Optical Coatings Materials Scientist

About the role

Xcimer Energy leverages decades of research in inertial fusion energy (IFE) combined with innovative engineering and manufacturing approaches. Our mission is to deploy fusion power plants at scale to meet global decarbonization goals. Xcimer has assembled a team of leaders across fusion science, materials, and manufacturing with a strong track record of execution. Backed by leading investors, Xcimer is uniquely positioned to deliver clean, reliable fusion energy.

This is a full-time, onsite role based at our headquarters in Denver, CO.

As an Optical Coatings Materials Scientist in the Materials & Process Engineering (M&P) Department, you will work closely with the optical and laser systems teams to develop and implement advanced coatings and material solutions for fluorine-resistant environments. This role is hands-on and execution-driven, spanning coating development, materials characterization, and scale-up to production-relevant processes.

You will play a critical role in enabling durable optical performance and system reliability in aggressive chemical environments, directly impacting the core performance of Xcimer’s fusion systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize fluorine-resistant optical coatings for laser-facing components, including mirrors, windows, and diagnostic optics.
• Design and evaluate fluorine-compatible material systems for broader system applications (e.g., chambers, fixtures, and exposed hardware).
• Work closely with the optics and laser engineering teams to define coating requirements, performance targets, and integration constraints.
• Lead hands-on coating deposition efforts, including thin film development, process tuning, and substrate preparation.
• Design and execute test plans and Design of Experiments (DOE) to evaluate coating adhesion, durability, chemical resistance, and optical performance.
• Perform detailed materials and coating characterization, including microstructural, compositional, and optical property analysis.
• Analyze failure modes (e.g., delamination, degradation under fluorine exposure) and drive root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Develop and document coating processes, specifications, and qualification procedures.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors to scale coating processes from lab development to pilot and high-volume manufacturing.
• Support integration of coatings into system hardware, including validation under relevant operating conditions.
• Contribute to the development of experimental infrastructure and coating test platforms within M&P.

Qualifications

• Education: PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics or a closely related field.
• Experience: 5-10 years of industry experience in coating development, materials engineering, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience developing optical coatings and/or protective coatings for harsh environments.
• Strong understanding of:
• Thin film deposition processes (e.g., PVD, CVD, IBS, ALD, sputtering, evaporation, plasma-based methods)
• Coating adhesion, stress, and durability mechanisms
• Optical coating performance (reflectivity, absorption, damage thresholds)
• Hands-on experience with coating fabrication and processing.
• Hands-on expertise with materials and coating characterization tools, including:
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
• Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
• Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS/EDX)
• X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
• Optical microscopy and profilometry
• Surface analysis and coating thickness/roughness measurements
• Strong ability to correlate microstructure, composition, and processing conditions to coating performance
• Experience designing and executing DOE and structured experiments.
• Ability to independently troubleshoot complex materials and coating failures.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary, hardware-focused environment.
• Execution-focused mindset with the ability to move quickly from concept to validation.
• Strong collaborator, able to work across optics, materials, and system teams
• Strong data analysis skills and familiarity with statistical methods.
• Experience writing technical reports, specifications, and documentation.
• 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 or granted asylum.

Desired

• Experience developing coatings for chemically aggressive environments, particularly fluorine or halogen chemistries.
• Background in laser optics, optical coatings, or high-energy laser systems.
• Experience transitioning coatings from R&D to pilot or high-volume manufacturing.
• Familiarity with scaling coating processes for industrial production.
• Experience working with external coating vendors or contract manufacturers.
• Knowledge of coating durability testing standards (thermal cycling, chemical exposure, laser damage).
• Experience in system-level integration of coatings into hardware environments.
• Highly hands-on and experimental, comfortable working in lab and hardware environments.

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.