Project Manager, Laser

About the Company

Focused Energy is building the future of clean energy through laser-driven inertial fusion. Backed by a $240M Series A, the company is scaling rapidly to deliver a clean, sustainable, and abundant source of power globally by bringing together top scientific and engineering minds.

Responsibilities

• Manage external R&D projects with public and private partners from kickoff through close-out
• Develop and execute development strategies for optical and laser components
• Drive structured program planning, status tracking, and transparent communication
• Support proposals and execution of publicly funded projects by ensuring alignment with requirements
• Align and report program status to division and enterprise-level stakeholders
• Collaborate with scientists and engineering teams to understand dependencies and remove roadblocks
• Contribute to establishing internal project management standards and tools
• Represent the company with external institutional, industrial, and funding partners

Requirements

• Degree in STEM (Engineering, Physics, or Natural Sciences)
• Proven track record in research, engineering, or complex technical projects
• Experience managing projects or workstreams in technically complex environments
• Ability to prioritize and optimize processes in multi-project environments
• Proficiency with project management tools and documentation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both German and English
• Willingness to travel within Germany approximately 6 times per year

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in publicly funded research or development projects
• Exposure to PMO build-up activities or project management standards
• Experience working with external research or industrial partners
• Interest in laser technology or fusion-related development
• Experience with Jira or MS Project