Control Systems Project Lead – Applied Science

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 Control Systems Project Lead - Applied Science, you will own the controls system of a major development program, starting with one of our large, multi-subsystem laser test facilities. Our Applied Science group delivers control systems that integrate advanced hardware to demonstrate cutting-edge science, and in this role you will design, implement, verify, and commission the control, data acquisition, and interlock systems that enable scientific experimentation. This is a hands-on individual contributor role with coordination responsibility: you will plan and assign sprint work to other team members, deliver software releases on schedule, work directly with system operators, and coordinate controls activities with the other engineering teams on the program. We are looking for an engineer who brings strong diagnostic thinking, test stand experience, and demonstrable software capability, along with the organization to keep a multi-team controls effort on track.

Responsibilities

• Own the controls system for a major development program as a hands-on individual contributor, including requirements, architecture, and delivery of its control, data acquisition, and interlock systems across multiple subsystems.
• Lead sprint planning for the program's controls work, assign and track tasks, review contributions, and ensure software releases are delivered on time.
• Coordinate controls work with other engineering stakeholders, such as optics, pulsed power, mechanical, software, and operations teams. You will lead collaboration with these teams to define system interfaces, set priorities, and schedule system access time for controls development and testing.
• Gather feedback from system operators and other users, prioritize improvements, and respond to and resolve bug reports.
• Apply diagnostic and systems-level troubleshooting methodologies to identify root causes of system, software, or hardware issues.
• Plan and lead controls support for test campaigns, including readiness reviews, functional checkout, system integration testing, and on-the-floor support during experiments.
• Design, develop, and commission control systems for test and measurement applications, including laboratory and industrial test stands.
• Lead verification and validation (V&V) activities for the controls system, including test planning, test procedure development, execution, and reporting.
• Develop control, automation, and data acquisition software using Python, LabVIEW, and related tools.
• Integrate hardware and software for test systems, including instrumentation, DAQ hardware, off-the-shelf benchtop equipment, and custom hardware.
• Implement and maintain automated test frameworks, unit tests, and regression tests to support reliable system evolution.
• Interface with and integrate a wide range of communication protocols and interfaces such as RS-232/422/485, TCP/IP, Ethernet-based fieldbuses such as EtherCAT, and instrument control protocols.
• Own controls requirements development, interface definition, requirements traceability (RTM), and change control to support structured V&V and quality processes.
• Design hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test systems, and collaborate closely with electrical, mechanical, and software engineers to ensure test systems accurately represent real-world operating conditions.
• Support commissioning activities, acceptance testing, and ongoing lifecycle support for test infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of experience in control systems engineering, with a strong emphasis on test and measurement or validation environments.
• Demonstrated experience designing and commissioning test stands, automated test equipment (ATE), or experimental systems.
• Demonstrated experience owning a controls system on a multi-disciplinary project, including sprint or release planning, task assignment, and on-time delivery of software releases.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience coordinating across engineering teams and presenting status, risks, and design decisions to stakeholders.
• Proficiency in LabVIEW, including development of maintainable, version-controlled code.
• Strong working knowledge of verification and validation methodologies, including test planning and execution and requirements tracking such as with a Requirements Traceability Matrix.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and modern software development workflows.
• Working knowledge of unit testing, automated testing, or test-driven development concepts.
• Familiarity with industrial and laboratory communication protocols (e.g., RS-232, TCP/IP, Ethernet-based protocols).
• 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 in large experimental or test facilities such as laser, accelerator, pulsed power, aerospace, or national laboratory environments.
• Experience supporting system operators in a production or experimental environment, including triaging bug reports and incorporating user feedback into releases.
• Experience with agile or sprint-based planning tools and workflows (e.g., Jira) for engineering software delivery.
• Experience with advanced architectural concepts, such as an Actor framework
• Experience with Python
• Familiarity with instrumentation standards and interfaces (e.g., SCPI, GPIB, USB instruments).
• Experience with DAQ systems, high-speed data capture, or synchronization/timing systems.
• Exposure to systems integration best practices commonly used by professional control system integrators (e.g., lifecycle documentation, change control, structured testing).
• Knowledge of safety-related control concepts, interlocks, or fail-safe system design.
• Experience supporting testing in R&D, prototype, or experimental environments.
• Familiarity with documentation standards such as test plans, test procedures, verification matrices, and commissioning reports.
• Experience collaborating with scientists, and developing support plans in service to scientific experiments & objectives.