Light Amplification Lead (f/m/d)

About Focused Energy Focused Energy is an international deep-tech company based in Germany and the US, working to commercialize laser-driven nuclear fusion. Our mission is to provide clean, safe, and virtually unlimited energy to the world. We are rapidly scaling and looking for talented individuals who thrive in building clarity and structure within fast-growing environments. Your Role The laser amplification chain scales the beam energy needed by our fusion system. Developing it involves complex technical decisions, interdependent teams and requirements that evolve as the programme advances. We are looking for a Light Amplification Lead (f/m/d) to give this function clear direction and accountability. Your mission is to lead the amplification team, critically evaluate technical information and turn stakeholder input into decisions, priorities and a credible development roadmap. You will guide the function towards delivery of a subsystem that meets agreed requirements and can integrate with the wider laser system. You do not need to be an expert in every amplifier technology. You do need strong engineering judgement, extensive technical leadership experience and enough laser understanding to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions and work effectively with domain specialists. What you’ll do • Lead and develop the function. Provide line management for technical teams, set clear expectations, give feedback and develop their capabilities. Build a view of the skills and capacity needed as the programme evolves, and contribute to hiring and team development. • Provide technical decisions and steering. Listen to different stakeholders, critically review their input and challenge assumptions. Work with specialists to assess options and make reasoned decisions, identifying where further evidence or expertise is needed. • Own the development roadmap. Translate system requirements and programme priorities into a function-level plan that goes beyond individual task lists. Establish milestones, identify dependencies and capability gaps, and adapt the plan as requirements and evidence change. • Guide complex project delivery. Lead larger technical projects through uncertainty. Keep priorities, resources, risks and trade-offs visible, coordinate with programme management and lab operations, and escalate issues early. • Connect amplification to the wider system. Take accountability for the amplification architecture, requirements and interfaces, drawing on the team's specialist expertise. Coordinate with adjacent laser functions and system integration so technical decisions support agreed performance and integration needs. Who You Are • You have some laser exposure and a general understanding of amplification. You have enough relevant background to understand the function, engage with specialists and assess how its decisions affect the wider system. Direct hands-on amplifier development is an advantage, not a prerequisite. • Extensive technical leadership experience. You have led technical teams and larger, complex engineering projects, with responsibility for people, priorities and delivery. You can develop specialists and provide direction across disciplines. • Strong engineering judgement. You can evaluate technical arguments, distinguish assumptions from evidence, identify risks and challenge recommendations constructively. You do not need to know every answer yourself, but you know how to reach a sound decision with the right experts. • Experience leading through uncertainty. You have worked on development programmes with incomplete information, evolving requirements or changing technical priorities. You can maintain direction while adapting plans as new evidence emerges. • People and stakeholder leadership. You listen