Laser Plasma Diagnostic Specialist

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative Laser-Plasma Diagnostic Specialist to join our Experimental Physics team. This role is central to advancing Focused Energy's mission to realize commercial laser-driven fusion power. You will contribute to the development, integration, and deployment of advanced diagnostics for inertial fusion energy (IFE) experiments, enabling the characterization of laser-plasma interactions, target performance, and fusion-relevant physics.

Working alongside physicists, optical, mechanical, electrical, controls, and software engineers, you will help design and commission state-of-the-art diagnostic systems spanning optical, X-ray, charged-particle, and nuclear measurements. Your work will directly support the development of next-generation fusion facilities and provide critical experimental data that guides technology development and scientific discovery.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of experimental plasma physics, diagnostic instrumentation, and high-energy laser science while helping build one of the world's most advanced experimental fusion programs.

What You'll Do

• Design, develop, integrate, and commission diagnostics for high-energy-density physics and inertial fusion experiments.
• Support diagnostic development across multiple measurement domains, including:
• Optical diagnostics
• X-ray imaging and spectroscopy
• Charged-particle diagnostics
• Neutron and gamma-ray diagnostics
• Participate in defining diagnostic requirements for new experimental campaigns and facilities.
• Work closely with optical, mechanical, electrical, and controls engineers to translate diagnostic concepts into operational systems.
• Assist with diagnostic alignment, calibration, commissioning, and experimental operation.
• Analyze and interpret experimental data to evaluate diagnostic performance and extract scientific results.
• Contribute to experimental planning, diagnostic documentation, and technical reports.
• Support interactions with external collaborators, universities, and national laboratories.

What You Bring

• Demonstrated expertise in the design, development, integration, or operation of laser-plasma diagnostics.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following diagnostic areas, with the ability and willingness to contribute across multiple diagnostic disciplines:
• Optical diagnostics
• X-ray diagnostics
• Charged-particle diagnostics
• Nuclear diagnostics
• Ph.D. in Physics, Plasma Physics, Optical Engineering, or a related field.
• 2-8 years of experience developing or operating diagnostics for laser-plasma physics experiments.
• Experience with one or more diagnostic techniques such as optical imaging or spectroscopy, X-ray imaging, particle detectors, neutron diagnostics, or high-speed imaging.
• Strong understanding of experimental optics, precision instrumentation, and vacuum-based experiments.
• Experience with experimental data analysis using Python, MATLAB, or equivalent scientific software.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice to Haves

• Experience at high-power laser facilities.
• Knowledge of inertial confinement fusion, inertial fusion energy, or high-energy-density plasma physics.
• Experience with detector calibration, characterization, and uncertainty analysis.
• Familiarity with vacuum systems, radiation detectors, high-voltage systems, or precision opto-mechanical instrumentation.
• Experience with data acquisition systems, timing systems, and scientific imaging.
• Experience integrating diagnostics into complex experimental facilities.
• Familiarity with CAD software for diagnostic integration and mechanical design.
• Record of scientific publications related to laser-plasma physics or diagnostic development.

Additional information

Compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, benefits.