Design Physicist – LPI and Low-Density Plasmas

Inertia•Livermore, CA

8h•$150,000 - $275,000

About The Position

We are seeking a Design Physicist to study laser–plasma interaction (LPI) and laser propagation physics relevant to Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE). This role focuses on understanding laser absorption, speckle formation, parametric instabilities, and hot-electron generation in laser-generated plasmas, to improve coupling efficiency and predictive modeling of Inertia’s fusion targets. You will work closely with the systems modeling and laser science teams to reconcile the target design and laser architecture for manageable LPI.

Requirements

PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Nuclear Engineering, or related field.
Strong foundation in plasma physics and computational modeling.
Background in laser–plasma interaction or inertial confinement fusion research.
Experience with simulation tools or programming (Python, C++, or equivalent).

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Maxwell–Vlasov (MV), MVFP, and PIC codes.
Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

Studying speckle formation and beam smoothing in high-powered laser systems.
Using simulation tools, such as pF3D, to estimate laser propagation and instability growth for Inertia.
Collaborating with LLNL on an Inertia-LLNL contract to model LPI using LLNL simulation capabilities.
Designing and analyzing laser–plasma experiments to study energy coupling, instability mitigation, and cross-beam energy transfer, integrating insights into the laser system and target design.