Simulation Code Developer

Focused Energy is a fusion energy startup with the goal of generating unlimited clean energy to responsibly meet future global demand. With the use and commercialization of laser-induced inertial fusion, clean and highly efficient power generation technology is coming within reach, suitable to ensure a secure and scalable future energy supply.

We are seeking a skilled and driven Simulation Code Developer to join our team and help us shape the future of energy. This person will perform radiation hydrodynamic simulations with existing codes to optimize the target design and will develop a 3-D radiation hydrodynamic code to simulate the implosion and ignition of cryogenic deuterium-tritium fuel capsules. Your work will help to achieve a robust implosion target point design for Focused Energy’s inertial fusion energy (IFE) power plant.. 

In this role, you will be part of the Science team at Focused Energy, which is responsible for achieving a robust implosion target point design for Focused Energy’s first-of-a-kind (FOAK) fusion power plant and for the precursor fusion pilot plant (FPP). An important part of the team's work are simulations to assess the likelihood of ignition for different designs that balance the threat from laser-plasma instabilities and from hydrodynamic instabilities. The work will lead to a self-consistent ignition target design for the FPP and the FOAK that optimize the mitigation of hydrodynamic instabilities and the mitigation of laser-plasma instabilities during the implosion phase by considering different options in target manufacturing and in the laser design.

What you’ll do:

• Develop and maintain 3-D radiation hydrodynamic codes: This includes creating new code from scratch and improving existing codes for simulating implosion and ignition of cryogenic deuterium-tritium fuel capsules. This also involves adding new physics packages to existing codes.

• Perform radiation hydrodynamic simulations: Conduct simulations using existing codes to optimize target design and analyze the results. This includes assessing the likelihood of ignition for different designs, balancing laser-plasma and hydrodynamic instabilities.

• Lead code development projects: Take ownership of code development, working closely with the Science team to ensure the code is high-performing, reliable, and meets requirements. This involves adapting the system as needed.

• Collaborate on code validation: Work with experimental teams to compare simulation results with experimental data, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the codes. This includes identifying discrepancies and refining the code accordingly.

• Optimize code performance: Improve code efficiency and speed through parallelization and other optimization techniques to enable large-scale simulations.

• Document code and simulation results: Maintain clear and comprehensive documentation of the code, its features, and simulation results. Prepare reports and presentations to communicate findings to the team.

• Stay current with the latest research: Keep up-to-date with the latest developments in inertial fusion energy and simulation techniques, integrating new knowledge into the code development process, collaborating with our external partners, as appropriate.

• Contribute to code testing and debugging: Develop and execute test cases to ensure code functionality and identify and fix bugs.

• Participate in code review: Review code written by other team members to ensure quality and adherence to coding standards.
  

Who you are:

• PhD-degree in physics, computer science, or equivalent

• 5+ years of experience working as a simulation expert in inertial fusion research

• Subject matter expert in developing 3-D radiation hydrodynamic simulation codes

• Strong programming skills including proficiency in languages such as Fortran, C++, or Python, and experience with parallel computing.

• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) and running large-scale simulations

• Knowledge of plasma physics and hydrodynamics

• Knowledge of numerical techniques used in simulations, such as finite difference, finite element, or spectral methods.

• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills

• Knowledge of version control systems including Git or other version control systems for code management.

• Experience with data visualization tools to create visualizations of simulation data for analysis and presentation

Why Work with Us?

• Innovative Technology & Mission: Be part of a cutting-edge company working on groundbreaking research in clean energy and scientific discovery.

• Career Development: We invest in our people. This is an opportunity to join an early, growing company at the forefront of new technology, where you’ll have the opportunity to develop and grow your career.

• Collaborative Culture: Work with great people in a dynamic, international environment with top-tier scientists, engineers, and professionals passionate about solving global challenges.

• Ownership: Take ownership from day 1 and drive impact by making decisions, solving challenges, and shaping the future of our company.

• Your Success is our Success: We offer a competitive salary and company ownership in the form of stock options, giving you a direct stake in our success and ownership in what we build together.

• Vacation Days: We support your work-life-balance by granting you generous leave time  

• Events: We organize regular events to foster team bonding, encourage collaboration, and build a strong, supportive company culture. Connect with colleagues across departments, share ideas, and have fun together, both in and outside of the workplace.

Focused Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Focused Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, benefits.