Light Amplification Lead (f/m/d)

About Focused Energy Focused Energy is an international deep-tech company based in Germany and the US, working to commercialize laser-driven nuclear fusion. Our mission is to provide clean, safe, and virtually unlimited energy to the world. We are rapidly scaling and looking for talented individuals who thrive in building clarity and structure within fast-growing environments.

As Light Amplification Lead , you will own the end-to-end technical delivery of the laser amplification subsystem. The amplification chain is the primary energy-scaling element of the laser system, so this role is central to translating ICF system requirements into an integrated, high-performing subsystem. You will define the subsystem architecture, establish the technical roadmap, lead design and test activities, manage interfaces and risks, and develop the team and capabilities needed to take the amplification chain from concept through hardware delivery and integration. What you’ll do Define and own the technical architecture for Main Amplifier systems from concept through design freeze, including topology, gain media, pump geometry, thermal management, ASE control, and interface specifications. Ensure that the amplification architecture and development activities remain traceable to ICF system-level laser requirements. Build and maintain the technical roadmap for Light Amplification, aligning development sequence, capability gaps, technology maturity, and program milestones. Lead the design, build, characterization, and integration of the amplification chain. Deliver subsystem performance to agreed specifications for energy, gain, beam quality, pulse contrast, and reliability. Own the technical risk register, define mitigations and owners, and escalate risks early—before they become schedule or performance issues. Define maturity gates for key amplification subsystems and technologies, and drive focused development activities to close demonstration gaps. Own technical interfaces with adjacent functions, including Light Generation, Light Conditioning, Beam Transport, and Focusing. Represent Light Amplification in system-level design reviews and communicate decisions, progress, dependencies, and risks clearly to technical and leadership audiences. Build and develop the Amplification team by hiring engineers and scientists, setting clear expectations, providing feedback, and growing technical and leadership capability.

A PhD or equivalent experience in laser physics, photonics, or a closely related field. Demonstrated experience leading a technical team by setting direction, developing people, and maintaining effective communication across organizational boundaries. Hands-on experience with high-energy or high-power laser amplification systems, including solid-state, fiber, or diode-pumped architectures. Strong understanding of gain media physics, thermal effects, wavefront distortion, ASE, pulse contrast, and beam quality in amplifier chains. Experience taking a laser subsystem from concept through hardware delivery, characterization, and integration. The ability to own a technical scope, make decisions under uncertainty, and communicate clearly with both technical and leadership audiences. Experience working in a matrix organization with shared resources and cross-functional dependencies. A structured approach to requirements definition, traceability, risk management, root-cause analysis, and technical decision-making.

Experience in an ICF, high-power laser facility, or defense laser program. Familiarity with chirped-pulse amplification architectures. Experience with diode-pumped solid-state amplifiers at the joule-to-kilojoule scale. Experience with coaching, mentoring, performance management, hiring, onboarding, and team building. Experience applying systems engineering and design-for-cost or design-for-manufacturing methods in a complex hardware program. Why work with Us? Innovative Technology & Mission: Be