IFE Program Director

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.

This role is responsible for the overall program scope, technical integration, schedule, budget, risk management, and delivery of Xcimer’s IFE Program. The IFE Program Director coordinates multidisciplinary teams spanning fusion physics, targets, laser, chamber, fuel cycle, controls, infrastructure, and other support subsystems to ensure that individual workstreams converge into a coherent, achievable design and development roadmap.

Working closely with company leadership and department directors, the Program Director establishes program priorities, allocates resources, resolves cross-functional issues, and drives timely, evidence-based decisions.

The successful candidate combines technical understanding of fusion energy systems with demonstrated leadership in complex, multidisciplinary technology development programs and the ability to translate ambitious technical objectives into executable plans and measurable outcomes.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee and accountable for the design, planning, and execution strategy of a large-scale, billion-dollar class program, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
• Provide day-to-day leadership to matrixed engineering, science and operations teams, maintaining technical integrity and quality standards.
• Lead IFE system architecture, from early-stage concept development through engineering design, technology maturation, construction readiness, commissioning, and operational demonstration.
• Manage project budgets, resource allocation, and schedules, implementing proactive risk mitigation and reporting on performance metrics.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and stakeholders, communicating program status, risks, critical path activities, key dependencies, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Lead resolution of cross-disciplinary technical issues and trade-offs involving performance, cost, reliability, maintainability, safety, and schedule.
• Ensure that design assumptions, technology development activities, and engineering analyses are consistent across the program.
• Work with element leads and technical authorities to establish appropriate design maturity, validation requirements, and evidence-based readiness assessments.
• Establish effective program governance, reporting, configuration management, change control, and decision-making processes.
• Ensure that near-term technical and engineering decisions support the long-term commercial deployment strategy.

Qualifications:

• Education: MS in physics, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering or related technical field.
• Experience: 15+ years leading large, complex programs (billion-dollar scale preferred) within an engineering-intensive environment (semiconductor, laser, nuclear, space and defense, etc.).
• Proven track record of guiding large-scale technical teams through all phases of technical program delivery.
• Demonstrated success translating technical objectives into integrated program plans with measurable milestones, budgets, schedules, and accountable owners.
• Experience coordinating multiple technical disciplines and managing complex system interfaces and dependencies.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering, technology maturation, technical risk management, and engineering design reviews.
• Experience managing program budgets, resource allocation, external contracts, and executive-level reporting.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• 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:

• Ph.D. in a relevant engineering field.
• Experience in fusion energy development, nuclear technology, advanced energy systems, or another highly complex, capital-intensive technology program.
• Experience with pilot plants, first-of-a-kind facilities, prototype systems, or integrated technology demonstrations.
• Familiarity with fusion plant architectures, including major subsystems such as the laser driver, targets, chamber, and fusion fuel cycle.
• Familiarity with regulatory and compliance frameworks for high-value engineering projects.