Optical Coatings Materials Scientist

About the role

You will lead the materials development and implementation of advanced optical coatings specifically designed for fluorine-resistant environments within Xcimer's inertial fusion energy systems. In this capacity, you will work in close collaboration with optical design and laser systems engineering teams to translate performance requirements into durable material solutions. A core part of your ownership involves driving coating development from initial concept through scale-up to ensure robust production implementation. You will be responsible for executing materials characterization and process optimization to ensure optical components meet stringent performance and reliability criteria. Your work will directly influence system reliability by ensuring optical surfaces maintain performance under aggressive chemical conditions. This position is hands-on and execution-driven, requiring a strong commitment to practical problem-solving in a manufacturing context. You will play a critical role in enabling durable optical performance that directly impacts the core performance and mission success of Xcimer's fusion power plants. Your contributions will help deploy fusion power at scale to meet global decarbonization goals.

Key facts

What you'll do

Develop and execute coating development strategies for optical components exposed to fluorine-rich environments inherent to fusion energy systems.

Perform advanced materials characterization using surface and bulk analysis techniques to correlate process parameters with optical and physical properties.

Design and conduct experiments to evaluate coating durability, chemical resistance, and optical performance under simulated fusion conditions.

Collaborate with optical engineers to iterate on coating designs that maximize laser damage thresholds and minimize performance degradation.

Translate high-level system reliability requirements into specific materials and process controls for manufacturing scale-up.

Implement robust process controls and quality assurance protocols to ensure consistent coating performance across production batches.

Support the qualification and validation of coating suppliers and manufacturing partners to meet Xcimer's stringent specifications.

Document all development activities, results, and decisions in a clear and traceable manner to support regulatory and quality systems.

Proactively identify failure mechanisms and root causes, developing corrective actions that preserve optical integrity and system uptime.

Partner with cross-functional teams to align materials solutions with project timelines, cost targets, and performance milestones.

Apply statistical methods and design of experiments approaches to optimize coating formulations and process parameters efficiently.

Champion a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement within the Materials & Process Engineering department.

Leverage fundamental knowledge of thin-film optics and materials science to solve complex problems in high-demanding energy applications.

Contribute to the development of internal expertise and technical documentation that sustains long-term manufacturing capability.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, or a closely related technical field required; advanced degree preferred.

Minimum of eight years of experience in materials science, thin film coatings, or a closely related field directly relevant to optical and laser systems.

Demonstrated history of developing, characterizing, and scaling materials for demanding energy or high-tech manufacturing environments.

Strong foundational knowledge of coating processes such as physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or related thin-film fabrication methods.

Experience with materials and coatings characterization techniques including spectroscopic ellipsometry, optical spectroscopy, profilometry, and surface microscopy.

Proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams alongside optical engineers, laser physicists, and manufacturing specialists.

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills necessary for documenting technical work and coordinating with stakeholders at all levels.

Eligibility to obtain and maintain U.S. government security clearance if required for the role, which may involve providing related information to the facility security office.

Nice to have

Experience with materials or coatings designed for harsh chemical environments, particularly fluorine-containing systems.

Background in inertial fusion energy, high-power laser systems, or related advanced energy technologies.

Familiarity with scale-up of coating processes from laboratory to production scale.

Knowledge of quality management systems relevant to manufacturing and material traceability.

Experience with statistical process control and design of experiments methodologies in a manufacturing setting.

Practical notes

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

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship for this position at this time.

Travel may be required for business purposes including meetings, conferences, or project-related visits.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of any necessary background checks and security clearance determinations.