Focused Energy · 1 week ago
Diode Laser Engineer
Austin, TX
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior LevelFocused Energy is a fusion energy startup aiming to generate unlimited clean energy. They are seeking a skilled Diode Laser Engineer to design, qualify, and scale high-power diode laser technologies for next-generation fusion laser systems.
Clean EnergyEnergyRenewable Energy
Responsibilities
Diode Technology Development: Design and evaluate high-power laser diode emitters, bars, and stacks to meet demanding performance, efficiency, lifetime, and cost targets for fusion laser applications
Testing & Characterization: Develop and execute comprehensive electro-optical, thermal, and reliability test protocols (P-I-V, spectral behavior, beam quality, thermal resistance, lifetime, etc.) under relevant operating conditions including pulsed, CW, and high-duty-cycle regimes
Automated Test Infrastructure: Design, commission, and operate automated test benches for high-volume characterization and accelerated life testing of commercial and custom laser diode devices
Reliability & Lifetime Modeling: Lead accelerated life testing (ALT / HALT), analyze degradation mechanisms and failure modes, and build predictive lifetime and reliability models to inform system design and operational limits
Supplier & Partner Collaboration: Work closely with industry partners, suppliers, national labs, and academic groups to improve diode performance, packaging, thermal management, and manufacturing readiness
System Integration: Collaborate with DPSSL system and beamline teams to ensure diode technologies integrate effectively into laser modules and support overall system performance and scalability
Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyze large experimental datasets, generate rigorous technical documentation, and communicate findings and recommendations clearly to internal teams and external partners
Qualification
Required
PhD (or equivalent experience) in optical, electrical, mechanical engineering, physics, or a related field, with deep experience in semiconductor laser physics, epitaxy, packaging, and/or device characterization
Proven experience designing, building, and operating laser diode test and characterization setups, including optical, thermal, and electrical diagnostics
Strong understanding of thermal management, reliability physics, degradation mechanisms, and lifetime testing methodologies for high-power semiconductor devices
Comfortable working with large experimental datasets, applying statistical and modeling tools to extract insights, predict performance, and guide engineering decisions
Able to work effectively across internal system teams and with external suppliers, academic collaborators, and industrial partners in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
You naturally think about how component-level decisions affect system-level performance, cost, scalability, and long-term operational viability
Preferred
Experience working with diode-pumped solid-state lasers (DPSSL), high-average-power laser systems, or adjacent fields such as industrial lasers, photonics manufacturing, or fusion/energy systems
Experience with thermal, optical, or reliability modeling tools to complement experimental work and support predictive design and scaling
Benefits
Innovative Technology & Mission: Be part of a cutting-edge company working on groundbreaking research in clean energy and scientific discovery.
Career Development: We invest in our people. This is an opportunity to join an early, growing company at the forefront of new technology, where you’ll have the opportunity to develop and grow your career.
Collaborative Culture: Work with great people in a dynamic, international environment with top-tier scientists, engineers and professionals passionate about solving global challenges.
Ownership: Take ownership from day 1 and drive impact by making decisions, solving challenges and shaping the future of our company.
Your Success is our Success: We offer a competitive salary and company ownership in the form of stock options, giving you a direct stake in our success and ownership in what we build together.
Vacation Days: We support your work-life-balance by granting you 30 days of vacation per year.
Flexibility: We believe work should adapt to your life—not the other way around. That’s why we offer a hybrid setup, giving you the freedom to work from our office while also enjoying the flexibility to work from home when it suits you.
Snacks and Drinks: Our office fridges are never empty. Enjoy our healthy snacks and drinks. Our Darmstadt office even offers a subsidized canteen with delicious lunch options daily.
Retirement Plan: If you decide for a private pension plan, we will finance 15% on top of your monthly contributions.
Equipment: Choose between a state-of-the-art Windows or Apple Laptop. In addition, you will receive a keyboard, mouse and headset so you are fully equipped from day 1.
Events: We organize regular events to foster team bonding, encourage collaboration, and build a strong, supportive company culture. Connect with colleagues across departments, share ideas, and have fun together, both in and outside of the workplace.
Mobility with NAVIT: We partner with NAVIT to support your flexible commuting needs—whether it’s a public transportation ticket, taxi rides or car-sharing you choose what fits your lifestyle.
Fitness with Wellhub: We care about your health. Get access to a wide range of gyms, fitness studios and wellness services across Europe through our partnership with Wellhub.
Company
Focused Energy
Focused Energy pioneers laser-driven fusion for clean power, using inertial confinement to develop sustainable, commercial energy solutions.
Founded in 2021
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$121.7MKey Investors
Amplitude LaserEIC Scaling ClubPrime Movers Lab
2024-12-17Corporate Round· $40M
2024-10-21Grant· $2.7M
2024-03-28Non Equity Assistance
Leadership Team
Thomas Forner
Founder & CEO
Dr. Anika Stein
Co-Founder
Recent News
2025-12-19
Business Wire
2025-12-17
Company data provided by crunchbase