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Laser Physicist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Xcimer Energy

Laser Scientist

Denver, CO · On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

Master's degree in physics, optics, electrical engineering, chemistry, or related field * Experience: 6+ years of experience in the fields of optical physics and lasers * Expertise in laser physics ...

Tekla Research

Research Physicist

Washington, DC

$145K - $185K/yr

Seeking a highly motivated and skilled Research Physicist with a strong background in optics to conduct cutting-edge research in advanced optical materials, nonlinear optics and high-power laser ...

Xcimer Energy

Laser Scientist

Denver, CO

$170K - $200K/yr

Master's degree in physics, optics, electrical engineering, chemistry, or related field * Experience: 6+ years of experience in the fields of optical physics and lasers * Expertise in laser physics ...

Global Laser Enrichment

Laser Engineer

Wilmington, NC · On-site

The Laser Engineer will work closely with other Laser Engineering personnel as well as Operations, Process Physics, Mechanical Engineering, and other staff to integrate their work into larger program ...

Lightmatter

Laser Characterization, Temp

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$57 - $65/hr

As a Laser Characterization Intern, you will focus on the fundamental performance, physics, and characterization of the semiconductor laser sources that power our photonic computing architecture. You ...

NSS

Fiber Laser Scientist

Herndon, VA

MS or PhD in Physics or Optical Engineering w/ a minimum of 5 years of direct hands-on fiber laser experience including designing, building, characterizing laser systems * Knowledge of the laser ...

NSS

Fiber Laser Scientist

Herndon, VA · On-site

MS or PhD in Physics or Optical Engineering w/ a minimum of 5 years of direct hands-on fiber laser experience including designing, building, characterizing laser systems * Knowledge of the laser ...

AOSense, Inc.

Physicist

Fremont, CA · On-site

Our devices use frequency-stabilized lasers and atoms in a vacuum cell to measure accelerations ... As a Physicist at AOSense, you will apply your experience in laser technology and atomic physics to ...

AOSense, Inc.

Physicist

Fremont, CA · On-site

Our devices use frequency-stabilized lasers and atoms in a vacuum cell to measure accelerations ... As a Physicist at AOSense, you will apply your experience in laser technology and atomic physics to ...

AOSense, Inc.

Physicist

Fremont, CA · On-site

Our devices use frequency-stabilized lasers and atoms in a vacuum cell to measure accelerations ... As a Physicist at AOSense, you will apply your experience in laser technology and atomic physics to ...

NSS

Fiber Laser Scientist II

Herndon, VA

MS or PhD in Physics or Optical Engineering w/ a minimum of 5 years of direct hands-on fiber laser experience including designing, building, characterizing laser systems * Knowledge of the laser ...

Xcimer Energy

Laser Scientist

Denver, CO

Master's degree in physics, optics, electrical engineering, chemistry, or related field * Experience: 6+ years of experience in the fields of optical physics and lasers * Expertise in laser physics ...

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Laser Physicist information

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$39.5K

$94.8K

$226.5K

How much do laser physicist jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for laser physicist in the United States is $94,805.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,000.00 and $112,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Laser Physicist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Laser Physicist, you need a strong background in physics or optical engineering, advanced mathematics, and hands-on experience with laser systems, usually supported by at least a master's or Ph.D. in a relevant field. Familiarity with simulation software, optical design tools (such as Zemax or COMSOL), and laser safety certifications is often required. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills help distinguish top candidates in collaborative research and development settings. These competencies are crucial for safely designing, operating, and optimizing complex laser systems in both industrial and academic environments.

What are some typical projects or responsibilities for a Laser Physicist?

Laser Physicists typically work on designing, developing, and optimizing laser systems for applications in fields like telecommunications, manufacturing, medical devices, or scientific research. Daily responsibilities often include conducting experiments, analyzing data, troubleshooting technical issues, and collaborating with engineers or other scientists to meet project goals. Many Laser Physicists also document their findings, publish research, or support product development efforts. Collaboration is common, as you may work alongside multidisciplinary teams to integrate laser technologies into new products or processes. This variety keeps the role dynamic and allows for significant professional growth within both industry and academic settings.

What does a Laser Physicist do?

A Laser Physicist researches, develops, and applies laser technology for scientific, industrial, medical, or defense applications. They study laser generation, manipulation, and interactions with materials to enhance performance or discover new uses. Their work can involve designing laser systems, optimizing beam properties, and ensuring safety standards. They often collaborate with engineers and researchers to develop cutting-edge laser-based solutions.

More about Laser Physicist jobs
What cities are hiring for Laser Physicist jobs? Cities with the most Laser Physicist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Laser Physicist jobs? The most popular types of Laser Physicist jobs are:
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What job categories do people searching Laser Physicist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Laser Physicist jobs are:
Laser Physicist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Laser Physicist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 8% As Needed, 53% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 23% Contract, and 8% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $94,805 per year, or $45.6 per hour.

Laser Plasma Interaction Computational Physicist

Xcimer Energy

Denver, CO

$170K - $210K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

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.
 
As a Laser Plasma Interaction (LPI) Computational Physicist, you will develop and extend Xcimer's laser plasma interaction (LPI) modeling capabilities through both community simulation tools and next-generation in-house code development. You will support the development of computational frameworks that model collisional plasma kinetics, paraxial laser propagation, and coupled LPI phenomena critical to Xcimer's fusion systems. We are looking for physicists to apply their expertise in plasma physics, scientific computing, and high-performance simulation to positively impact the future of energy!  
Responsibilities
  • Deploy, configure, and extend existing simulation tools such as WarpX and LPSE to model laser plasma interaction phenomena relevant to Xcimer's laser architecture.
  • Develop workflows, simulation setups, post-processing pipelines, and benchmarking methodologies for efficient and repeatable simulation execution.
  • Lead the design and development of in-house LPI simulation software focused on collisional kinetics and paraxial laser propagation models.
  • Architect simulation software using modular, extensible, and maintainable scientific software frameworks with strong emphasis on composability and long-term scalability.
  • Implement and validate core physics models including collisional plasma kinetics, paraxial laser propagation, stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), filamentation, and cross-beam energy transfer (CBET).
  • Perform verification, convergence studies, and benchmarking against existing tools, published results, and experimental data to ensure numerical robustness and model credibility.
  • Optimize simulation software for high-performance computing environments, including parallelization and scalability across modern compute architectures.
  • Maintain rigorous software engineering practices including version control, automated testing infrastructure, documentation, and reproducibility standards.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with laser architecture, gas optics, radiation hydrodynamics, experimental physics, and other engineering teams to prioritize simulation efforts and integrate modeling outputs into broader system development activities.
  • Contribute to Xcimer's long-term computational modeling strategy by identifying opportunities to integrate new physics capabilities and couple simulation domains through shared modular architectures.
Qualifications
  • Education: PhD in Computational Physics, Plasma Physics, Applied Physics, or a closely related technical field.
  • Strong software development skills in scientific computing using modern C++ and Python.
  • Experience developing physics simulation codes with emphasis on modular software architecture, maintainability, and software quality.
  • Strong understanding of laser plasma interaction physics, collisional plasma kinetics, and laser propagation models.
  • Familiarity with numerical methods for partial differential equations, kinetic plasma simulations, and/or paraxial wave equations.
  • Experience using, extending, or validating community simulation tools such as particle-in-cell (PIC) or fluid plasma codes.
  • Experience working independently and leading technically complex software development efforts.
  • 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
  • Experience with WarpX, LPSE, pF3D, or similar laser plasma interaction simulation tools.
  • Experience with high-performance computing, including MPI/OpenMP parallelization and/or GPU acceleration.
  • Familiarity with modern scientific software architectures including plugin systems, composable frameworks, or modular physics engines.
  • Experience within inertial confinement fusion (ICF), high-energy-density physics, or advanced plasma modeling environments.
  • Demonstrated experience building extensible scientific software platforms that support long-term collaboration and multi-user development.
$170,000 - $210,000 a year
Candidates may be considered for other positions at Xcimer Energy, and our actual base salary will be determined on an individual basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. The range is published in accordance with Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and California Equal Pay Act.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Xcimer Energy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. Xcimer Energy hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Xcimer Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information on "EEO Is the Law," please see here and here.
 
Benefits
Xcimer offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employee health, well-being, and long-term success. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; basic and supplemental life insurance; short- and long-term disability; paid parental leave for employees at the time of birth or adoption; and a 401(k) with a company match of up to 6%. Eligible employees also receive equity, allowing them to share in the company's long-term success.
Xcimer operates under a flexible Paid Time Off (ATO) approach. Rather than a fixed number of vacation days, employees are trusted to take the time they need to rest and recharge while meeting the expectations of their role and team. In addition, employees receive paid sick time, 13 company-paid holidays, and an annual paid company shutdown. Benefits are available to regular employees, including part-time and fixed-term roles, as well as interns, with eligibility varying by benefit.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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