focused · Austin, TX ·
Senior Systems Safety Engineer embedded with Focused Energy's Austin facility, working hands-on with TTE and laser project teams to lead hazard analyses (HAZID, FMEA, JHA), integrate safety into design, installation and commissioning, and drive risk mitigation across laser, electrical, cryogenic, and mechanical systems.
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Focused Energy is building the future of clean energy through laser-driven inertial fusion. Backed by our $240M Series A — the largest fully secured Series A in the global fusion industry — we are scaling rapidly across multiple geographies.
Based in Germany and the US, we have brought together the top scientific and engineering minds using proven technologies to unlock fusion power at commercial scale. Focused Energy is working to realize game-changing scientific innovation that promises to deliver a clean, sustainable and abundant source of power globally.
We are seeking a Senior Systems Safety Engineer to support Focused Energy's Austin facility as we advance the TTE project, laser project, and the transition toward operational readiness. This role is designed as an embedded engineering safety position rather than a standalone site-wide H&S management role. The Senior Systems Safety Engineer will work directly with engineering and operations teams to identify hazards, evaluate system risks, and develop practical mitigation strategies during system design, installation, validation, commissioning, and operation.
This role will partner closely with the central safety function, including safety system leadership defined in Germany, while providing strong local technical ownership for engineering safety execution in Austin. The position is especially well suited to a growing, technically complex site where risk must be assessed continuously as systems evolve.
Embedded Project Safety Support: Act as the engineering safety partner for the Austin site, working closely with TTE, laser, facilities, and operations teams to assess and manage risk throughout design, installation, validation, commissioning, and routine operation.
System Hazard Analysis: Lead or facilitate structured hazard analyses such as HAZID, FMEA, JHA, what-if reviews, and task-based risk assessments for laser systems, low-voltage electrical systems including facility mains-fed three-phase equipment, cryogenics, gases, mechanical assemblies, controls, and supporting infrastructure.
Design-for-Safety Integration: Review system designs, changes, and experimental setups to ensure safety considerations are incorporated early and practically. Support engineering teams in translating hazard findings into design requirements, interlocks, procedures, and operational controls.
Installation and Commissioning Support: Provide hands-on safety support during equipment installation, facility modifications, subsystem integration, validation, and commissioning activities. Ensure hazards are identified and controlled before work is performed and before systems are released for operation.
Operational Readiness: Support the development of safe operating envelopes, startup/shutdown strategies, lockout-tagout boundaries, access controls, permits, and readiness reviews for new and modified systems.
Risk Mitigation Implementation: Work with engineers, technicians, and operations personnel to define and track corrective actions, engineering controls, administrative controls, and procedural safeguards to closure.
Technical Safety Documentation: Develop and maintain risk assessments, safety reviews, operating constraints, work instructions, and engineering safety documentation needed to support project execution and operational use.
Interface with Central Safety Leadership: Coordinate with the broader company safety function and with safety system definition led from Germany to ensure consistency of approach, alignment of standards, and appropriate escalation of major risks.
Incident and Near-Miss Learning: Participate in investigations of incidents, near misses, and abnormal events related to equipment or operations. Support root cause analysis and the development of practical corrective and preventive actions.
Training and Technical Guidance: Provide technical safety guidance to engineers, technicians, and operators, and support the rollout of project-specific safety training tied to real system hazards and work activities.
Compliance Partnership: Support compliance with applicable OSHA, NFPA, ANSI, and other relevant requirements as they relate to engineering systems and operational activities, in partnership with site operations and the central safety function rather than as sole owner of all site compliance programs.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Safety Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field. Advanced degree is a plus.
5+ years of experience in a systems safety, engineering safety, operational safety, or closely related technical role in a high-risk or highly regulated environment.
Demonstrated experience performing structured hazard analyses and translating findings into practical engineering and operational controls.
Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary engineering and operations teams in a fast-moving R&D, prototype, or advanced manufacturing environment.
Strong working knowledge of low-voltage electrical, mechanical, laser, cryogenic, or process hazards relevant to complex technical systems.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Comfort operating in a hands-on environment where system definition is evolving and risk assessments must keep pace with development.
Experience supporting Class 3B / Class 4 laser systems, laser laboratories, or high-energy optical systems.
Experience with low-voltage industrial electrical systems, including facility mains-fed three-phase equipment, and with controls such as interlocks, grounding, isolation, lockout-tagout, and safe access boundaries.
Familiarity with commissioning, startup, validation, and operational readiness processes for new or modified systems.
Experience supporting safety in construction, facility buildout, equipment installation, or laboratory expansion projects.
Knowledge of risk assessment approaches used in R&D, industrial, energy, aerospace, or complex equipment environments.
Experience working across international teams or matrixed organizations where system ownership and safety governance are shared.
Professional certification such as CSP, PE, CFSE, LSO, or similar is a plus, but not required.
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.
Medical, Dental, Vision: Multiple great plans to pick from that are active come the 1st Day of employment for you and any enrolled dependents.
Vacation Days: We support your work-life-balance by granting you Unlimited PTO.
Snacks and Drinks: Our office fridges are never empty. Enjoy our healthy snacks and drinks.
Retirement Plan: If you decide to enroll in our 401k plan, we will match up to 4% on top of the employee contribution.
Equipment: We offer state-of-the-art Windows or Apple Laptops. In addition, you will receive a keyboard, mouse and headset so you are fully equipped from day 1.
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.
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