IFE Program Director

Xcimer Energy • Denver, CO

9d • Onsite

About The Position

Xcimer Energy is hiring an IFE Program Director to lead the overall scope, technical integration, schedule, budget, risk management, and delivery of its Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) Program. The Director coordinates multidisciplinary teams across fusion physics, targets, laser, chamber, fuel cycle, controls, infrastructure, and supporting subsystems to bring workstreams together into a coherent design and development roadmap. The role works closely with company leadership and department directors to set priorities, allocate resources, resolve cross-functional issues, and drive timely, evidence-based decisions. The successful candidate will combine an understanding of fusion energy systems with leadership experience in complex, multidisciplinary technology development and the ability to convert technical objectives into executable plans and measurable outcomes.

This is a full-time, onsite position at Xcimer Energy’s headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The program encompasses the IFE system from early concept development through engineering design, technology maturation, construction readiness, commissioning, and operational demonstration. The Director will establish program governance and ensure that near-term technical decisions support the long-term commercial deployment strategy.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or nationals, U.S. permanent residents holding a current Green Card, or lawfully admitted to the U.S. as refugees or granted asylum. The listed base salary range is $187,000–$220,000 per year. Xcimer notes that actual base salary is determined individually and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Xcimer offers medical, dental, and vision coverage; basic and supplemental life insurance; short- and long-term disability; paid parental leave; a 401(k) with company match of up to 6%; equity for eligible employees; flexible paid time off; paid sick time; 13 company-paid holidays; and an annual paid company shutdown. Benefit eligibility varies by benefit.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in physics, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, or a related technical field.
• 15 or more years leading large, complex programs in an engineering-intensive environment; billion-dollar-scale programs are preferred.
• Proven track record 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 organizational levels.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident with a current Green Card, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice To Haves

• 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 and major subsystems such as the laser driver, targets, chamber, and fusion fuel cycle.
• Familiarity with regulatory and compliance frameworks for high-value engineering projects.

Responsibilities

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

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Basic and supplemental life insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Paid parental leave for employees at the time of birth or adoption.
• 401(k) with company match of up to 6%.
• Equity for eligible employees.
• Flexible paid time off (described as an ATO approach).
• Paid sick time.
• 13 company-paid holidays.
• Annual paid company shutdown.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director