$117.75MKey Investors
HedosophiaUS Department of Energy
2024-06-04Series A· $100M
2023-12-07Grant
2023-05-31Grant· $9M
Leadership Team
Ben Wheeler
Co-Founder, VP of Strategy
Alexander Valys
President & CTO
Recent News
Inside HPC & AI News | High-Performance Computing & Artificial Intelligence
2025-09-17
Company data provided by crunchbase