Coating Engineer (fmd)

Company Overview

Focused Energy is the leading laser-driven fusion company pursuing the most promising path to clean limitless fusion power. With locations in Darmstadt Germany and the San Francisco Bay Area we bring together top scientific and engineering minds to unlock commercially viable fusion energy using proven technologies. We are driving the next chapter of economic growth and scientific innovation through the widespread adoption of clean abundant fusion energy.

Role Overview

As a Coating Engineer (f/m/d) you will play a critical role in the advancement and scaling of our unique high-throughput coating processes for fusion target production. Youll serve as the technical expert for coating systemsdriving process innovation implementing robust quality controls and working closely with cross-functional teams to deliver high-performance production-ready coated targets essential for fusion energy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and optimization of high-throughput coating processes for mm-sized spherical plastic targets ensuring uniform thickness minimal defects and production-scale throughput.

• Design develop and optimize plasma systems (RF-PECVD microwave-PECVD ICP) for C-H (carbon-hydrogen) coatings including plasma generation precursor gas selection and process scaling.

• Define metallic coating processes (electroless plating PVD CVD) for spherical substrates with an emphasis on uniformity and multi-layer strategies.

• Establish quality standards testing methods and statistical process control for consistent high-quality coated targets.

• Serve as the technical authority for all coating-related matters providing expertise in coating chemistry plasma physics and materials science.

• Evaluate specify and validate coating equipment; collaborate with suppliers to customize systems for spherical target production.

• Work across mechanical manufacturing quality and operations teams to ensure coating integration and process alignment.

• Produce technical documentation process control procedures and interface specifications to company standards.

• Support commissioning troubleshooting and optimization of coating systems onsite.

• Adapt processes as production requirements evolve driving continuous improvement and innovation.

Required Qualifications

• Masters degree in Materials Science Chemical Engineering Physics or a related field (PhD preferred).

• Minimum 7 years of hands-on experience in coating processes with expertise in metal coating technologies (electroplating PVD CVD electroless plating) and plasma-based systems (PECVD).

• Strong understanding of plasma physics plasma generation plasma-chemical reactions and C-H (carbon-hydrogen) coating synthesis.

• Demonstrated experience developing high-throughput coating processes and scaling laboratory processes to production.

• Proven ability in process development and optimization for quality uniformity and throughput in high-volume manufacturing environments.

• Knowledge of adhesion mechanisms coating defects surface preparation and substrate pretreatment for plastics.

• Strong problem-solving technical writing and communication skills for documentation and team collaboration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with metal coating on organic material.

• Hands-on experience with RF-PECVD microwave-PECVD or ICP plasma systems.

• Track record of developing high-uniformity coatings for spherical or complex geometries at production scale.

• Familiarity with vacuum systems automated handling and robotic coating systems.

• PhD in Materials Science Chemical Engineering or Physics.

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.

Required Experience:

IC