Senior R&D Engineer (Mechatronics & Hardware)
Location: Darmstadt Position Type: Full-time
About the Company & Role
Focused Energy is the leading laser-driven fusion company pursuing the most promising path to clean, limitless fusion power. The global company, based in Darmstadt, Germany and the San Francisco Bay Area, has brought together the top scientific and engineering minds using proven technologies to unlock fusion power at commercial scale.
At Focused Energy, we are not only aiming for long term game changing solutions but are
also solving near term challenges with global impact. We are developing SourceLight, a
breakthrough initiative that pioneers compact, laser-driven radiation sources (LDRS). These dual-mode sources combine MeV X-rays and fast neutrons in a single system, enabling real-time, non-destructive inspection of complex or shielded materials. Our technology addresses critical challenges across nuclear waste storage, contraband detection, infrastructure inspection, and medical isotope production.
We are a cross-disciplinary team of laser and plasma physicists, engineers, and AI experts
building our first pilot facility in Biblis (Germany). Be part of shaping this deep-tech venture
from the ground up
Your mission is to design key parts of our laser-driven radiation source. You will take
ownership of a critical research and development area, bridging the gap between a scientific setup and an industrial product, making a direct impact on a technology that is going to redefine multiple industries.
What You Will Do
• System Ownership: Take full responsibility for the lifecycle of complex electro-
mechanical modules. You will translate high-level physics requirements into
concrete, manufacturable specifications for prototype building. You will ensure
transition of your prototype design into the product development organisation
• Engineering for Challenging Environments: Design and validate hardware capable of
operating continuously in high-vacuum (1e-5 mBar), under high electromagnetic and
thermal loads, and in radiation environments.
• Rapid Prototyping: This is a hands-on role. You will build, test, troubleshoot, and
iterate on your hardware in the lab and during external beamtime campaigns.
• Design Authority: Act as the technical hardware lead for your module. You work with
other engineering competencies defining the necessary design solutions to conclude
architecture, thermal management strategies, and interfaces.
• Technical Feasibility: Create a scalable system with demonstrated feasibility ready
for production. Make sure that the technical risks are reduced and you walk the
component from concept design review over prototype to pilot readiness.
• Design Authority: Work with the mechanical design team on what to draw. You
define the architecture, thermal management strategies, and interfaces.
• Traceability & Documentation: You will produce high-quality technical
documentation that allows others to build, operate, and understand your work. This
includes detailed, design decision documentation, test reports and risk registers as
well as providing design reviews.
• Collaborative Integration: Collaborate closely with researchers to define test
procedures, interpret experimental data, and generate data-driven insights to
improve the design.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications:
• Education: B.Sc., M.Sc., or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Physics
Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 5+ years in R&D hardware development, preferably in semiconductor,
aerospace, particle accelerator, or laser facilities.
• Core Competencies (Must Have):
o Structured R&D Approach: Be capable of formulating the research problem,
document the approach to find the solution, execute design reviews, define
test protocols and document and communicate the results and derive design
decisions from the outcome.
o Vacuum Compatible Design: Deep understanding of how vacuum changes
design rules, specifically regarding virtual leaks, cleanliness, outgassing, and
thermal management in vacuum
o Precision Mechatronics: Experience with mechanical design, motorized
stages, piezo actuators, and μm-level alignment in constrained environments.
o Industry Standard Processes: Understanding the workflows required to
move from a functional prototype to a reliable product through fast iteration
cycles.
o Thermal management: Experience with heating and cooling systems in
vacuum environments and the ability to simulate thermal flow.
• Preferred Qualifications:
o Coding experience: Experience setting up simple test benches (e.g., Python,
LabVIEW) and sensors for immediate hardware validation.
o Project leadership: Having worked as a technical project lead or product
owner in the scrum framework, where you needed to deliver into a system
environment
Focused Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Focused Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
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.