Lab Manager, Materials & Process Engineering

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.

The Materials & Process Engineering (M&P) Department is developing several new laboratory capabilities critical to Xcimer's mission, including an analytical lab, a wet chemistry and metallography lab, and advanced molten-salt research facilities. We are seeking an experienced Lab Manager to lead the design, build-out, commissioning, and operation of these shared lab assets.

This role is ideal for a technically strong, hands-on laboratory operations professional with experience establishing laboratory infrastructure in industrial environments, implementing safe and efficient operations, and supporting multidisciplinary R&D teams. Operating within Xcimer's matrix organization, you will work closely with engineering, science, facilities, EHS, and external partners to develop and manage laboratory capabilities that support multiple programs across the company. You will play a key role in enabling world-class research and development by ensuring laboratory facilities are safe, reliable, scalable, and aligned with evolving technical priorities.

Responsibilities

Laboratory Build-Out & Commissioning

• Lead the planning, setup, and commissioning of multiple new laboratories, including:
• Analytical / chemical characterization lab (e.g., SEM/EDS, XRD, GC-MS, XRF, RGA, plasma cleaner, sputter coater)
• Wet chemistry and metallography lab (fume hoods, sample prep tools, chemical handling infrastructure)
• Molten-salt research facilities, including FLiBe-compatible test systems, gloveboxes, furnaces, corrosion loops, inert-atmosphere equipment, and other specialized experimental platforms supporting molten-salt science, materials compatibility, corrosion, tritium-related studies, and process development.
• Coordinate facility design, utility requirements, HVAC, exhaust systems, safety interlocks, and infrastructure with Facilities, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, and EHS.
• Oversee installation, acceptance testing, and vendor qualification for new instrumentation.

Laboratory Operations & Management

• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), equipment logs, chemical inventories, waste-handling protocols, cleanliness standards, and maintenance schedules.
• Implement and enforce robust safety practices compliant with chemical hygiene, hazardous materials handling, high-temperature systems, and vacuum system operations.
• Manage laboratory readiness, uptime, calibration, and maintenance of analytical, chemical, and metallographic equipment.
• Establish sample workflows, scheduling systems, and operational processes that enable fast, reliable support for materials development and failure analysis.
• Coordinate laboratory access, scheduling, resource allocation, and operational priorities across multiple technical organizations and research programs.
• Support the development and operation of multiple experimental platforms and laboratory assets as research needs evolve.

Safety & Compliance

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant safety regulations and ensure laboratory operations follow all EHS-established policies and procedures.
• Support EHS in safety reviews and hazard assessments for chemical processes, molten-salt handling, and vacuum systems, implementing required controls.
• Train lab users in safe equipment operation, chemical hygiene, and emergency practices in alignment with EHS guidance.
• Coordinate with EHS, Facilities, and regulators during permitting, inspections, and compliance activities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with scientists, engineers, technicians, EHS, Facilities, and program teams across the company to align laboratory operations with evolving research and development priorities.
• Manage external vendors for equipment procurement, installation, calibration, and maintenance.
• Support budget planning, procurement forecasting, and resource allocation for laboratory operations.
• Work closely with Fusion Nuclear Science personnel to support molten-salt experimentation, corrosion studies, tritium-related technology development, and future laboratory expansion efforts.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of industry experience managing or operating technical laboratories (materials, chemical, analytical, or high-temperature environments).
• Demonstrated experience planning, building, or expanding laboratory infrastructure, including utilities, safety systems, and equipment integration.
• Strong working knowledge of laboratory safety, chemical hygiene, hazardous material storage, and regulatory compliance.
• Hands-on experience with analytical and/or chemical lab instrumentation (e.g., SEM/EDX, XRD, GC-MS, optical microscopy, metallographic prep, vacuum equipment).
• Experience developing SOPs, safety documentation, and operational workflows.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and project management skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and lead laboratory users with varying technical backgrounds.
• 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 supporting shared research facilities or laboratories serving multiple technical organizations.
• Experience working with molten salts, corrosion testing, high-temperature process systems, nuclear materials research, or related experimental platforms.
• Experience supporting materials analysis (SEM/EDS, interferometry, XRD, spectroscopy) or metallography.
• Familiarity with facilities-level engineering requirements (HVAC, exhaust, electrical, gas systems, vibration isolation).
• Prior experience in a rapidly growing startup or a hardware-focused R&D environment.