Senior ICF Experimental Physicist

United States·DenverFull-Timelead

OtherExperimental Physicist

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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!

As an ICF Experimental Physicist, you will lead the design, execution, and interpretation of experiments central to Xcimer’s Vulcan fusion program which aims to demonstrate wall plug breakeven. This individual will translate the physics basis and risk retirement plan into executable experiments, own diagnostic requirements, and develop Vulcan test plans that validate facility and subsystem readiness for ignition physics.

As the first experimentalist in the program, this role bridges physics, engineering, and systems integration. This physicist will ensure that Vulcan’s design, diagnostics, and experimental capabilities align directly with the needs of the Fusion Pilot Plant physics basis. We are looking for our scientists to apply their leadership, technical expertise, curiosity, problem solving skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact the future of energy!

Physics-based, data-driven path to risk retirement established for all critical Vulcan physics risks.

Diagnostic and facility requirements fully traceable to physics needs.

Measurable experimental validation milestones integrated into the FPP roadmap.

External collaborations leveraged strategically, with internal capability and ownership growing over time.

Experimental Execution & Test Plan Development

Develop Vulcan test plans, defining the sequence of experiments required to validate subsystems, diagnostics, and integrated facility performance

Translate program-level physics risks into measurable experimental objectives and milestones

Design, execute, and analyze experiments that provide data to retire specific risks identified in the physics basis (e.g., symmetry control, LPI mitigation, target survivability, hohlraum performance, etc).

Ensure experimental validation criteria are quantitative, data driven, and aligned with modeling results

Partner with theory and modeling teams to close the loop between simulation predictions and experimental validation.

Diagnostics & Measurement Systems

Write diagnostic requirements for Vulcan and precursor experiments.

Work with systems engineers to define line-of-sight, resolution, and temporal accuracy requirements consistent with physics metrics.

Coordinate with optical, target, and chamber teams to ensure diagnostic integration early in the facility design process.

Facility & Program Integration

Represent the experimental physics perspective in Vulcan facility planning, ensuring experimental capability maps onto the physics roadmap.

Interface with the Vulcan systems team, target factory, and injector groups to ensure data acquisition, repetition rate, and diagnostic access align with experimental needs.

Partner with target fab, chamber, and laser teams to ensure subsystem interfaces and tolerances meet experimental requirements.

Leadership & Collaboration

Build experimental partnerships with national labs and universities; serve as technical lead for collaborative shots and campaigns.

Mentor future hires in diagnostics, data systems, and experimental design.

Contribute to publications and presentations that establish Xcimer as a leader in inertial fusion experimentation.

Education: Ph.D. in Physics, or a related field, with specialization in inertial confinement fusion, HED physics, or laser-plasma interactions.

Demonstrated experience designing and executing experiments on major HED facilities (OMEGA, NIF, or equivalent).

Expertise in one or more diagnostic domains: x-ray imaging, neutron time-of-flight, charged particle spectrometry, VISAR, or optical backscatter.

Proven ability to define quantitative experimental success metrics and extract them from data.

Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to synthesize results for executives, engineers, and external partners.

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.

Experience leading multi-institutional experimental campaigns or managing external collaborators.

Familiarity with target fabrication, layering, and injection constraints.

Experience with system design trades between physics goals, diagnostics, and facility operations.

Understanding of ignition metrics and performance scaling

Prior participation in conceptual design reviews or DOE-style pre-conceptual design efforts.