Xcimer Energy

Develops inertial fusion power using laser

Mechanical Engineer / Senior Mechanical Engineer - Opto-Mechanics

Design EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeDenver, CO, USA$106.3k - $182.5k /yr

About the Job

Requirements

A B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or a related field is required.
At least 4 years of professional mechanical design experience with hardware the candidate designed, built, and put into use is required.
Sound mechanical design fundamentals are required, including statics, strength of materials, stiffness and deflection, thermal expansion, and materials selection.
Proficiency in 3D computer-aided design is required; NX is preferred, and SolidWorks or Creo are acceptable. The role requires creating manufacturing drawings using geometric dimensioning and tolerancing per ASME Y14.5.
Ability to build tolerance stack-ups and verify designs with hand calculations is required.
Familiarity with machining, sheet metal, and welding processes, and with design for manufacturability and assembly, is required.
Hands-on ability to assemble, measure, and test hardware and willingness to spend time in the lab are required.
Hands-on experience designing precision opto-mechanical hardware, such as kinematic or flexure mounts, optical benches, or alignment mechanisms, is required.
Solid finite element analysis skills in static, modal, and thermal analysis, and experience using analysis to drive design decisions and validate them against testing, are required.
Experience creating and maintaining interface control documents is required.
Experience specifying and managing hardware through suppliers, and guiding or mentoring other engineers, is required.
Strong written and verbal communication, attention to detail, and ability to work in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team are required.

Responsibilities

Design mirror mounts, window and lens mounts, opto-mechanical assemblies, optical benches, and structural supports for deep-ultraviolet, high-energy laser beam transport and diagnostics.
Develop requirements with optical, controls, and systems engineers; conduct trade studies and document design decisions.
Analyze designs using hand calculations and finite element analysis (static, modal, and thermal) to understand how mount stress, thermal gradients, gravity, and vibration affect optical surface figure and alignment.
Produce detailed models in NX, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing drawings per ASME Y14.5, and complete drawing packages; release and control drawings through engineering change.
Specify materials, finishes, and purchased components, including stages, actuators, flexures, fasteners, and vacuum hardware; work with machining and fabrication suppliers, and inspect and qualify received hardware.
Build tolerance stack-ups and connect mechanical tolerances to optical sensitivity budgets.
Create and maintain interface control documents between optical mounts and adjacent mechanical structures.
Assemble, align, and test opto-mechanical hardware in the lab and cleanroom, including bonding optics and implementing alignment references; develop and execute test plans.
Support integration and troubleshooting on the laser system floor and feed lessons learned back into the design.
Present work at design reviews and maintain clear technical documentation.
At the senior level, lead subsystem design end to end, own interfaces with other disciplines, and mentor junior engineers.

Desired Qualifications

A Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or a related field is preferred.
Experience with structural-thermal-optical performance analysis and modeling tools such as Ansys, Abaqus, or Nastran is preferred.
Experience with cleanroom procedures, high-vacuum hardware, or high-voltage environments is preferred.
Experience with active mount pointing and alignment recovery, including slow and fast steering mirrors, is preferred.
Experience with high-energy laser systems, particularly in the deep ultraviolet, is preferred.
Familiarity with thermal management of optical assemblies is preferred.
Experience with opto-mechanics for lasers, telescopes, lithography, or precision instruments is preferred.

Salary Range: 106250 to 182500 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

Xcimer Energy builds on decades of research in Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE), combined with a groundbreaking new laser architecture, to accelerate the deployment of fusion power plants. Our mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. Xcimer has assembled a world-class team spanning tough tech, fusion science, and advanced manufacturing, with a proven 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.

Every mirror, window, lens, and diagnostic in Xcimer's deep-UV laser system depends on mechanical hardware that holds it precisely, keeps it stable, and lets us align and maintain it. We are looking for mechanical engineers with sound design fundamentals and an interest in opto-mechanics to design, build, and test that hardware. You will work across the full lifecycle: requirements, concept, analysis, drawings, procurement, assembly, alignment, and test. This is a hands-on role where you will spend time in the optics labs, cleanrooms and manufacturing floors. We are hiring at multiple levels, from engineers with a few years of solid design experience who want to deepen their opto-mechanics expertise, to senior engineers who can lead subsystem designs and mentor others.

Responsibilities

Design mirror mounts, window and lens mounts, opto-mechanical assemblies, optical benches, and structural supports for deep-UV, high-energy laser beam transport and diagnostics.
Develop requirements with optical, controls, and systems engineers; run trade studies and document design decisions.
Analyze designs with hand calculations and FEA (static, modal, thermal) to understand how mount stress, thermal gradients, gravity, and vibration affect optical surface figure and alignment.
Produce detailed models in NX, GD&T drawings per ASME Y14.5, and complete drawing packages; release and control them through engineering change.
Specify materials, finishes, and purchased components (stages, actuators, flexures, fasteners, vacuum hardware); work with machining and fabrication suppliers, and inspect and qualify hardware on receipt.
Build tolerance stack-ups and connect mechanical tolerances to optical sensitivity budgets.
Create and maintain interface control documents between optical mounts and adjacent mechanical structures.
Assemble, align, and test opto-mechanical hardware in the lab and cleanroom, including bonding of optics and implementation of alignment references; develop and execute test plans.
Support integration and troubleshooting on the laser system floor and feed lessons learned back into the design.
Present work at design reviews and maintain clear technical documentation.
At the senior level: lead the design of subsystems end to end, own interfaces with other disciplines, and mentor junior engineers.

Qualifications

Education: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.

Experience: 4+ years of professional mechanical design experience with hardware you have designed built and put into use.
Sound mechanical design fundamentals: statics, strength of materials, stiffness and deflection, thermal expansion, and materials selection.
Proficiency in 3D CAD (NX preferred; SolidWorks or Creo acceptable) and in creating manufacturing drawings using GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
Ability to build tolerance stack-ups and to verify designs with hand calculations.
Familiarity with machining, sheet metal, and welding processes and with design for manufacturability and assembly.
Hands-on aptitude: comfortable assembling, measuring, and testing hardware, and eager to spend time in the lab.
Hands-on experience designing precision opto-mechanical hardware: kinematic or flexure mounts, optical benches, or alignment mechanisms.
Solid FEA skills (static, modal, thermal) and experience using analysis to drive design decisions and validate them against test.
Experience creating and maintaining interface control documents.
Experience specifying and managing hardware through suppliers, and guiding or mentoring other engineers.
Strong written and verbal communication, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team.

Desired

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
Experience with STOP (structural-thermal-optical performance) analysis and with modeling tools such as Ansys, Abaqus, or Nastran.
Experience with cleanroom procedures, high-vacuum hardware, or high-voltage environments.
Experience with active mount pointing and alignment recovery, including slow and fast steering mirrors.
Experience with high-energy laser systems, particularly in the deep UV.
Familiarity with thermal management of optical assemblies.
Experience with laser, telescope, lithography, or precision instrument opto-mechanics.

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 the Company

Xcimer Energy

Develops inertial fusion power using laser

Xcimer Energy develops inertial fusion energy systems to provide fusion-powered electricity. Its core setup combines a 10+ megajoule KrF laser, a consumable hydrogen fusion target, and a HYLIFE-style chamber with a liquid-lithium wall to absorb energy and protect the reactor. The laser compresses and ignites the hydrogen target to release fusion energy, which is then captured and sent to a power conversion system. The company aims to offer economical, scalable fusion power for utility-scale electricity generation within the next decade.

Company size: 51-200
Company stage: Grant
Total funding: $148.3M
Headquarters: Denver, CO
Founded: 2021

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