Xcimer Energy is a fusion energy company focused on commercializing laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, which it describes as the only scientifically validated form of fusion energy. The company is developing high-energy excimer laser systems designed to ignite fusion reactions using fuel derived from seawater and lithium, with the goal of delivering safe, clean, and affordable electricity that is cost-competitive with fossil fuels and renewables. Its mission centers on decarbonizing energy-intensive sectors such as artificial intelligence infrastructure, desalination, and industrial processes that require firm, always-on, carbon-free power.
Xcimer's technical approach relies on electron-beam-pumped excimer lasers combined with a pulse compression technique called Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), which compresses microsecond laser pulses to nanosecond durations without damaging optics. In 2024 the company broke ground on Phoenix, its first prototype high-energy laser system, located in Denver, Colorado, and announced the start of its operations in June 2026. Phoenix is the first electron-beam-pumped excimer laser built in the private sector in more than two decades and validates key elements of the company's low-cost laser fusion architecture.
Xcimer's longer-term target is Athena, which it describes as the world's first laser fusion power plant, expected to deliver 400 megawatts of continuous clean energy by 2035. The company has received a U.S. Department of Energy approval of its fusion power plant preconceptual design and technology roadmap milestone, and collaborates with industrial partners such as TRUMPF Laser SE. With a team of nearly 200 engineers, physicists, and business professionals, Xcimer positions itself as the most technically mature private laser fusion company.
Xcimer Energy leverages decades of research on Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) combined with
groundbreaking new laser architecture. Our mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global
decarbonization goals as fast as possible. Xcimer has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion
science, and manufacturing with a 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.
As a Principal Systems Engineer, you will be a thought leader in Xcimer influencing and educating
technical leads to capture, organize, and track the integrated technical baseline for our IFE Programs,
and our Defense Programs. The successful candidate will perform leading and supporting roles in
establishing and maintaining bidirectional traceability across our requirements, architecture,
documentation, and analysis products. The candidate will define and maintain infrastructure, define
relationships between internal and external interfaces, and communicate system-level use cases and
relationships to a diverse group of stakeholders. The candidate will work with team leads across the
organization to craft the key framework and documents needed to define, design, build, test, and
activate our facilities and systems. We are looking for engineers to apply their technical expertise,
problem solving skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact the future of energy!
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. For more information on “EEO Is the Law,” please see
here and
here.
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.
Responsibilities
Provide technical guidance and oversight to ensure the successful development and
implementation of system functionality
Implement engineering knowledge management strategies and tools to minimize process
overhead for engineering teams
Architect scalable verification and validation frameworks across data dashboards, engineering
tools, and Atlassian suite (Confluence & Jira)
Implement the processes, traceability, and documentation necessary to support defense
programs
Collaborate with program teams, including new development and legacy systems, to identify
opportunities for integration and support the development of updated releases
Carry out systems engineering activities in accordance with tailored system engineering
standards and practices
Drive and coordinate technical decision making
Conduct risk assessments to ensure risk mitigation plans are developed and implemented
Act as the negotiator between multiple teams to make sure the holistic system is optimized
Develop strategies, approaches for specialty engineering (operability, reliability, maintainability,
supportability) integration, analysis and verification
Qualifications
Minimum of a B.S. degree in engineering or other technical field (e.g. mechanical, electrical,
chemical, etc.)
15+ years of Systems Engineering/Software Engineering experience
Proven experience leading cross-functional teams and collaborating with stakeholders to drive
technical innovation and growth
Proven experience owning the integrated technical baseline for complex systems through the
full Systems Engineering Lifecycle
Experience working on development programs for large, complex, integrated systems or
facilities – preferably from the fusion/energy, aerospace, or space and defense industry
Strong technical experience in simulation, software, and data analysis, with an understanding of
industry trends and emerging technologies
Fluent with Atlassian suite tools (Confluence, Jira)
Experience with rapid technology development, integration, and testing
Great communication skills, ability to work effectively in teams, demonstrated execution and
coordination skills
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 of granted asylum
Desired
Experience with defining, designing, and activating large facilities for assembly, integration, and
testing for large complex systems
Experience with high energy laser systems, optics or fusion energy systems
Project management skills including labor estimating and schedule management
Demonstrated configuration management experience